420 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



PRUNING THE GRAPE. 



Sir, — Please tell me how to prune grape vines, and when should it be done? 



H. W. Brainard, Notch Hill, B. C. 



HERE is no better time than the mild days of December for pruning 

 the grape, providing the wood is not cut back too close to the new 

 buds. It may also be done in early spring, but if deferred too long 

 there is loss of strength by profuse bleeding. There are many sys- 

 tems of pruning the grape, each of which has ardent advocates. At 

 Maplehurst we practice the Fuller system, which we may briefly 

 describe as follows : — The first year after planting allow only one 

 stem to grow (Fig. 709), and at the end of the first year, cut this back to within 

 about one foot from the ground. The second year allow two buds to grow, 

 producing two branches as in Fig. 710. 



At the end of the second year, bend down these two branches to form two 

 arms, and these should be trained each way four or five feet along the lower 

 wire, forming what are known as 

 the "two arms." From these up- 

 rights are grown about every foot 

 apart, as in Fig. 711, and every 

 year these are cut back to within 

 one or two buds of the old wood of 

 these two arms. 



It is a great temptation to do 

 longer pruning, or to have many 

 of the uprights uncut ; but the re- 

 sult seems always to be disastrous, 

 for the growth will go to these higher 

 parts to the almost entire abortion 

 of the buds below. Then when it 

 becomes very desirable to cut back, 

 there are no buds left on the main 

 arms to renew the growth for the 

 season following. 



In addition to this, the only 

 pruning needed in the summer, is 

 simply to rub off superfluous sprouts 

 when they are just beginning to 

 push, and to stop the young growth 

 about a leaf or two beyond the last 

 bunch of grapes. 



■■*>C^y 



Fu 



Fig. 710. 



