ft y^x. 



^ 



UNIVERSITY V 



PRUNING THE VINE : THE LONG-ROD SYSTEM. 49 



rugged spurs. For the well-being of the Vine, therefore, in an 

 economical point of view, no less than for its neater appearance, it is 

 better to prune so as to have short close spurs. 



The condition of the pruned Vine in succeeding years may now be 

 briefly noticed. Fig. 17 may be taken to represent properly-pruned 

 spurs of three years' formation, and fig. 18 similarly well-pruned 

 spurs at the end of ten years. Either may, indeed, by careful and 

 rigid pruning, be kept within very much less compass ; but the 

 figures we have given may be taken to represent ordinarily well- 

 formed spurs. The stem of a well-grown Vine at ten years of age 

 should be from one to three inches in diameter, more or less, according 

 to the length of the rod ; and a Vine of this age would have for 

 some time attained its full limits as to length, so that the pruning 

 to be. practised would be simply a repetition of what has been 

 explained. 



One important point, in regard to the spur system of pruning, is 

 that of the distance between the spurs. They are generally retained 

 too- closely. This is, in some measure, owing to each bud being 

 allowed to form a shoot, irrespective of its distance from the other 

 shoots. It is necessary to sacrifice some of the shoots in order the- 

 better to develop others. The leaves of a Vine are large, so that the 

 side shoots should not be less than from eighteen to twenty four inches 

 apart. This will allow of a proper leaf development on each particular 

 shoot that may be left. It is only by allowing space and full exposure 

 that the leaves can be properly developed ; and assuredly without good 

 leaves there can never be good Grapes. 



Long-rod Pruning. The Long-rod system of pruning the Vine is 

 that which was practised almost exclusively in this country until about 

 fifty years ago, when the spur system was introduced ; the latter is so 

 much more simple and so superior that the former is scarcely ever 

 adopted now. Nevertheless, for some varieties of Grapes that bear 

 better on young wood the long-rod system of pruning is decidedly 

 preferable. It may be explained that the method is simply that of 

 training in a number of young rods, and pruning them so that the fruit 

 is borne from the buds on these rods. Very good fruit is thus produced, 

 but the objection to the system always was, and is, its irregularity, and 

 the confusion which occurs in regard to the pruning and stopping of 

 the shoots. Under careless management the bearing rods get all 

 crowded together, and a great quantity of useless wood is produced. 



Extension System. The extension system of training and pruning 

 is simply that of allowing one Vine to grow so as to occupy an 

 extended space ; instead of confining it to one stem, many stems are 

 allowed to be formed in course of time. There is much to be said in 

 favour of this system, especially in large lofty houses where Vines 

 require some time to occupy all the space. The development of young 

 rods induces increased vigour, and imparts fresh life and energy to 



