62 American Grape Training, 



oblique at first but they soon fall over with the 

 weight of foliage and fruit. If they touch the 

 ground, the ends may be clipped off with a sickle, 

 corn-cutter or scythe, although this is not always 

 done, and is not necessary unless the canes inter- 

 fere with cultivation. There is no summer-pinch- 

 ing nor pruning, although the superfluous shoots 

 should be broken out, as in other systems. (See 

 page 23). 



Only two wires are used in the true Kniffin trellis. 

 The end posts are usually set in holes, rather than 

 driven, to render them solid, and they should always 

 be well braced. The intermediate posts are driven, 

 and they usually stand between every alternate vine, 

 or twenty feet apart if the vines are ten feet apart — 

 which is a common distance for the most vigor- 

 ous varieties. For the strong-growing varieties, 

 the top wire is placed from five and one-half to six 

 feet above the ground. Five feet nine inches is a 

 popular height. The posts will heave sufficiently to 

 bring the height to six feet, although it is best to 

 " tap ' ' the posts every spring with a maul in order to 

 drive them back and make them firm. The lower 

 wire is usually placed at three and one-half feet. 

 Delawares, if trained Kniffin, should not stand 

 above five feet four inches, or at most five feet six 

 inches. Strong vines on good soil are often put onto 

 the trellis the second year, although it is a commoner 

 practice, perhaps, to stake them the second season, 

 as already explained (page 27), and put them 



