SECRETARY'S REPORT. 93 



importance, for, other things being equal, the largest and hand- 

 somest bunches are the most valuable, often bringing in the 

 market double the price which can be obtained for small 

 bunches. 



We shall speak of the renewal, or long cane system, and spur 

 pruning; either of which, judiciously followed, will give good 

 crops and large bunches, always supposing the kind of grape 

 cultivated will give large bunches, for many kinds of grapes, 

 though of fine quality, cannot be made to give large bunches 

 under any kind of pruning. We should mention, also, that 

 some kinds of grape, as the Clinton, Strawberry, and such 

 grapes generally as make long, slender wood, must be laid in 

 long canes upon the espalier to give good crops. 



To begin at the beginning, then, we will suppose the vine 

 just planted and cut down to two eyes ; after these two eyes 

 have grown about a foot, pinch the,weakest one at the end and 

 train the strongest one to the pole or espalier. If it run away 

 weakly, pinch it occasionally, which will set back the sap and 

 thicken the stem; it will probably push out lateral shoots, 

 which should always be pinched at the second leaf ; this will 

 prevent the formation of weak, watery shoots, and strengthen 

 the leader. At. the end of the season cut back the long shoot 

 to the lower bar of the espalier, which is usually about eighteen 

 inches from the ground, and cut the short one clean back to 

 the old wood, your purpose being to have a single stem for 

 about a half yard from the ground ; but if the grape is trained 

 against a house, and it is desired to lead off the side arms at a 

 greater heighth, as above a door, &c., then cut off the vine at 

 that heighth, observing that there must be but one stem from 

 the ground to the point from whence the arms diverge ; and 

 any shoots which come out at the base of the vine must always 

 be rubbed out, lest they run away with the strength of the vine 

 and rob the upper shoots of the necessary sap. 



The second year you will allow two shoots to grow from the 

 top of the vine ; lay them in diagonally on the espalier, pinch- 

 ing them occasionally as before, and if the buds on the main 

 stem push, pinch them at tb.e second leaf as before. At the 

 fall pruning, all the laterals should be cut clean out. At the 

 end of the season cut away all the laterals, and lay in the two 

 shoots right and left on the espalier, horizontally, cutting each 



