133 



If a given area of vineyard can, at a comparatively small 

 additional expense, be made to yield a much heavier crop, jthe 

 returns will be equivalent to those of a much larger area. 7 For 

 instance, if by spending 5 to 6 per acre to the cost of 

 preparations for suitable pruning and training of the vines the net 

 profits are increased by 30 per cent., the result is equivalent to 

 increasing the area under cultivation by one-third, and that at a cost 

 much below that which such addition would involve. An acre of 

 vineyard, for instance, worth, say, .50, would be practically, by the 

 extra expenditure of =5 for staking or trellising, be made to yield 

 a return of one acre and one-third, and represent a capital value 

 of 67. 



As it will be seen in the chapter on pruning of the vines, such 

 extra expenditure would not be justified in the case of vines 

 requiring short pruning, and only applies to the choicer and nobler 

 varieties requiring long pruning. 



For stakes, the sizes generally used are 2x2 incjies, 6ft. long. 



In different places, the cost of material would vary ; the cost 

 of purchasing, hauling, sharpening, and setting good jarrah or 

 raspberry jam stakes would be generally about ,10 a thousand 

 vines, or about 6 5s. an acre for vines planted 8ft. square. 



In trellising 6ft. posts, Sin. x 4in. are used 2ft. below and 4ft. 

 above ground, and at the end of the rows, straining posts, 6in. x 3iu. 

 and 6ft. to 6ft. 6in. long. Two wires only are necessary, viz., near 

 the coast, No. 10 galvanised wire, and inland, where the corrosive 

 action of the air is felt to a lesser degree, the cheaper No. 10 black 

 steel wire will answer admirably. 



The first wire is set at a height of 18 inches from the ground. 



The second wire 20 to 24 inches higher, or about 3ft. 2in. to 3ft. 

 6in. from the ground. 



The following is an estimate of what the cost of trellising a 

 10-aere vineyard would probably be at per acre. Supposing the 

 block of vineyard measures 10 chains x 10 chains, and the distance 

 between the rows is 10ft., there would be per acre 6i rows, 

 requiring : 



& s. d. 



13 straining posts per acre, at 6d. each ... 6 6 

 156 ordinary posts, 28ft. apart, at 20s. per 100 1 11 6 

 156 holes for same, at 3s. 6d. per 100 ... 5 6 



4cwt. g-alvanised No. 10 wire, at 12s. 3d. ... 2 90 

 Boring holes, putting up, and straining- ... 012 6 



^65 5 



FRUIT TREE PRUNING. 



In this chapter the shaping and the pruning of the several 

 varieties of those temperate clime fruit trees grown in our orchards 

 will be more particularly referred to. 



GENEEAL PRINCIPLES. 



There are a few rules which are applicable in every circum- 

 stance, and which should be borne in mind whatever the system of 



