178 Summer Pruning t?ie Grajpe. 



Summer Pruning th.e Grape. 



WE think it safe to say, that, there is no horticultural operation upon which there 

 is less correct knowledge and practice among the great mass of those who 

 cultivate the grape, as may be found in summer pruning. Though no great skill or 

 study is essential to a correct understanding and performance of the work, not one 

 in a score who undertake summer pruning makes it a success. They go about the 

 work with no fixed object, or under the guidance of anything like regular system. 

 With a commencement somewhere they cut away, here and there, seemingly more as 

 a pastime than for any specific purpose, exposing the fruit to the full force of the 

 sun's rays and cold, damp night air — an exposure that dwarfs the fruit and renders 

 it comparatively worthless. 



We find a communication in the Rural Alabamian upon summer pruning of the 

 vine that so completely reflects our views upon the subject, that we copy it in full. 

 In our pi-tctice, however, we do not spare the knife in the removal of surplus wood 

 that may chance to "harden." We can see no good reason for not using the knife — 

 in fact prefer a clean smooth cut of the knife to a ragged pinch any time. 



"As to the value of summer pruning, some are inclined to think it unnecessary 

 and useless labor ; but I find it one of the most important, as well as profitable, 

 items connected with grape culture. Summer pruning does not mean a general 

 pruning — cutting off large quantities of wood and stripping the foliage. Such would 

 be disastrous to the crop. What is generally termed summer pruning is what 1 call 

 summer dressing of the vines. And this dressing is done without the knife. It is 

 simply the removal of a superabundant growth — of weak and useless wood, which, if 

 left on the vines, would grealy injure their vigor, and to a great extent impair the 

 full development of the fruit. Of this I am perfectly convinced from the size of the 

 berries on some vines I did not summer prune last season. Last summer was noted 

 as one of our dryest and hottest ; not only in one locality, but almost throughout the 

 entire South. I commenced about the 10th of May and gave the vines a thorough 

 cleaning of all the surplus growth, leaving no shoots but those that were to take the 

 place of the old wood that was to be cut out in the winter pruning. All the other 

 growth was disbudded or rubbed off, leaving the young and healthy shoots as near as 

 possible to take the place of all old and weak wood. The bearing shoots were 

 stopped without any regard to the number of leaves on each. All were kept tied in 

 as they advanced in growth. The crop ripened well, and there were not many green 

 berries to be found on either the Concord or Ives, and all brought a fine price in the 

 New Orleans market, 



"I have here stated the mode of summer pruning that I have always followeti, and 

 found it to be successful with all varieties. On this mode of pruning, the crop is a 

 sure one, provided it is taken in time. If the work is deferred later than May, it 

 would be better not to do it at all, as the wood commences to harden, and in trying 

 to rub off the shoots the vines are injured to some extent, 



" Cutting off large canes of the current season's growth and stripping off the foliage 

 that the sun may have fair access to the fruit, are practices that are reprobated by all 

 good cultivators. Superfluous growth should be checked by pinching when it first 

 manifests itself, and the direct rays of the sun should never reach the fruit." 



