GRAPE VINES LONG ROD TRAINING. 179 



shortened to 3 feet when the leaves have fallen ; if as thick as the thumb, leave 4 \ to 6 

 feet of new extension wood. Prune a weakly cane to about 18 inches ; one not thicker 

 than the first joint of the little finger, shorten to three buds to force stronger growth. 



The third year's training is merely a repetition of the second, that is, a shoot is taken 

 from the extremity in continuation of the rod, bearing shoots are reserved on the sides 

 of last season's cane at 15 to 18 inches apart, and four to six bunches of grapes allowed 

 on a vine. Discretion must be exercised in the cropping of young vines, for they often 



rw 



Fig. 87. LONG ROD TBAININO. 



References : D, a young vine that grew to the top of the roof or trellis and was cut back in winter resulting 

 growths foreshadowed : o, leader, topped in summer ; p, topped when two-thirds of the length ; q, topped at four or 

 five joints. E, the cane o (now r] shortened a little in winter, for bearing, and producing an extension growth, u ; also 

 side growths v and w, through pruning at s and t. F, extension cane x (u in E) shortened for bearing at the upper 

 part of the roof ; y (v in E) for bearing at the lower part of the trellis ; a, bearing parts removed to give room for c ; 

 the whole rod is taken out at d after the crop from x has been cut ; b taking the place of x the following year, and 

 c that of y, with the bearing parts removed as at a, but a spur and good bud is left at e for a successional growth. 

 G, vine fully established : / and j, bearing parts ; i, k, and I, successionals ; h, removal of the rod after the crop from 

 / is cut. B. W. t bottom wire ; C. W., central wire ; T. W., top wire. 



produce large clusters, and one bunch may prove a heavier crop than three small ones. 

 Overburdening vines in their early years impairs their constitution and they are not 

 lasting. The training of the vines is the same ye,ar by year until they have extended 

 to the limits; then they are pruned on the spur system, which was introduced about 

 seventy-five years ago, and for general purposes is the best. It conserves the strength 

 of the vine, and its simplicity, regularity, and neatness are great recommendations. 

 Long Rod Training. Though this system was once commonly practised it has been 



