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7.

extraordinary climatic adaptations of this grape. Here is a variety
originated in the United States, hardy enough to be cultivated in
New England, yet withstanding the hot humid
climate of the tropics!

From sea level it can be cultivated successfully up to five or
six thousand feet, in Central America, but it is not grown extensively
in that part of the tropics. In the Cauca valley of Colombia,
scarcely more than one degree from the Equator, but at an altitude
of about 3000 feet, it is grown commercially. According to Jaime
Villegas, professor of agronomy at the Escola Superior de Agricultura Tropical in Cali, there are perhaps 20 hectares now in
production, mostly in the form of small vineyards not over one-half
hectare in extent. The plants are not grafted, but are grown from
cuttings. They are trained upon trellises with horizontal wires
at a height of five or six feet above the ground. Two crops are pro-
duced each year. It is customary to wait about one month after a
crop has been harvested, then prune severely - and this is invariably
done when the moon is waning. The next crop matures in 100 to 120
days, following pruning.

Professor Villegas further says that vines will remain in good
production at least 10 to 15 years - 20 to 30 crops. There being no
well-marked seasons in the Cauca valley, the vines can be pruned
without regard to month, and a crop ripens four months later.
Commercial production commences the fourth year after planting, though
a few bunches will be produced by most vines from the second year
onward. The soils of this region - at least of those areas where
grapes have done best - are gravelly clays and gravelly loams running
down to gravel. It has been found that grapes will not thrive on
heavy wet clays. Stable manure and wood ashes are occasionally used
as fertilizers.