SUGGESTIONS FOR VINE PRUNING 315 



GENERAL NOTES ON PRUNING 



Longer or shorter pruning produces effects not only upon the 

 amount of early ripening of the fruit of certain varieties, but upon 

 quality, as shown in the wines. Such effects have to be discerned 

 by local observation. 



It is a very difficult matter to lay down any rule for pruning a 

 vineyard, so much depends on the age of the vines, the different 

 varieties, and the quality of the soil. A basis on which to build a 

 theory on the subject might be found in and through an under- 

 standing of the quantity of grapes that may be expected from a 

 vine, as the secret of pruning is to keep a just medium between the 

 production of grapes to the injury of the vine and its wood and an 

 overproduction of wood to the detriment of the crop. In older 

 vines a proportion should be maintained between the vigor of the 

 vines and the crop desired ; each bud may be considered good for 

 two bunches of grapes the ordinary size, and upon this estimate 

 may be obtained. It must be borne in mind that the result of over- 

 loading the vine is detrimental to its vigor and health, while the 

 reverse will not injure it, but will lessen the profits for that season, 

 often giving greatly increased returns in after years. 



Close attention should be given to the growth of the wood and 

 fruit of the preceding year. If the canes are very large and the 

 bunches of grapes poor and there are many suckers, it indicates 

 that more eyes are necessary. On the contrary, if the canes are 

 small, and the bunches of grapes numerous and straggling, and the 

 ripening not even, it indicates that the number of eyes left should 

 be less. 



Pruning may be regulated to produce a good second crop of 

 grapes or to prevent the formation of a second crop. The second 

 crop is sometimes profitable in raisin and table varieties, but is as 

 a rule undesirable. 



Attention should be paid to the tools used in pruning. Let the 

 blades be kept sharp and thin ; large shears are very apt to bruise 

 the wood more than small ones. 



Pruning is done after the fall of the leaves and before the swell- 

 ing of the buds, usually in January and February. Early pruning 

 has a tendency to make the vines start growth early, consequently 

 in frosty situations pruning is often deferred till late in the winter 

 as late as the middle of March in some cases. But it is inconvenient 

 to do a large amount of pruning so late. At any time in the winter 

 the canes can be cut back to 15 or 18 inches and the vineyard 

 cleaned up. When the outer buds on these long spurs start, cut 

 back to the two buds next the old wood and they will start 15 or 20 

 days later than if the vines had been pruned short earlier in the 

 season. This practice has been followed with marked advantage in 

 some regions liable to late spring frosts. The bleeding which follows 

 late pruning is no loss to the vine, according to observation of late- 

 pruned vines. 



The proper treatment of vines injured by spring frosts is clearly 

 the immediate removal, by a sharp downward jerk, of the frosted 



