48 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Jan. 2, 1920. 



two canes upon the previous year's spur, the lower one being made into the 

 new spur, and the upper one the new rod. When the vine is wholly spur 

 pruned, the spurs should always be fruit-bearing wood. 



Reasons for Rod and Spur Pruning. 



There are several reasons for adopting this differential treatment in the 

 annual pruning of the vine. The accumulated results of experience in vine 

 pruning have demonstrated that whereas some varieties yield th^ best results 

 from spur pruning, others again give more fruit if pruned with one or more 

 rods. 



In certain varieties the fruit-bearing wood is produced from practically any 

 healthy bud upon a fruit-bearing cane. In these varieties, the reduction of 

 the canes to short spurs assures a prolific fruiting. An extension of these 

 spurs into rods would, under normal conditions of culture, result in over- 

 production, with a consequent falling off in the quality of the fruit. Such 

 varieties are generally large-bunched, as in the case of table grapes, and 

 where quality is required there is no doubt that this system of pruning gives 

 excellent returns. There are cases wherein the normal size of the bunch is 

 small to medium, and although they will fruit very satisfactorily on the spur 

 system, the maximum weight of fruit possible would be below the noi^mal 

 capabilities of a strong vine. Under conditions which are conducive to 

 vigour, the use of rods in conjunction with spurs assures a much heavier 

 crop. Such conditions are supplied by irrigation on very fertile soil with a 

 good rainfall. The same object can be secured to a great extent by increasing 

 the number of spurs to such an extent as co very materially increase the crop,, 

 but unless this can be accomplished without excessive crowding it is better 

 to make use of some rods. On the ottier hand, when the vines are but 

 normal to weak in their growth, the spur only should be used. This same 

 rule applies in vines which are normally rod-pruned, but may become weak- 

 ened from some reason or other. As a temporary expedient, the rods should 

 be dispensed with for a year, in order to renew the strength of the canes 

 upon the spurs. 



There are other varieties which have a different habit of fruiting, and to 

 which the spur system does not apply satisfactorily. In these cases the 

 fruiting canes are developed from buds at some distance from the base of the 

 cane, usually extending from about the fifth or sixth bud towards the 

 extremity. It follows, then, that if the cane is suppressed to form a spur, 

 there will be practically no crop of fruit. The pruning of these varieties 

 necessitates the use of rods for fruit-production, and in general they range from 

 six up to ten or twelve buds, according to the vigour of the vine. 



In all cases the grower should have a knowledge of the habit of fruiting 

 of his vines, and he should adopt the system of pruning to suit the conditions 

 of soil and climate under which he may be working. 



If table grapes are tlie objective, with few exceptions the spur system will 

 prove the best, by reason of the more uniform size and quality of both 

 bunches and berries. 



