2. The Grape. 



There is no more popular fruit than the grape, and, owing to the rapid increase 

 in population during recent years, the demand for grapes is constantly growing. For 

 this reason, the planting of grapes, which was, in a large measure, suspended for a 

 few years, is steadily increasing, many vineyards now being established annually. 



The grape requires a comparatively dry hot season for the development of good 

 flavor and the perfect ripening of >the fruit, and as most of the cultivated varieties 

 will not stand very low temperatures, unless protected, the grape succeeds best in the 

 most southern parts of the Province, the commercial vineyards being confined almost 

 entirely to the Niagara Peninsula, and to the district bordering Lake Erie. The grape 

 can, however, be grown successfully over a much wider area than this, and where the 

 summer temperature is fairly liigh and spring and early autumn frosts are rare, large 

 quantities of grapes are grown for home consumption. Hence the early varieties of 

 this fruit may be ripened pretty generally over the Province as far north as latitude 

 45 degrees and probably further. 



A southern or south-eastern slope, if it can be procured, is preferable for the grape, 

 as this fruit will ripen quicker with this exposure, but the site is not so important in 

 the best grape districts as it is further north. A site should, however, be chosen which 

 will not be subject to local frosts. In the north, a sandy loam is much to be preferred, 

 as, if well drained, it will be the warmest, and all the heat that can be obtained is 

 needed. In the warmer portions of the Province, grapes succeed admirably on the 

 clay loams, and, if well drained, these are considered the best. The soil should be 

 thoroughly prepared as for other fruits. The best vines for planting are two years 

 old, but some strong growing varieties make good plants in one year. Strong growing 

 varieties require more space in a vineyard than those less vigorous, but an average 

 distance of ten feet apart each way is perhaps the most satisfactory. The plants 

 should be set in a little deeper than they were in the nursery. With grapes, it is 

 better to err on the side of deep than shallow planting. The young vine should be 

 cut back to within one or two buds when set. To encourage strong growth, cultiva- 

 tion should be thorough in the vineyard until the vine begins to bear well. At the 

 close of the first season and before the growth begins the following spring, the vine 

 should be again pruned back to one or two strong buds. During the second seaso'n, 

 only two canes are permitted to grow, in order that these may become as strong as 

 possible. Before growth begins in the third year, it will be necessary to put down the 

 trellis. If the 'Kniffen system is adopted, two wires will be sufficient, but if other 

 methods are followed, three are usually necessary. The Kniffen system of training is 

 more general in the grape districts than any other, mainly for the reason that by this 

 method the least labor is involved. If two canes were left during the second season's 

 growth, the weaker is removed, the other is tied upright to the two wires, the lower 

 one being about 3 feet 6 inches from the ground, and the upper about 2 feet higher. 

 Shoots will be thrown out along this main trunk, all of which are allowed to grow 

 throughout the season. 



Before growth begins in the spring of the fourth season, all the canes are cut away 

 except four. Two of these are extended, one on each side of the main trunk along the 

 upper wire and tied to it, an ; d two on each side o,f the main trunk along the lower wire, 

 at the same time heading back the upper canes to eight or nine buds and the lower to 

 six or seven. No summer pruning is usually practised with this system, the growing 

 shoots falling over the wires and attaching themselves there, often making very ram- 

 pant growth, so much so that the tips are sometimes lopped off with a pruning hook. 



The vine should bear a full crop this season, which is the fourth from planting. 

 Before growth starts in the fifth season, all canes are again removed, except four, and 

 as these could not very well be obtained in line with the wires, if taken from the main 

 trunk, the canes are utilized which spring from the base of the canes which were left 

 the year before. This same system is adopted year after year. In time, such a large 

 stub develops at the point where the new canes are taken each year that it becomes 



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