38 



are, as a rule, better than those of a greater age, as the older they are 

 the more they suffer when shifted. 



The number of vines required to plant an acre can be ascertained from 

 the following table : 



Plants to the Acre. Plants to the Acre. 



3x3 requires 4840 9x8 requires 605 



4x3 H630 9x9 537 



4x4 2722 10 x 7 



5x4 2178 10 x 8 



5x5 1742 10 x <) 



6x5 1452 ]0 x 10 



6x6 1210 11 x 11 



7x6 1023 12 x 12 



7x7 888 IS x 18 



8x7 ,. 788 14 x 14 



8x8 ,, 680 15 x 15 



9x7 (591 



622 

 544 

 484 

 435 

 360 

 3(2 

 257 

 222 

 193 



TRAINING. 



The Grape Vine may be trained in various ways according to the 

 requirements or fancy of the cultivator. The one most generally adopted 

 in vineyards is the Currant-bush style, in which the plant is encouraged 

 to 'form several branches, each carrying one or more fruit-bearing shoots. 

 When the plants are trained on trellises, fences or walls, long lateral 

 branches should be encouraged, and spurs formed along their whole 

 length. Care should be taken, whatever form may be adopted, to 

 arrange the branches, as far as is practicable, so that each one will get 

 a fair share of the planters growth. In order to attain this object, the 

 main lateral branches should, as nearly as possible, be kept at the same 

 level, as there is always a tendency for the sap to rise more freely to the 

 upper shoots than the lower ones. The height of the stems to the 

 branches is of no material importance, but in all cases, the growth should 

 be so arranged that the bunches of fruit will hang clear of the ground. 



Forming the Plants. It is essential that Grape Vines should, from 

 the time they are planted, be trained so as to bring them into the desired 

 forms, whatever style of growth may be adopted. The first consideration 

 is to form the stems to the required height, before allowing the formation 

 of permanent lateral branches. If a high stem is required it will be 

 stouter and stronger if formed gradually, and more especially when the 

 Currant-bush style is adopted. This object will be attained by shortening 

 'the main or leading cane for two or three years, to two or three eyes, 

 according to its strength, in preferance to leaving long shoots. Some- 

 times, if growth is weakly, it may be advisable to shorten back the 

 leading cane to one eye. When planted the vine should be simply 

 shortened back to two, three, or four eyes, according to its strength. 

 The next year the same course must be followed but if the plant is 

 strong a second shoot from an upper bud may be preserved and shortened 

 back to a single eye. The second year after planting it will be advisable 



