SMALL FRUITS 



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them from cuttings as advised for currants (page 

 177). Vineyard rows should be about eight feet 

 apart, plants spaced about eight feet in the rows. 

 Any good, well-drained soil will do, but — commer- 

 cially speaking — grapes do their best only in certain 

 localities where temperature, climate, etc., are en- 

 tirely favorable. The "Chautauqua grape belt" in New 

 York state is such a place. There are others. How- 

 ever, a few grapes for home use can be grown 

 almost anywhere. On account of greater security 

 against frost dangers, an elevated location is pref- 

 erable to a low-lying place. In very cold sections 

 grapes do especially well on the sunny side of a wall, 

 fence or building. So be sure to have at least a few 

 Concords, Delawares, Niagaras, Brightons, etc. 

 After planting, cut back the top to about three buds 

 and let the vine grow as it pleases the first season. 

 Then, the next February, cut back the best cane to 

 about four ''eyes" or buds, and cut off any other 

 canes entirely; when these buds commence to grow, 

 rub off all but the two strongest shoots, and, as they 

 grow, tie them to the wire of a trellis or to a stake. 

 The third year's pruning will depend somewhat upon 

 what system of training you decide upon ; the sub- 

 ject is too large and intricate for treatment here. 

 The Kniffen system is one often used ; it consists in 

 training the vine so that it has four horizontal side 

 or main branches, two on each side, one above an- 

 other, tied to two wires ; the first wire may be about 

 three feet high, the second about five feet. I sug- 

 gest that every grape-grower should send to the 

 U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C, 

 ask for free Farmers' Bulletins Nos. 156 and 284, 

 and learn all the facts about other systems. 



Extra-fine grapes are obtained by cutting off the 



