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CHAPTER IX. 



PRUNING AND TRAINING THE VINE. 



'HE Vine is a free-growing long-lived plant. When young and 

 I vigorous, it grows very rapidly, the growth of a single season 

 often attaining a length of from thirty to forty feet, or more. 

 In its natural state the Vine is of a climbing character, sustaining 

 itself by its tendrils, so that in its cultivated condition it has to be 

 supported. It requires, in fact, a certain amount of training, that is, 

 the fastening up of the shoots in some particular way, and of pruning 

 to prevent excessive and confused extension. 



There are various methods adopted in training the Vine, as being 

 adapted for some particular place or purpose. We have, first, that 

 adopted in the Vineyards or Vine-growing countries in the open air, 

 where the young or fruit-bearing shoots are tied to upright poles, 

 some six or eight feet in length, which mode of training scarcely 

 comes within our province here. Then we have that adopted and 

 adapted for Vines against walls, either in the open air or under glass; 

 and we have training against trellises under glass. In the training of 

 Vines against walls, in the open air chiefly, it has generally been the 

 habit to introduce a more fanciful form than when they are grown 

 against trellis-work. There can be no particular reason for this, 

 because the mode adopted in the one case must be equally suitable in 

 the other. 



In a broad sense, we have in practice but two modes of Training 

 and Pruning the Vine, viz., the Long-rod system, and the Spur 

 system ; some may add a third, viz., the extension system, which is 

 a modification or an enlargement of both the others. Each of these 

 modes is subject to all sorts of modifications, as fancy may dictate, or 

 circumstances may allow ; but before proceeding further with their 

 explanation, it is necessary to say a word or two on pruning generally, 

 apart from training. 



To prune is to cut off, or otherwise sever, a shoot or branch from a 

 tree or plant. Now, we prune our Vines for various reasons, as 

 follows : 



1. We prune for the purpose of attaining greater vigour in the 

 plant ; for by cutting off a portion of a shoot or branch, the forces that 

 would have been diffused over the whole are concentrated on the 

 part that is left, and hence we get a stronger growth. 



2. We prune for the purpose of training or securing some desired 

 form ; we prune and cut our Vines according as we desire to train 

 them. Be it understood that the shoots of the present season are 



