HIGH RENEWAL 453 



the ground, and both hands are free. The fruit is 

 also protected from the hot suns and from frost ; 

 and if the shoots are properly tied, the clusters 

 are not shaken roughly by the wind. It is, of 

 course, desirable that all the clusters should be 

 fully exposed to light and air, and all superfluous 

 shoots should, therefore, be pulled off, as already 

 explained (page 415) . In rare cases it may also be 

 necessary, for this purpose, to prune the canes 

 which droop over from the top of the trellis. 



After a few years, the old top or head of the 

 vine becomes more or less weak, and it should be 

 renewed from the root. The thrifty vineyardist 

 anticipates this circumstance, and now and then 

 allows a strong shoot which may spring from the 

 ground to remain. This shoot is treated very 

 much like a young vine, and the head is formed 

 during the second year (page 408). If it should 

 make a strong growth during the first year, and 

 develop stout laterals, it may be cut back only 

 to the lowest wire the first fall ; but in other 

 cases, it should be cut back to two or three buds, 

 from one of which a strong and permanent shoot 

 is taken the second year. When this new top 

 comes into bearing, the old trunk is cut off at the 

 surface of the ground, or below, if possible. A 

 top will retain its vigor for six or eight years 

 under ordinary treatment, and sometimes much 

 longer. These tops are renewed from time to time 

 as occasion permits or demands, and any vineyard 



