88 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



ill the case of grafted plants and in the event of the suckers 

 coming from the stock, these should be left to feed the vine and 

 help to establish a good root system. Vines making a strong 

 growth should be tied to the stake^ at least the strongest shoot, 

 to keep the wind from whipping it about and to keep the plants 

 out of the way of the cultivator. The only knack in tying is 

 to keep the vine on the windward side of the stake, thus saving 

 the breaking of tying material. 



The first year's pruning, though severe, is easily done. All 

 but the strongest cane are cut out and this is pruned back to 

 two buds, nearly to the ground, so that the vines are much as 

 when set in the vineyard. This pruning, and that of the next 

 two years, has as the object the establishment of a good root 

 system and the production of a sturdy trunk at the height 

 at wliich the vine is to be headed. It is important that the 

 cane from which the trunk is to come be healthy and the wood 

 well ri|)cne(l. Pruning may be done at any time after the 

 leaxes fall, though most growers give preference to late winter. 

 In cold climates it is a good practice to plow up to the young 

 vines for winter piotection, in which case the pruning should 

 be done before plowing. , 



Every detail of \ineyard management should be performed 

 with care and at the accepted time in this critical first year. 

 Cultivation nuist l)e intensive, insects and fungi must be warded 

 oil', mechanical injuries avoided, vines that have refused to 

 grow must be marked for discard, and the vineyard be put 

 down to a cover-crop in early August if it was not earlier planted 

 to some hoed catch-crop. 



The second year. 



Work begins in the spring of the second year with the setting 

 of trellis posts on which one wire is put up. The vine is not 

 yet ready to train but the slender lath of the first season is 

 not sufficient support, and the one wire on the future trellis 



