30 American Grape Training. 



used. The medium length is used for hard-wood 

 posts and the longest for soft posts, like chestnut 

 and cedar. These staples cost five cents per pound 

 usually, and a pound of the medium length contains 

 from 90 to 100 of the No. 10 wire size. An acre, 

 for three wires, will therefore require, for this size, 

 about nine or ten pounds of staples. In windy 

 regions, the wires should be placed upon the wind- 

 ward side of the posts 



There are various devices for securing the wire 

 to the end posts, but the commonest method is 

 to wind them about the post once and secure them 

 with a staple, or twist the end of the wire back upon 

 itself, forming a loop. The wires should be drawn 

 taut to prevent sagging with the weight of fruit 

 and leaves. In order to allow for the contraction 

 of the wires in winter, some growers loosen the 

 wires after harvest and others provide some device 

 which will relieve the strain. The Yeoman's Pat- 

 ent Grape- Vine Trellis is a simple and effective 

 lever-contrivance attached to each wire, and which 

 is operated to loosen the wires in fall and to tighten 

 them in spring. The end post is sometimes pro- 

 vided upon the back with a square-headed pin 

 which works tightly in an inch and a half augur 

 hole and about which the end of the wire is wound. 

 A square-headed iron wrench operates the pin, 

 while the tension of the wire around the side of the 

 post keeps the pin from slipping. This device is 

 not durable, however. An ingenious man can 



