94 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF VITICULTURE 



Pruning. 



American varieties are pruned very much the same as in New York, 

 the renewal system being one in vogue using various combinations of arms, 

 such as the two-arm, the four-arm, the fan shape. The Kniffin, both two 

 and - four-arm, system and occasionally the Munson system are used also. 

 Since these systems are described so thoroughly in various books on pruning 

 and grape bulletins, it would be merely repetition to describe them here. 



The system of pruning the Vinifera grape is greatly modified from that 

 used in California. This is owing to the fact that we must give artificial 

 protection. In those sections where artificial protection is not necessary, the 

 California system of pruning the Vinifera is used. Mr. R. W. Allen, Superin- 

 tendent of the Eastern Oregon Experiment Station, Hermiston, has found the 

 following system of pruning the Vinifera to give very good results: 



Training and Pruning Viniferas. 



Vinifera plants require being kept near the ground to facilitate covering 

 for protection in winter. They can be trained to low stumps (the short 

 system) or horizontal arms, that can either be left on the ground during 

 summer or tied up to the lower wire of the trellis. Shoots springing from 

 spurs on older wood of the plants constitute the fruit part and should be tied 

 up to a trellis. 



A form of trellis with two wires is in common use. When the horizontal 

 arms are tied up to the lower wire, three wires become necessary. 



Pruning should be done as soon as the leaves fall, so the plants may be 

 covered before cool weather occurs. 

 The Short or Stump System: 



Training young plants for the stump system is simple. It consists in 

 pruning back to short spurs near the crown of the plants until a stump, or 

 much branched stem, is established. These stems, or bodies, should be kept 

 close to the ground to facilitate covering. Pruning is accomplished by cutting 

 back a few strong shoots to spurs having two or three buds, and in removing 

 all the remaining growth. The stump is kept from gaining in height by care- 

 ful selection and close pruning of spurs. 



The fruit wood should be tied up to the trellis, and all remaining growth 

 removed. Other shoots or sprouts that come on during the growing season 

 need to be removed to prevent excessive shading of the fruit near the center 

 of the bushes. 

 Horizontal Arm System: 



Young plants are trained to the horizontal arm system by confining the 

 growth to a small number of shoots (one or two) until two strong canes are 

 produced. One cane is made secure in a horizontal position each way in the 

 row from the plant, and the ends removed at a point near the center of the 

 space between the plants. Growth springing from these permanent arms 

 constitutes the fruiting parts of the plant and is tied on to the trellis each 

 year in a vertical position. 



The pruning of vines trained to this system is accomplished by cutting 

 the canes back each winter to spurs on the permanent arms. The number of 

 spurs left on each plant should be influenced by its vigor. As many canes 

 as the plant can support should be tied up to the trellis as soon as they are 



