6 Preface . 



the great vineyards in many states, that the Concord is 

 yet scarcely forty years old, and that all grape growing in 

 eastern America is yet in an experimental stage. Pro- 

 gress has been so rapid in recent years that the new 

 methods outstrip the books. The old horizontal arm 

 spur system, which is still the chief method in the books, 

 has evolved itself into a high renewal training, which is 

 widely used but which has not found its way into the 

 manuals. The Kniffin type has outgrown its long period 

 of incubation, and is now taking an assured place in vine- 

 yard management. So two great types, opposed in method, 

 are now contending for supremacy, and they will probably 

 form the basis of all future developments. This evolution 

 of American grape training is one of the most unique and 

 signal developments of our modern horticulture, and its 

 very recent departure from the early doubts and trials is 

 a fresh illustration of the youth and virility of all hor- 

 ticultural pursuits in North America. 



This development of our grape training should form the 

 subject of a historical inquiry. I have not attempted 

 such in this little hand-book. I have omitted all reference 

 to the many early methods, which were in most cases 

 transportations or modifications of European practices, 

 for their value is now chiefly historicaland their insertion 

 here would only confuse the reader. I have attempted 

 nothing more than a plain account of the methods now in 

 use ; in fact, I am aware that I have not accomplished 

 even this much, for there are various methods which I 

 have not mentioned. But these omitted forms are mostly 

 of local use or adaptation, and they are usually only modi- 

 fications of the main types here explained. It is impossible 

 to describe all the variations in grape training in a book 

 of pocket size ; neither is it necessary. Nearly every 



