Field walk at Euro Rootstock on July 17 , 1999

The Roundtable met for a fieldwalk at the Euro Rootstock farm located on the 3rd Concession, just North of Harrow on July 17, 1999. People started arriving around 1 pm and within a very short time, places that provided shade were in high demand. The workshop, in particular was especially quick to fill with visitors. All-in-all there were 28 grape friends in attendance.

After a brief introduction to the first time visitors attending from Michigan, Ohio and Jordan, Ontario, Hans Peter Pfeifer explained how Euro Rootstock and Euro Nursery were associated. It was explained that Euro rootstock is an important production site for rootstock and scion-wood grafting operation and that a large part of Euro's certified clone material is planted at Euro Rootstock in Harrow. It was for this reason, that the Harrow farm has close to 50 different varieties to manage.

In addition to the rootstock and scion-wood grafting, Euro Rootstock is involved with a portion of the nursery operation and the non-certified plantings, some of the non-certified plantings at the Harrow Farm being research trials. One research trial, for example is a 48 row heat-treatment trial on the west-side of the farm. It was explained that this trial contains the first plants to be successfully heat-treated against crown gall. These same plants are now regularly inspected for performance and re-infection. To date they are performing very well.

There were three main items to the Field walk schedule. These were:

I : to observe the different grape varieties and different clones of the same variety especially after a late winter frost and unusual bloom period;

II: to inspect the grow tube trial that Kevin Ker is working on - the trial demonstrated all kinds of grow tubes and Kevin provided a discussion of the do's and don'ts associated with grow tubes. Thanks Kevin for your information; and

III : to look at the research trials of new varieties and receive an overview of grape-breeding.

Since it was a very hot afternoon and the walk took a good hour, everyone returned to the farm for some serious barbecuing;( thanks to Euro Nursery ) and some serious wine tasting (thanks to the Pelee Island Winery). That's where the real discussions took place and with everyone armed with one of those super tasting bratwursts from Jordan and a glass of wine or pop, little groups formed under the trees or in the workshop.

Thanks to everybody for attending on such a hot day. Special thanks to all the helpers: Peter and Kathy of Euro Rootstock and Caroline, Ben, Martin and Wolfgang of Euro Nursery.

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