174 EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 



the lower one to grow. The reaaon for pruning to two buda, 

 when only one is to grow, is to secure the safety of that one, 

 as the bud next the end is often destroyed by the wood chang- 

 ing bark. And here, let me remark, that the instructions 

 previously given were in view of protecting the vines in the 

 winter. If they are not so protected, one or two buds should 

 in all cases be left above those we wish to grow. If the others 

 start, they are easily rubbed off, and the surplus wood removed 

 in June. 



The renewal system above described has simplicity of 

 pruning to recommend it, if nothing more, one or two strokes 

 of the knife being sufficient ; but for every twenty-five feet of 

 trellis occupied by bearing wood, we require one hundred feet 

 of ground, while only thirty-five feet are required for arms 

 and spurs. I am testing it with a few vines, not anticipating 

 any great results. 



There is a system of oblique arms, recommended by Mr. 

 Fuller, as being more convenient for laying down in the 

 winter. The vines are planted three feet apart in the row and 

 the rows six feet apart. One strong single cane is first pro- 

 duced, trained obliquely to the trellis at an angle of forty-five 

 degrees, cnt back in the full to five feet, laid down by the side 

 of the trellis and covered with earth, to be taken up again in 

 the spring and tied to the trellis at the same angle as before. 

 Five or six buds are selected for the bearing canes, and fastened 

 to the perpendicular wires in the same manner as with hori- 

 zontal arms. But the following modification of the above 

 system is better, being quite as convenient for laying down, 

 and better adapted for equalizing the flow of sap. The vines 

 are planted from four to eight feet apart in the rows. For the 

 slower-growing varieties, with my present experience, I prefer 

 four feet, or if planted at a greater distance, I would take two 

 seasons to complete the arm, by first laying down three or four 

 feet, cherishing the end shoot on it for a cane, enough of which 

 is to be laid down the next season to extend the arm to the 



