‘the bearing 
AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 165 
Vine—continued. i 
is that of planting the young growing Vines that have 
been raised from eyes during the same season; this would 
take place in May, June, or July. These Vines, if properly 
attended to in regard to heat and moisture, make the 
very best of plants. As to the distances apart at which 
Vines should be planted, this almost entirely depends 
on the style of training to be adopted. They should 
never be less than 4ft., to allow the side shoots to 
develop; in many cases, 5ft. is preferable. 
Pruning and Training. The Vine is a free-growing, 
long-lived plant. In its natural state it is of a climbing 
character, sustaining itself by its tendrils, so that in 
its cultivated condition it has to be supported in some 
way. Of the various methods adopted in the training of 
the Vine, three call for notice here: (1) That practised 
in the vineyards or wine-growing countries; the young 
or fruit-bearing shoots are tied to upright poles, 6ft. to 
8ft. in height, the plants being about the same distance 
apart. In other cases they are sometimes pruned into 
the form of candelabra or other fancy shapes. (2) That 
adopted for Vines against walls, as practised at Thomery 
(see Fig. 182). (3) In this country, the Grape Vine 
is generally trained, in vineries, to trellises fixed at 
a certain distance from the glass or roof of the 
house, and is pruned either on what is termed 
the Spur system, or on that known as the Long 
Rod system, each of which is subject to all sorts 
of modifications according to fancy or convenience. 
The Spur System is that most practised, and may 
be briefly described thus: The Vines being planted 
at the proper distances apart, the young plants 
are cut down to some three or four eyes from 
the ground; one shoot is trained up in the first 
season, forming the main stem of the Vine. During 
the winter season following, this stem is cut back 
to some 5ft. or 6ft. in length, according to its strength. 
In the second year, the buds on this stem form shoots 
on which the fruit is borne, and which are stopped 
at one or two leaves beyond the bunches, or at a 
length of 16in. or 18in., the main stem being allowed 
to extend as before. In pruning, the next winter, these 
. side shoots are cut back to one or two buds, which, 
. being left, form what is termed a “spur” (see Fig. 183), 
the main stem being pruned back to 5ft. or 6ft. as before. 
In the third year, one or more shoots are produced 
from each spur, one of which is selected, trained 
and stopped as before, and again pruned in winter to 
one or more eyes; and so on from year to year—in 
most cases, the Vines filling their allotted space in 
five or six years. The Long Rod system consists in 
leaving a number of young shoots or rods to form 
shoots, and it is more suitable for 
some varieties than the Spur system. Vines may be 
trained to any number of stems or rods, and extended 
as circumstances may permit, the pruning otherwise 
being similar. 
Disbudding. 
performed each succeeding year, on the commencement 
of the growth of the Vine, and to which attention must 
be early directed, is that which is termed disbudding, 
but which is, in reality, a thinning-out and regulating 
of the young shoots. This is an operation of very great 
importance in respect to young Vines, as upon its being 
properly performed will depend the future form or 
character of the plant. Disbudding is, in fact, the first 
Step in training, although it is practised much in the 
same manner long after the form of the Vine is esta- 
blished. The time for disbudding is as soon as it may 
be perceived that there are more buds than are requisite 
—say, when the shoots are an inch or so in length; b 
the sooner it is done, the better. To allow the su 
fluous buds to develop. into shoots, and then to bisik 
them off, is a waste of the energies of the plant. 
The first operation that requires to be 
Vine—continued. 
In disbudding a young Vine, or a leading shoot of So 
previous year’s growth, the first care should be for the 
top or leading bud, the growth from which should be 
carefully tied in and preserved from injury, as forming 
a continuation of the stem. In the disbudding of a young 
Vine, we also regulate the number of shoots which form 
the future spurs. To allow space for the full development 
of the foliage, these side-shoots should not be less than 
18in. or 20in. apart. It frequently happens, especially 
in the case of slowly-grown Vines, that the buds on the 
stem are more numerous than the shoots required, and in 
such cases all superfluous buds must be removed — 
Nothing is more per- | 
“rubbed off,” as the phrase is. i 
nieious in Vine culture than the crowding of the shoots ` 
and leaves. It is well, therefore, to make a fair begin- 
ning, with the proper number, and this is done by 
disbudding. 
Disbudding, also, at times, eie ‘the "abe. of pruning. 
If the lower buds of a young ëmge do not break 
