234 



into the soil near the plant at transplanting time or 

 soon after. All the lateral shoots are kept closely 

 cut off, only one stem being allowed to develop. 

 This is tied to the stake from time to time as growth 

 progresses. Usually four ties are required from the 

 ground to the top of the stake. After the plant has 

 reached the top of the stake the tip is pinched out, 

 thus checking rapid terminal growth. Staking, to- 

 gether with pruning, always gives earlier maturity 

 and cleaner fruit than can be secured in the ordinary 

 way. The yield per acre is also increased by stak- 

 ing, on account of the fact that the plants may 

 be placed closer together. The cost involved, 

 however, is considerable and is usually prohibitive 

 except in connection with the very early crops. 



The matter of pruning or pinching back the 

 lateral buds as they develop in the axils of 

 the leaves should receive much more atten- 

 tion under field conditions where training is not 

 practiced. In some experiments carried on by the 

 author the yield under ordinary field conditions was 

 considerably more than doubled by three prunings, 

 confining the growth to two and three stems and 

 keeping the laterals from these during the earlier 

 part of the season. 



Cultivation should begin as soon as the plants 

 are transplanted and be continued as long as 

 it is possible to pass between the vines. Plants 

 are usually set in rows 30 to 36 inches wide and 

 from 18 to 24 inches apart in the rows w^here the 

 staking method is followed. Under field conditions 

 without training it is a common practice to set the 

 rows 3j^ to 4 feet wide and the plants from 2j4 

 to 3 feet apart in the rows. Where plenty of land is 

 available, check- rowing 33/2 Teet each way is a common 

 practice which greatly lessens the cost of production. 



