206 GRAPES. 



may be the same amount of space to each, so that 

 when they commence growing they shall cover the 

 trellis evenly. 



The great fear of the planter is that he will not 

 be able to prune properly. There are several 

 methods employed, but the principle, or the object 

 to be obtained is the same in all cases. Had we 

 not departed from nature, by crowding too many 

 vines upon the ground, it is my opinion that little 

 or no pruning would be required. I have seen a 

 Concord vine that had escaped from its straight 

 jacket, and climbed a dead apple tree, produce more 

 and better fruit than would ordinarily grow upon 

 4 or 5 vines as ordinarily pruned. Nevertheless, 

 -there are reasons why the close planting is the 

 better. We shall get a full crop of fruit sooner 

 from the same ground than if we plant only one 

 fourth as many vines, which would contemplate 

 waiting till the vines had become as large as the 

 aggregate of the closer planted ones. 



The amount of fruit where a close pruning system 

 is pursued will be regulated by it. If we allow too 

 much fruit to set it will be smaller, of inferior 

 quality, and is apt not to ripen. 



Each bud or "eye" is an embryo branch or 

 lateral, which when developed will produce, about 

 three bunches of fruit. In pruning keep this in view. 

 Large strong vines will of course be allowed to 

 bear more than smaller ones. The temptation is 

 always to save too many of these buds, presuming 

 that more buds will bring more fruit. 



