REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION 



55 



along the two wires to the right^and left of the stem. The canes are tied 

 tightly and just in from the last bud. When thus tied they cannot slip out 

 of the twine and the girdling does not interfere with the fruiting wood of 

 the following year. The two upper canes support the head of the stem so 

 that no tying of it is necessary. In ordinary seasons tying at this time is 

 sufficient for the year, however, if the conditions for rapid growth are un- 

 favorable, the twine may rot away before the tendrils have firmly taken hold 

 of the wires, and a partial second tying may be necessary. Where the 

 acreage is not extremely large, it is a good plan to break off all clusters on 

 the shoots growing from the spurs shortly after they are formed. The 

 primary purpose for their retention is not for fruit this year but to furnish 

 the fruiting wood for the following. 



After the close of the fourth season, the pruner has a considerable 

 choice of fruiting wood for the following year. It may be chosen from the 

 basal canes of the preceeding year's fruiting wood or the canes that have 

 developed from the spurs may be used. The choice depends upon the rela- 

 tive accessibility and maturity of the wood. At each pruning, the possibili- 

 ties for obtaining fruiting wood for the following year should receive careful 

 consideration, and provision made for it. It is possible to use the same spurs 

 for two or three years but after this time they should be entirely cut away 

 and new ones obtained. As far as possible after the first spurring, the spurs 

 should be selected from the stem or wood that is older than two years. The 

 shoots from such wood bear but little fruit, and hence make good fruiting 

 canes for the next year. 



Fig. 2. Umbrella Kniffen System. 



