Show WATER fiT I TE r Q IM tN hY V A VINEYARD lJ V Ri v I Irrigation Is Most Important Factor Factor Fac Fao- tor in Management gape Will Not Stand Excessive W Watering Watering Wa- Wa J. J and Presence of Free FreeWater FreeWater FreeWater Water In Soil is Early Indicated By my O. O B. B WHIPPLE WHIPPIE Colorado Agricultural Agricultural Agricultural Agri Agri- cultural College Really Heally the Irrigation of the vineyard is one te of the most important nt operations operations opera opera- in Its management The injudicious injudicious cious clous use of at irrigation water is responsible responsible responsible re re- re- re for a n greater part of tho the grape growers grower's grief The tendency among growers is to use far too much water The excessive use of water although It may not be sufficient to actually injure the vines is largely responsible for the loss from attacks by mildew and more than anything else for the poor shipping qualities of grown Colorado-grown grapes One Ono does not not realize the importance of having hayIng the ground dry during the ri ripening ripening rl- rl pening season of oC the fruit until he has seen the grapes ripening In the California vineyards Here the vines are arc robbed of half their foliage by the drought of at late summer and as a result result result re re- re- re sult the flavor of fruit is far superior superior superior supe supe- to that of or Color Colorado grown Colorado grown grapes The drought prevailing during the ripening season is at least partially responsible for the high sugar content of or many grown California-grown grapes A grape must carry a high per cent of sugar to ship well wen In other words It must be well ripened Still the Colorado Colorado Colorado Colo Colo- rado grape grower Is not altogether to blame for if he were to allow his vineyard vineyard vineyard vine vine- yard to dry out to the extent that the vines should begin to drop their foliage foliage foliage fo fo- fo- fo liage his over solicitous over solicitous neighbors would go out of their way to advise him that the vines would surely die Two points should be observed In Inthe Inthe inthe the use of at water with reference to its relation to the growth of mildew In Inthe Inthe Inthe the first place the old system of run running ryn ning irrigation water near the rows and un under er the vines is a mistake This plan wets the surface of oC the ground under er the plants where it is slow to dry out and creates a moist atmosphere atmos- atmos phet-e phet conducive to the growth of mildew The grapes also drop down wn downIn In this furrow and are covered with mud which Induces cracking and decay de de- de- de flay cay A better plan is to run one Currow furrow furrow fur Cur row midway between the rows make this furrow deep and avoid Rold flooding the surface of the ground When the vineyard is watered it should be watered watered watered wa wa- well then cultivate in the furrows furrows furrows fur fur- rows allow the surface of at the ground to dry diy off and conserve the moisture by frequent surface cultivation The vines should be kept growing well during the early part of the season season season sea sea- son but after the berrIes are well gown own rown Irrigation and cultivation hould cease that the ground may dry dryml out ml The time for the last irrigation will depend much upon the character Jf f the soil and upon the variety Even though the foliage may turn yellow and begin to drop before the fruit is fully tully ripe there Is no cause for alarm It will not hurt the vineyard and the fruit truit will ripen better The cracking af Jf f berries Is often orten due to the applicatIon application tion lion of water after the fruit begins to ripen The grape will not stand excessive watering and the presence of free Water water water wa wa- ter in he the soil is early Indicated by a dropping trapping of the foliage and a shrivelIng shriveling shriveling shrivel shrivel- ing of the bunches A single heavy watering will often scald the foliage an m some varieties The ground should be kept In the same condition as reI regards regards re re- re- re I gards moisture as soil for most other crops Tho The vineyard that has been well dried out during the ripening seaBon season season sea sea- son Bon will need needa a late fall waterIng to facilitate covering and to supply moisture moisture moisture mois mois- ture to carry the plants through the dry winters It is a general Impression Impression impression sion that the vineyard should not be watered during the blooming season |