THE GRAPE. 



413 



two or even three buds on each spur, so as to form two or 

 three bearing shoots from each, in order to obtain a fuller 

 crop. This is, however, drawing too severely on the vine for 

 continued practice. To maintain the vigor of the vineyard, 

 as well as to obtain large, well-developed, well-ripened 

 bunches and berries, the vines should never be over-cropped ; 



FIG. 562. Pruned Vine. 



and one shoot from each spur is, therefore, sufficient. The 

 reports which are often made of six, seven, and eight tons of 

 grapes from an acre, may be set down as evidences of bad 

 management and over-exhaustion of the vines. Three to four 

 tons per acre is the largest amount which good and continued 

 success will warrant. 



By raising bearing shoots from the same spur for successive 



FIG. 563. 



FIG. 564. Laterals. 



years, this spur will become lengthened several inches, or at 

 the rate of about one inch annually. Although little incon- 

 veniences result, it is desirable to keep them short ; and for 

 this purpose the spur may be cut back to one of the smaller 

 buds at its base, and a new shoot thus brought out to form the 

 beginning of a renewed spur. As this new shoot springs from 

 a small bud, it should not bear any fruit the same season, but 

 its whole strength be given to the formation of wood to furnish 

 next year's bearing shoot. By selecting each year a small 



