Sept. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 655 



The Pruning of the Vine* 



I Continued from page 126.] 



H. E. LAFFER. 



TRELLISED SYSTEMS. 



For simplicity of description, the systems of training may be divided into 

 two : those in which the main arms (two or more in number; are placed on 

 ■either side of the stem — usually termed espaliers or spaliers — and those in 

 which the main arm is placed on one side of the stem only, known as 

 cordons. 



In the first instance the arms are trained horizontally upon the wires, right 

 and left of the stem, and in the simplest form there are two arms. In certain 

 •cases modifications are adopted, two or more pairs of arms being obtained 

 ■at clifierent levels. Although such modifications may not, from the theoretical 

 point of view, be the best treatment, in practice they afford a means of over- 

 comino; difficulties in handling the accumulations of arowth from a strong 

 vine. 



The objection raised against the two-armed, orspalier, vine is the possibility 

 •of uneven sap distribution, to the ubimafe .upsetting of the balance b^-tween 

 the arms. This applies more to those vines which are trained with long 

 permanent arms than in the simple forms of spaliers, with short and easily 

 renewed main arms. It follows that when one arm, for some reason or other, 

 secui-es a margin in the vitality of the vine it will naturally use this pre- 

 ponderance of vigour to the detriment of the weaker member. In this way 

 the difference in the vigour of two arms may become more marked, to the 

 ultimate failing of one half of the vine. 



When there is but one arm, as with the cordon, it represents but the one 

 main channel for supply of the sap, and therefore any fault in distribution 

 can only affect the secondary arms. It would appear to be more natural to 

 divide the crown of the vine when training and to develop the two-armed 

 type. In addition, this system is more generally known in Australia than the 

 ■cordon, and it is therefore more g(^nerally adopted. Nevertheless, the 

 cordon has many advantages, and where adopted has given excellent results. 

 It applies to best advantage in the case of vines growing upon rich soils, 

 where the nature of the growth enables the main arms of indi\'idual vines 

 to meet. 



Where trained as a spalier the arms of the vines meet mid-way, while in the 

 cordon the one arm is carried on until it meets the stem of the next vine, or 

 until limited by the strength of the vine. 



The same systems of training, both spalier and cordon, are adopted very 

 largel}- in currant gi-owing. The vigour of the Zante currant under normal 



