PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS ? CONVENTION. 



247 



Good plowing and plenty of it, varying the depth year by year so 

 that the plow sole is controlled. Then cultivating to retain the 

 moisture. The old story of increasing fruitfulness of the vineyard in 

 which the old father told his sons he had buried a treasure is applicable 

 to California. The land needs working. Try it this season for yourself. 

 Water a ten-acre piece of vineyard, then divide it into four equal parts; 

 plow the first quarter as usual, then give the next quarter one extra 

 plowing, the third quarter two extra plowings, and the fourth quarter 

 three extra plowings; double the cultivating and harrowing in 'the 

 same proportion. The result will show not only the first year, but will 

 continue to show for a term of years. 



The chief defect in the Muscat grape is weak pollenization, or 

 dropping of the berries at blossoming. It is a good plan to plant the 

 long way of the vineyard every other check with a good vine for pollen. 

 The wine grapes have many varieties that are useful for the purpose; 

 if it is cared to grow wine grapes extensively, then a row every ten or 

 twelve rows will answer very well. 



The Sultana and the Sultanina are trellis vines and add to the 

 expense of handling. The sale of these seedless varieties of raisins is 

 somewhat hurt by the seeded Muscat, as a commercial product. The 

 tendency this year was to ship them green, and they are desirable and 

 profitable for that purpose. 



As the years pass we are more and more confirmed in the opinion that 

 all vineyards are cleaner and healthier that are sprayed with Bordeaux 

 mixture every winter; a spray 4-4-40 in strength we find necessary to 

 raise clean table grapes. On the Muscat the rough "nigger heads" are 

 full of fungous growths. 



Careful sulphuring of the Muscat is important. The first sulphuring 

 is done when the buds first swell and open, the next at blossoming 

 time, and a third when the vines need it. In a warm year the vines 

 rarely require the third sulphuring, while a cloudy spell will quickly 

 develop mildew in a dirty vineyard. The sulphuring machine makes 

 this work much easier and reduces the expense over one half when 

 compared to the old way of sprinkling from a can. 



The worst pests we have had in the last few years are thrips and 

 hoppers. These are thick at night, or rather at dusk. In driving 

 alongside of a vineyard they blind the eyes of the horses and drivers. 

 In the vineyard they cause early loss of foliage, leaving the grapes to 

 sunburn. 



A raisin vineyard represents a heavy investment nowadays, for 

 sweat-boxes and trays eat into money very fast. The trays are of wood 

 two by three feet in size; across the end are two-inch cleats. These 

 cleats are made higher than the trays, to permit stacking and turning. 



The weather agent earns his pay in Fresno if he answers the tele- 



