44 PRUNING THE VINE : THE SPUR SYSTEM. 



being always advisable to cut a little in advance of the eye rather than, 

 close to it ; D is the first side shoot, and was produced from the second 

 bud left at the previous pruning. This, when pruned off as the 

 cross-line indicates, shows the formation of the first spur, or it may 

 be left to form the second stem where two steins are required ; E is a 

 summer lateral shoot, i.e., a side shoot formed from another shoot or 

 stem of the same season's growth ; F may be considered as the 

 figurative point to which stem B may be cut back. 



To give a practical explanation of our meaning, however, we will 

 suppose the Vine to be cut down, as in fig. 12, to say six or twelve 

 inches from the ground, and that it was grown well that is, 

 it has made a leading shoot from fifteen to twenty feet long, and of 

 corresponding thickness. In the first place, if a side shoot like D has 

 been formed, this should be pruned off, as marked, to form the first 

 spur, if it is considered desirable or necessary to have a spur so low. 

 Far better and stronger spurs are, however, produced from the stems 

 formed after being planted out ; and this is an additional reason for 

 cutting low down ; the stem is stronger and the buds are larger, and 

 so produce better shoots, which form better permanent spurs. In the 

 second place, prune off all summer lateral shoots, such as E, quite 

 close ; and then, in the third place, we have to consider the length of 

 the main stem B to be left, or where the point F shall be. This point 

 has chiefly to be determined by the strength of the stem or the vigour 

 of the plant. To the amateur Vine-cultivator it appears a great pity 

 to cut away so much of the fine wood which has been formed ; it 

 seems a needless waste first to grow it and then cut it away, when it 

 is known that in every bud there is a bunch of fruit. The tempta- 

 tion is great to leave a good long rod on the young Vine ; and so in 

 many cases we may trace the commencement of their u road to ruin." 



In -the Spur system of training it is of paramount importance that 

 all the permanent spurs should be formed of equal strength. So in 

 the pruning or shortening of the main stem, the point to be kept in 

 view is the power of the Vine to form good shoots from all the buds 

 left. It should be pruned to this point, neither longer nor shorter 

 If we leave a long rod, say of twenty buds, the four or five top buds 

 will break strongly, and the lower portion very weakly, or not at all ; 

 and* the result will be a Vine stem without shoots, unsightly and 

 unfruitful. Had these been pruned to half the length, all the buds 

 would have broken or put forth shoots of equal strength, regularity, 

 and fruitfulness. It is difficult to define exactly the length of rod to 

 be left. A healthy Vine with a stem, say the thickness of one's 

 thumb or finger, may be allowed some four or five feet of new stem, 

 or even more. It is better, however, to err on the side of severity in 

 pruning the main stems than the reverse. The one is overcome in a 

 few seasons ; the other is a permanent loss and disfigurement to the 

 Vine. 



