McKAY’S Juicy Grapes 
Let McKay’s juicy Grapes tempt every 
home gardener because they require sur- 
prisingly little cultivation and the abun- 
dant returns are ever welcome. Grapes 
have been constantly improved during 
the past years, and are not only favored 
by the commercial grower, but possess a 
charm for the farm and home garden. 
BETA. A cross between Carver and 
Concord; perfectly hardy, produc- 
tive; fruit of medium size; early. 
The principal value of this Grape 
is in the extreme North where it 
will stand without protection. 
BRIGHTON. (Red.) Bunch medium 
to large; quite compact; flesh rich, 
sweet and best quality; color dark 
crimson or brownish red; vine vig- 
orous and hardy. 
CACO. A new variety originating in Dela- 
ware and widely heralded as the very 
best red Grape known. Its name is a 
combination of Catawba and Concord, 
from which two standard sorts it was 
derived. The vines are strong and vig- 
orous, as yet untouched by disease of any 
kind. The fruit is very large and hand- 
some, complete bunches; in color a rich 
wine-red over amber. Exceptionally early 
bearing, usually showing several good 
sized bunches the second year. Its flavor 
is luscious, sweet, delightful, distinctive. 
CAMPBELL’S EARLY. (Black.) A very strong, \ » 
vigorous, hardy vine, with thick, healthy, 
mildew-resisting foliage and self-fertilizing blos- 
soms, always sets its fruit well, and bears 
abundantly. 
CONCORD. (Black.) Too well known to need 
description; is considered by many to be the 
best all-around Grape grown. Is extremely 
hardy, vigorous and productive; bunches large, 
compact. 
DELAWARE. (Red.) One of the best red 
Grapes; bunch small and compact; berry small, 
round, beautiful light red; flesh rich, sweet 
and delicious; best quality. A good market 
Grape. 
FREDONIA. A _ new introduction that gives 
promis2 of being the earliest good black Grape. 
It ripens its fruit 2 weeks earlier than Word:n, 
The vine is vigorous, hardy and productive. 
The bunches of fruit are medium in size, cylin- 
drical and compact; the berries are large, round 
and persistent, the skin is thick and strong, 
the flesh is juicy, solid but tender, and the 
quality very good. Fredonia stands alon> as 
an early black Grape. 
MOORE’S EARLY. (Black.) Bunch large, 
berry round with a heavy blue bloom; quality 
considered better than Concord; hardy and 
prol‘fic; a good market berry; ripens about 
2 weeks before Concord, 
NIAGARA. Tbe vine is a strong grower, healthy 
and prolific; benches large, uniform and com- 
pact; berry large; skin greenish white, slightly 
ambered in the sun; quality good. Ripens with 
Concord. It is a good shipper and market 
Grape. 
PORTLAND. (White.) Ripens earlier than any 
known Grape. Berries are very large and have 
a beautiful yellowish color. Quality is excel- 
lent. Vines are extremely hardy and produc- 
tive. 
WORDEN. (Black.) Said to be a seedling of 
Concord, and is a slicht improvement on that 
variety; ripens a few days earlier; bunch large 
and compact. 



They require but little space and they 
can be trained over fences, trellises or 
doorways, and thus be ornamental as well 
as edible. Grown for market, they can 
be planted on hillsides that are not suited 
for other crops. In all cases, however, 
they should have a free exposure to the 
sun and air. 
Beta 
and 
A. SOIL. Grapes pre- 
fer a fairly open soil such 
as a black loam, heavy 
sandy loam or gravelly clay. 
The soil should be heavily 
manured to provide the 
necessary fertility and or- 
ganic matter. 
B. SITE. A gentle slope to the south or east 
is best, to provide the necessary soil warmth and 
enough air drainage to reduce early fall frost injury. 
C. PLANTING. Start 
ing with McKay's strong 
two-year-old plants. (See 
Fig. 1.) Plant in rows 8 
feet apart. Plant deeply 
and firmly. (See Fig. 2.) 
Prune top of plants by cut- 
ting off all but one cane 
and leaving that with only 
2 buds. (See Fig. 2.) Most 
growers let the shoots run 
along the ground the first 
season. 




D. TRELLIS. Some time during the year, build 
a support. This can be a two-wire trellis, with 
posts 16 feet apart and wires 244 and 5 feet above 
ground. Use heavy telephone wire. 
E. PRUNING. At end of first year, between 
November and March, remove all shoots except 
one, which will now be tied upright to the two 
wires and be left to form the trunk. Cut this off 
at top wire. (See Fig. 3.) This trunk will now 
grow many shoots the following year. (See Fig. 4.) 
F. PRUNING AT END OF SECOND YEAR. 
Select four of the strongest shoots for tying to the 
wires; cut these back to about 6 buds each. (See 
A in Fig. 5.) Thesz will henceforth be called 
canes. Save two more shoots, one below each wire, 
and cut these back to 2 buds. These are now called 
spurs. (Sce B in Fig. 5.) These spurs are left 

Moore’s Early 


Care 
Pruning 
of Grapes 


for producing future renewal canes. All other 
shoots should be removed. Tie above canes loosely. 
G. BEARING WOOD. Grapes bear on the 
first 3 or 4 buds of all new shoots which grow off 
of last year’s canes. These shoots will start grow- 
ing in early May; will have made enough growth 
by late May to form 2, 3 or 4 flower buds, which 
will then blossom and grow fruit that season. (See 
Fig. 6.) This shoot will continue growing the rest 
of the summer into a cane. These fruit-bearing 
shoots will come on the second year, and each year 
thereafter. 
H. PRUNING IN AFTER YEARS. (Nov. to 
Mar.) Consists in selecting shoots of the current 
year's growth to make replacement canes for tying 
to the wires for next year’s fruiting. These shoots 
are again cut back to about 6 or 8 buds as de- 
scribed in paragraph F. Likewise 2 spurs are left 
for growing the next year’s replacement canes; 
while all other shoots as well as last year’s fruited 
canes are removed. In selecting canes in these later 
years, it is desirable to select those nearest the 
trunk. 
K. 3-WIRE TRELLIS. Many Wisconsin grape 
growers prefer a 3-wire trellis instead of the 2-wire 
system described above, thinking that they get more 
fruit per plant. If you want a 3-wire trellis, attach 
wires 244, 4 and 6 feet above ground. The same 
pruning instructions described above will apply, 
except that you will prune for 6 canes (for tying 
to the 3 wires) and 3 spurs, instead of the 4 canes 
and 2 spurs discussed. 
L. WINTER PROTECTION. We recommend 
that the standard varieties of grapes be covered in 
Central and Northern Wisconsin. This applies to 
all varieties except Beta, which is hardy in that 
region, 
Prune your grapes in the fall after they have 
ripened. This removes all surplus growth and 
makes it easier to handle the plant. To cover, 
remove canes off wires; bend the trunk over to the 
ground and cover canes with dirt. 


