146 NATURE STUDY AND AGRICULTURE 



all of last year's stems? Are the flowers single or in 

 clusters ? Study one flower carefully, making out its parts. 

 The flower is an interesting one. Note how the petals are 

 united to form a sort of cap above the stamens and pistil. 



It is only the strongest of the new branches or canes, as 

 nurserymen call them, that bear fruit. What may be 

 done to have large clusters of well-developed fruit ? It is 

 easy to see that too many clusters on a vine will result in 

 small grapes. The secret of having large clusters of good, 

 juicy sweet fruit is the pruning. The pruning should be 

 done in the winter not later than the last of February. 

 Since the fruit is borne on wood of the present season every 

 bud on last year's cane may produce a shoot that will bear 

 fruit. But if this should happen it would mean many 

 small, imperfect clusters. What may be done to remedy 

 this ? Cut out some of the canes, leaving the most promis- 

 ing ones. Those of medium thickness are usually con- 

 sidered best. All the long, slender ones and the stout ones 

 should be removed. The canes that are left should be cut 

 back to eight or ten buds, thus reducing the possible clusters 

 on each cane. 



In the fall make a study of the fruit. Make a cross 

 section through the middle. Where are the seeds, in the 

 upper or lower half ? Do the number of seeds vary in the 

 same variety of grape ? Obtain as many different varieties 

 as possible and compare as to size of fruit, yield, flavor, etc. 



Of the purple grapes the Concord is the most widely 

 grown. It is hardy and free from many of the diseases 

 that are likely to attack other varieties. Moore's early, 

 Campbell's early, and the Worden are considered by many 

 people good varieties. 



