CULTURAL METHODS FOR THE GRAPE IN NEW YORK 1283 



In the following year pruning consists in cutting out all 

 but four canes that have developed from the spurs or canes of 

 the previous year, and selecting those that are as close as pos- 

 sible to the main trunk. Thus the bearing wood is renewed 



vcarly. 



FIG. 424. THE SINGLE-STEM KNIFFEN SYSTEM OF TRAINING 



As the spurs will lengthen rapidly, it will therefore become 

 necessary to remove them entirely every five or six years. This 

 can be done by selecting well-placed shoots that arise from time 

 to time from the trunk or stem. 



Two-stem, Four-cane Kniffen. This is very similar to the 

 type just described, the only difference being that two permanent 

 trunks are brought up from the ground. One of these is carried 

 to the height of the lower wire, where two canes are taken off 

 from spurs and tied to the wires as before; the other stem is 

 carried to the top wire and two canes are taken from it. Some 

 vineyardists prefer to tie the two stems together in order to make 

 tliem stiffer. In using this method, the canes taken from each 

 stem may have the same number of "buds, each stem being con- 

 sidered as a distinct vine. 



