Grapes. 73 



easy and cheap way some might say a lazy man's way. 

 Still, thus far it is the prevailing method, though here and 

 there, both in Northern and in Southern Colorado, we have 

 seen trellised vines bearing nobly. 



MR. VALENTINE DEVINNY says: Neither rust, rot nor 

 mildew result from untrained vines in this State, hence this 

 expensive labor is avoided. There is also an apparent ad- 

 vantage in allowing grape vines to run upon the ground 

 which is worthy of mention. As the fruit rests upon or 

 hangs near the earth's surface, it gets all the benefits of the 

 radiated heat during the cold nights that prevail in Colorado 

 during the period of ripening. This is breathed upon and 

 through the fruit, which hangs beneath a thick coat of leaves 

 which confines it like a blanket. Thus is the fruit hastened 

 in ripening by greater warmth during the cold nights. 



WIXTER PROTECTION. 



V. Devinny in 1879 furnished to the columns of the 

 Colorado Farmer several papers on the cultivation of the 

 grape, in which he claimed the honor of having been the 

 first to publish and suggest winter protection to the grape 

 vine by covering with earth, thereby revolutionizing the old 

 system of culture. By means of this new method he feels 

 sure that Colorado will be made as famous for its grapes and 

 wine as it is now for its gold and silver. 



WM. M. GUMM : As far as my experience has taught 

 me I think that the vines should be laid down early in the 

 fall to secure a crop. 



W. A. HELM : Vines must be buried, however, in win- 

 ter. I stake them in the growing season, then lay them 

 down and cover them with at least a foot of dirt, keeping 

 them so until all danger of spring frosts is over. 



HENRY MCALLISTER, JR : In early winter I remove the 

 vines from the trellises, prune back, but not closely, cover 

 them with earth and cut back quite heroically in the spring 

 when the covering is removed. 



