CHAPTER IV. 



THE DROOPING SYSTEMS. 



In 1845 William T. Cornell planted a vinej'ard 

 in the Hudson River Valley. A neighbor, William 

 Kniffin, was a stone mason with a few acres of land 

 to which he devoted his attention during the leisure 

 seasons of his trade. Cornell induced Kniffin to 

 plant a few grapes. He planted the Isabella, and 

 succeeding beyond his expectations, the plantation 

 was increased into a respectable vineyard and 

 Kniffin came to be regarded as a local authority 

 upon grape culture. Those were the pioneer days 

 in commercial grape growing in North America, 

 and there were no undisputed maxims of cultivation 

 and training. If any system of close training and 

 pruning was employed, it was probably the old hori- 

 zontal arm spur system, or something like it. One 

 day a large limb broke from an apple-tree and fell 

 upon a grape-vine, tearing off some of the canes 

 and crushing the vine into a singular shape. The 

 vine was thought to be ruined, but ii was left until 

 the fruit could be gathered. But as the fruit ma- 

 tured, its large size and handsome appearance at- 

 tracted attention. It was the best fruit in the vine- 

 yard ! Mr. Kniffin was an observant man, and he 



(56) 



