GRAPE-PRUNING ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE 163 



more prompt and early start and will produce a much larger 

 growth than they did the first season. For this reason they 

 require very careful attention from the pruner during the spring 

 and summer of the second season. Vines neglected at this 

 time, in this respect, may make as large a growth, but a large 

 part of it will be wasted, the vines will be misformed and it will 

 require from one to two years longer to develop a suitable frame- 

 work and to bring them into bearing, even though they are 

 properly handled during subsequent years. The more vigorous 

 the vines, the more necessary it is to handle them properly dur- 

 ing this period. 



The main object during this second growing season is to de- 

 velop a single, strong, vigorous and well-ripened cane from 

 which to form the permanent trunk of the vine. 



This is done by concentrating all the energies of the vine into 

 the growth of a single shoot. As soon as the buds start, or 

 when the most precocious has developed a shoot of a few inches 

 in length, the vines should be disbudded. This consists in 

 rubbing off with the hand all buds and shoots except the two 

 largest and best placed. The lowest, upright shoots are usually 

 the best. Leave only those which will make a straight vine. 

 It is better to leave less developed buds than a shoot which, 

 when it grows, will make an awkward crook with the under- 

 ground stem. 



After this disbudding, the two shoots left will grow rapidly, 

 as they receive all the energies of the root system. When the 

 longest have grown from ten to fifteen inches, they should be 

 tied to the stake. Unless this is done, they are liable to be 

 broken off by any heavy wind, owing to their soft, succulent 

 texture. Only the best placed and most vigorous of the two 

 shoots should be tied up. If this shoot is growing upright 

 and near the stake, this can be done without any danger of 

 injuring it. In this case the second shoot should be removed. 

 If the shoot has to be bent over in tving it to the stake it may 



