HIGH RENEWAL 449 



when this number is left the canes should be four, 

 as explained in the last paragraph. In Delaware 

 and other weak -growing varieties, twenty or 

 twenty -five buds to the vine should be the maxi- 

 mum and only two canes should be left. In short- 

 jointed varieties, the canes are usually cut to the 

 desired length four to six feet even if too great 

 a number of buds is left, but the shoots which 

 spring from these extra buds are broken out soon 

 after they start. A Delaware vine which has made 

 an unusually short or weak growth will require 

 fewer buds to be left for next year's top than a 

 neighboring vine of the same variety which has 

 made a strong growth. The Catawba, which is a 

 short but very stiff grower, is usually cut back 

 to six or eight buds, as seen in Figs. 282, 283, 

 284. Fig. 287 is a good Catawba vine four years 

 set. 



The grower soon learns to adjust the pruning to 

 the character of the vine, without effort. He has 

 in his mind a certain ideal crop of grapes, per- 

 haps about so many bunches, and he leaves enough 

 buds to produce this amount, allowing, perhaps, 

 ten per cent of the buds for accidents and barren 

 shoots. He knows, too, that the canes should 

 always be cut back to firm, well -ripened wood. 

 It should be said that mere size of cane does not 

 indicate its value as a fruit -bearing branch. 

 Hard, smooth wood of medium size usually gives 

 better results than the very large and softer canes 

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