THE SPUR 409 



ducing the number of buds to one or two and by 

 endeavoring to bring out a cane lower down on 

 the spur every few years. Fig. 261 shows a short 

 spur of two years' standing. The horizontal por- 

 tion shows the permanent arm. The first upright 

 part is the remains of the first -year cane, and 

 the upper part is the second -year cane after it 

 is cut back in the fall. In this 

 instance, the cane is cut back to 

 one fruiting -bud, 6, the small 

 buds, a a, being rubbed out. 

 There are serious objections to 

 spurs in any position. They be- 

 come hard and comparatively life- 

 less after a time ; it is often diffi- 

 cult to replace them by 

 healthy, fresh wood; and 

 the bearing portion of the 

 vine is constantly reced- """" "~ 2 6i. Spur, 

 ing from the main trunk. 



The bearing wood should spring from near the 

 central parts of the vine, or be kept "near the 

 head," as the grape - growers say. In order to 

 do this, it is customary to allow two canes to 

 grow out each year back of the canes Al and Bl 

 (Fig. 260), or from the head of the vine; these 

 canes may be designated C and D. 



These canes, C and D, are grown during 1892 

 when they may bear fruit like other canes for 

 the sole purpose of forming the basis of the bear- 



