32 How TO MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA 



wherever the grape vine is grown. In general it may be said, that 

 the pruning must conform to the variety of grape, to the vigor and 

 size of the vine, to climatic and atmospheric conditions of the lo- 

 cality and to the demands of the market for the fruit. There are 

 some minor considerations, but I believe these are the principal 

 ones. 



The quantity and quality of the crop is very much influenced 

 by the nature of the soil. On account of this a vine may have too 

 much or too little vigor, to bear properly. To maintain the proper 

 equilibrium between crop and woodgrowth, should be one of the 

 objects of pruning. The vigor of a vine can be lessened with higher 

 training, more spreading head and more numerous or longer fruit 

 canes. It can be increased by reversed methods from the above. 

 It is always best, especially on virgin soil, to start with a lower head 

 than appears necessary at the time for the production of greatest 

 quantity and best quality. A vine can be much more easily raised 

 up higher with short upright spurs, than lowered if it has been 

 raised up too high in the first place. In general, not enough differ 

 ence is made in the winter pruning of large vines and small ones, as 

 also in their training to a higher or lower head according to the 

 richness of the ground. Training a vine to a high and spreading 

 head on a poor soil, takes all its resources to nourish this, without it 

 being able to bear. On the other hand, where a vine has been 

 trained to a low head on rich ground, the woodgrowth is so im- 

 mense, that it robs the sap, which should properly go into, fruit. 

 This is more pronounced with some varieties than with others. The 

 same may be said of the manner, heads of vines are spread, more 

 or less. It is much better for the health and longevity of a vine, 

 if it has a little too much vigor and less fruit, than the reverse. 



Excessive moisture as well as extreme dryness during the 

 time of development and ripening of the fruit may postpone its 

 maturing or cause inferiority of the same. The first generally does 

 not occur in California, except during the forepart of the season, 

 when it does its harm in causing unnecessary woodgrowth, injuri- 

 ous to the proper development of the fruit and the healthfulness 

 of the vine. For this reason, vines on poor gravelly hillsides in 

 mountain districts, where they do not grow excessively on account 

 of the poorness of the soil and in consequence later on do not suf- 

 fer for want of moisture, produce the firmest, sweetest and a good 

 many times the largest berries. Where vines are growing on rich 

 ground, heavily charged with moisture during spring, their am- 

 bition should be curbed by vigorous summer pruning as described 

 in Chapter II. 



Too much old wood may prevent a vine from doing its best. 

 The arms of a vine should be renewed occasionally. The smaller 

 ones may be cut near the main body, but the large ones should 

 not be cut nearer than six inches from the trunk and should al- 

 ways have one or two canes of young growth at their extremity. 

 Large cut surfaces should be painted over. 



Excessive crops may retard the maturing and the formation 

 of the necessary sugar contents of the fruit. Large trees standing 



