GRAPE VINES TRAINING ON WALLS. 267 



extremity. In this manner proceed until the space is covered, the vines being pruned 

 on the spur system, as shown in Q, page 265. 



4. Horizontal Training. A cane is trained upright and shortened in winter to 3 or 4J 

 feet according to its strength. Shoots are taken from the upright to the right and left 

 at 1 8 inches apart to form the horizontal rods, whilst a leader is taken from the extremity 

 in continuation of the stem, the horizontals being similarly extended, and so on until 

 the space is covered. This is an admirable system of training vines against the walls 

 of a dwelling-house or building, pruning them on the Thomery method, $, page 265. 



5. Informal Training. Vines against the walls of cottages and other buildings 

 may be trained on no particular system, yet produce fruit abundantly, with the growths 

 so disposed as to fully develop and mature. A vine is planted and shortened to a foot 

 from the ground, and it pushes two or three vigorous canes, which are spread over the 

 space, and in autumn shortened to 3, 4^, or 6 feet, according to their vigour and the 

 ripeness of the wood. If the vine has three canes, the central one is cut back to about 

 18 inches, and the side canes are brought down to an angle of 45, or lower, so as to 

 spread well over the lower part of the wall. The following year shoots are left 

 wherever there is room for a growth not less than 18 inches from the others. By this 

 method the space is quickly covered with bearing shoots, some primed on the spur 

 and others on the extension system. This is the simplest, also one of the best methods 

 of training vines on walls if it is properly carried out. The growths can be taken 

 everywhere, to cover the space between windows, and when a rod ceases to produce 

 fruit freely on spurs it can be cut out, and a sturdy fruitful cane taken in its place. 

 Thus the vine may be kept well furnished with bearing wood by laying-in young 

 shoots where there is ample room for them, and cutting away a portion of old wood 

 that has been weakened by close pruning and continued bearing. The secret of success 

 rests in the thin disposal of the summer growths. 



Vines against walls must be carefully disbudded, not allowing three to five shoots 

 to remain on a spur where there is only space for one or two ; stop the bearing shoots 

 one or two joints beyond the fruit, and repress all subsequent laterals. Allow one 

 bunch to each shoot, and before the berries touch each other thin half of them out 

 with sharp-pointed scissors. Avoid over-cropping and expose white varieties to the 

 light when ripening. In a dry season supply water, soapsuds, or liquid manure 

 once a week. Syringe the vines when the fruit is set, and in the evening of hot days 

 until the grapes commence ripening. Secure the bearing shoots to the wall. Kegulate 



X X 2 



