Vine Pruning. 



49 



and spurs without stakes, but the arms, generally numbering three, 

 affect the shape of a fan in the direction of the lines (Fig. 55) . This 

 is to enable the ploughmen to get closer to the vines. On the other 

 hand, the planting is done in lines generally 6 feet distant, the vines 

 being from 3ft. Sin. to 3ft. lOin apart. 



No actual pruning is done the second year, the young shoots being 

 simply cut back. The third and fourth years the fan is shaped with 

 .two, three, or four arms 4 inches to 6 inches above the soil. 



The pruning is done in two operations. During winter the prepara- 

 tory pruning is done, leaving only one cane on each arm (Fig. 56), 

 and in March or April* the final pruning takes place which consists 



in cutting back the selected cane 

 with a secateur (Fig. 57). 



Formerly near Saint-Gaudens 

 vines were cultivated in a totally 

 different way. Planted at the foot 

 of trees, they were allowed to climb 

 to from 10 feet to 16 feet high, form- 

 ing a veritable orchard. The trees 

 upon which they climbed had the 

 shape of a reversed cone at the 

 lequired height, and every year 

 the young shoots of each tree were 

 cut back, except one which was 

 left to preserve the vitality of the 

 tree. The Maple tree was preferred 

 for this kind of culture (Fig. 58). 



In some cases the tree and vine 

 were planted together ; when the 

 tree had reached a sufficient height, 

 it was definitely shaped with five 

 or six branches, and then the 

 vine, which had been kept low 

 during ten years, was allowed to 

 shoot up with as many arms as 

 there were branches left on the tree. 

 One or two long rods were left on 

 each arm, and after the twelfth 

 year each tree would produce an 

 average of 22 lbs. to 33 lbs. of 

 grapes each season. 



This method of training vines on trees has been generally aban- 

 doned, and the low-crown system has been substituted for it, as it 

 offers many advantages. 



Fig. 58. 



Method of training vines at St. Gaudens 



(after Dr. Guyot), 



'September or October in Victoria. 



