518 



GROWING GRAPES 



In pruning, work on the right-hand side of one row and on 

 the left-hand side of the adjacent row in such a manner that 

 the prunings from the two rows may be thrown into the space 

 between them. In removing the pruned canes from the trellis, 

 give a quick pull along the wire rather than at right angles 

 to it, so as not to tear the wires loose and also because less 

 effort is required to remove them in this manner. 



In removing the prunings from the vineyard, a 12- or 14- 

 foot pole is useful. Hitch a single horse to the larger end of 

 the pole with the hitch about 2 feet from the end, using a 

 chain long enough so that the horse walks well ahead of the 

 pole. The driver may hold the light end of the pole in his 

 hand, varying the height as necessary. The prunings will 

 accumulate about the larger end as it is pulled along by the 

 horse. Some growers prefer to load the prunings on to a 

 wagon in the adjacent row, with forks; others haul them out 

 with a spring-tooth harrow. 



Results of Recent Pruning Tests. Frequently the first commercial 

 crop may be secured one year sooner by following the results of recent 

 investigational work. When free-growing varieties, such as Concord, are 

 planted on good grape soils, and in addition are manured and fertilized 

 with a quickly available nitrogen fertilizer the first season, sufficient vine 

 growth is usually made so that one of the canes can be tied to the top 

 wire of thv. trellis at the beginning of the second season's growth. In 

 such cases^ it is neither wise nor profitable to cut back the cane to two 

 buds at the beginning of the second season as described under the pre- 

 ceding general recommendations. A little fruit will be produced along 

 this trunk in the second year, and many new shoots will be formed, so 

 that the complete four-arm Kniffin system may be established at the 

 beginning of the third season's growth. As a result, a full commercial 

 crop will be secured one year sooner than is customary. When this 

 method is followed, the trellis should be erected and the vines tied to 

 it at the beginning of the second year's growth. This early fruiting 

 does not appear to dwarf the vine or reduce future crops, if good soil 

 fertility is maintained. 



If the cane is not long enough to tie to the top wire, at the be- 

 ginnings of the second season, it may be tied to the lower wire. At the 

 beginning of the third season, the trunk may then be continued with 



