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



rod-pruned will be reduced to spurs only should they become unduly weak 

 from any cause. The rods ai"e again replaced if ordinary vigour is regained. 

 Much depends upon the judgment of thepruner in maintaining the balance 

 of vigour. By overloading the vine with fruit-bearing wood, it is possible to 

 so reduce the general vigour of the growth that in the following year there 

 IS little w^ood strong enough to renew the rods. Such an error of judgment 

 may be due to climatic factors, but in any case the results are the same. 

 Should the error be noted soon enough — such as, for instance, during a 

 particularly dry summer — a good deal may be done if it is possible to remove 

 a proportion of the rods by, say, the end of November. This has been done 

 in times of drought with good results. The same may occur when for some 

 I'eason the setting of fruit has failed ; then, having failed in their purpose, 

 the rods may be removed if thought expedient. The only alternative upon 

 a weakened vine is to temporarily suspend rod pruning until the normal 

 vigour has been regained. This may be accomplished in one year, or it may 

 take longer. It is impossible to lay down any rule as to the number of spurs 

 and rods which vines generally may carry successfully, for the reason that so 

 many outside factors are involved. The strength of the vine at time of 

 pruning can only be gauged by the number and dimensions of the matured 

 canes. Taking into consideration the amount of fruit-bearing wood carried 

 in the previous year, the experienced pruner decides whether this should be 

 increased or decreased. In all cases it is well to have a reserve on the side 

 •of the wood development, as it allows a margin for the possibility of a short 

 rainfall. Apart from this, a vine which is working up to its maximum 

 capacity of production eveiy year will not last so long as one which makes 

 more wood. The fruit from the more vigorous vine will surpass the weak 

 one jn quality, if not in quantity. 



Treatment of Water Shoots. 



The water shoot is not an unmitigated evil ; in moderation it indicates a 

 reserve of energy on the right side, and is useful in many ways. An 

 excessive number of water shoots may be attributed to several causes. In 

 the case of normally developed vines they may be induced by a period of 

 conditions more than usually favourable to growth. The usual channels for 

 outlet, represented by the number of buds left upon the pruned vine, are 

 insufficient, and consequently water shoots bivak out from the latent buds. 

 Such conditions must not be taken as indicating the need for more liberal 

 pruning, and it would bo unwise to make any material departure from the 

 usual treatment of the vine. 



When numbers of water shoots arise under ordinary conditions it is an 

 indication of one of two things — either that the vine is being ])runed too 

 .severely or that, the older and permanent wood being worn out, the sap 

 flow breaks out through latent buds in the form of water shoots. In the 

 first case, excessive vigour is iirst indicated by the bursting of base buds 

 upon the spurs, and the remedy is found by increasing the number of spurs 

 or rods which a vine may be carrying. In the second it becomes necessary 



