Tying. 33 



after the manner of carrying seed-corn. Rafifia is 

 not so easily carried in the field as the wool-twine 

 or the willow, and this fact interferes with its popu- 

 larity. Green rye-straw, cut directly from the 

 field, is much used for tying the shoots in summer. 

 Small wire, about two-thirds the size of broom- 

 wire, is used occasionally for tying up the canes in 

 spring, but it must be- used with care or it will in- 

 jure the vine. Corn-husks are also employed for 

 this purpose when they can be secured. Bass-bark 

 is sometimes used for tying, but in most of the 

 grape regions it is difficult to secure, and it has no 

 advantage over raffia. 1 



It is very important that the canes be tied up 

 early in spring, for the buds are easily broken after 

 they begin to swell. These canes are tied rather 

 firmly to the wires to hold them steady ; but the 

 growing shoots, which are tied during the summer, 

 are fastened more loosely, to allow of the necessary 

 increase in diameter. 



