TRAINING THE VINES 



509 



in the spring. Commercial fertilizer should be applied two or 

 three weeks before growth starts. Available nutrients will 

 then be present to stimulate early growth and to help cause 

 a better set of fruit than would be obtained otherwise. 



10. Training the Vines. All knowledge of grape culture 

 points to the absolute necessity from the commercial standpoint 

 of some system of pruning and training adopted early in the 

 life of the vine and followed regularly year by year. Other- 

 wise the vines grow out of bounds and the clusters of fruit 

 are small and scraggly. 



Procedure : 



(a) Establishing the trellis. 



(6) Determining the system of training. 



(c) Pruning and training the vines. 



(a) Establishing the Trellis, Where good growth of vines 

 has occurred, the trellis should be in place ready to support the 

 vines at the beginning of the second season, otherwise not later 

 than the beginning of the third season. 



A post between every two vines, or about 20 feet apart, 

 is good practice. The alternate post may be lighter than its 

 neighbor, but should still be strong and rigid. All posts should 

 be from 7^4 to 8^4 f^^t long, preferably sharpened so that they 

 may be driven into the ground each spring if necessary, and of 

 wood naturally durable, or treated to make it so. 



It is good practice to treat all posts, since their period of 

 service will be materially increased. Replacement costs on the 

 trellis form a considerable item and should be reduced to a 

 minimum by adopting the most improved practices. Do not 

 set green posts, or those with the bark on. Cedar, locust, oak, 

 and other good post woods of local reputation represent proper 

 choices. 



Make certain that the posts align well with the vines in the 

 row, as a post out of line is a sore thumb throughout its stay 

 in the vineyard. For the same reason crooked posts are not 

 desirable. 



