MODIFIED KNIFFINS 



467 



young wood. These shoots, instead of being al- 

 lowed to hang at will, are carried out horizon- 

 tally and either tied to the wire or twisted around 

 it. The advantage urged for this modification 

 is the little injury done by wind, but, as a mat- 

 ter of practice, it affords less protection than the 

 true drooping Kniffin, for in the latter the shoots 



295. A common but poor type of Kniffin. 



from the upper cane soon cling to the lower 

 wire, and the shoots from both tiers of canes 

 protect each other below the lower wire. There 

 are three serious disadvantages to this holding 

 up of the shoots, it makes unnecessary labor, 

 the canes are likely to make wood or "bull 

 canes" (see page 450) at the expense of fruit, 

 and the fruit is bunched together on the vines. 

 The true and successful Kniffin does not allow 



