Show WATER IN VINEYARD irrigation Is most important factor fa in management crape will not stand excessive wa and pretence of free water in soil Is early indicated by 0 B colorado agricultural a college really tho the irrigation of the vineyard la Is one of the meet most important opera tlona la in its management the inaudi do clois is use of irrigation water la Is responsible spon elble for a greater part of the grape grow growers gr grief the tendency among growers Is to us use far too much water the excessive uee use of water alt although boush it may not be lelent to acta illy injure the vines la Is largely responsible for the ices from attacks by mildew and more than anything elee else for the poor shipping qualities of colorado grown grapes one does nut not realize the importance of having the ground dry during the rl ri season of the fruit until he hrs hr i seen the grapes ripening in the california rall rali fornia vineyards here flere the vines ire are robbed of half halt their foliage by the drought of late bummer summer and as a re suit the flavor of the fruit Is 1 far supe for to that of colorado grown grapes the drought prevailing during the ripening season Is at least partially responsible for the high sugar content of many california grown grapes A grape must carry a high per cent of sugar to ship well in other words it mu must at be well ripened still the colorado grape grower Is not altogether to blame for if he were ere to allow his vine fard to dry out to the extent that the vines should begin to drop their foliage his fits over solicitous neighbors would go out of their way to advise him hira that the vines would surely die two points should be observed in the use or of water with reference 0 to o its relation to the growth of mildew in the first place the old system of run ning ding irrigation water near the rows and ind under the vines Is a mistake this plan weta wets the surface of the ground under the plants where it Is blow slow to 1 ary out and creates a moist atmos j phere phem conducive to the crowth of mildew the grapes also drop down tn this furrow and are covered with mud which induces cracking and df day A better plan Is to run one fur row midway between the rows ros make till this furrow deep and avoid flooding the surface of the ground when hen the vineyard la to watered it should be wa well then cultivate in the furrows allow the surface of the ground to dry off and arid conserve the moisture by frequent surface cultivation the vines should be kept ket growing well during the early part of the son on son but after the berries are well row ron n irrigation and cultivation i hould cease that the ground may do fr aut 1 tho time for the last irrigation will depend much upon the har character acter af the coil soll and upon the variety even though the foliage may turn yellow ind id begin to drop before the fruit Is ully rire there Is no cause for alarm it will not hurt the vineyard and the tho fruit will ripen better tho the cracking af f berries la Is often due to the applina ion ton 0 of water ater after ho the fruit begins to ripen the grape will not stand excessive catering at ering and the presence of free wa ter in the eoll boll Is early indicated by a cropping of tho the foliage and a shrivel shrive ing of the bunches A single heavy wa terin will often scald the foliage on some varieties the ground should be kept in the condition as re cards mol moisture nw leture sture as soil sa tor for most other crops the vineyard that has been well dried out during the ripening sea eon son will need a late fall watering to facilitate covering and to supply moisture to earry the plants through the iry winters it Is a general imbres llon slon that the vineyard shoula sh avii not be watered during the blooming season |