46 THE vine-dkessek's manual. 



In this year, too, one of the vines is removed, if both 

 cuttings have grown in any one hill. The healthiest 

 vine is retained, the other is removed. This should be 

 done with extreme care toward the vine which is in- 

 tended to remain. The grape roots thus taken out, 

 may be used to supply vacancies, or new vineyards, or 

 be sold to others. 



The vineyard may now be supplied with "stakes," and 

 also preparation may be made for whatever system of 

 trimming may be adopted, (for which see the chapter fol- 

 lowing,) and to the stakes axe fastened three or four of 

 the sprouts, which grow during the ensuing summer. 

 Should more than three or four grow, they must be re- 

 moved by pinching them off. During the third year, 

 I have found it not amiss, to pinch off the ends of 

 vines after August, when they have grown four or 

 more feet high, so as to ripen the wood. This should 

 be done only after the shoots have begun to turn brown 

 near the " head." 



During this summer, the vineyard is also hoed 

 twice ; and especially is it good to give it an extra 

 hoeing in the fall, so as to avoid an early spring hoeing, 

 which on account of frosts had better be delayed till 

 after the 10th or 12th of May, with young vines espe- 

 cially. 



In the fourth year the vineyard, if well treated, will 

 be in good bearing order. The vines should be 



