FRUIT CULTURE. 139 



trellis, or if intended to be protected in winter, this should be 

 done the following spring. 



When spring arrives, and the vines are uncovered, the two 

 shoots should then be tied one each way, horizontally along 

 the lower rail of the trellis ; these are called the arms of the 

 vine ; upright shoots should be trained from them, beginning at 

 the trunk or stem of the vine, and about nine inches distant 

 each side ; this will leave the upright or perpendicular shoots 

 eighteen inches apart, which is near enough to allow plenty of 

 light to the leaves, and prevent them from being crowded. 

 The number of uprights to be taken this season will of course 

 depend on the strength of the vine, but if possible the ones 

 next the trunk or stem should be secured, and if the others 

 push vigorously, train them up also, rubbing out the interme- 

 diate ones when nearer than eighteen inches ; no fruit, or only 

 a few berries, enough to test a new sort should be allowed to 

 grow on them this year, as it will injure the fruitfulness of the 

 vine for coming seasons. 



At the fall pruning, these uprights should be cut back, the 

 strongest to four or five feet, and the weak ones, to one or two 

 buds, from which to lead new uprights ; the shoot at the end of 

 the arms can be pruned if strong, to four or five feet, as from 

 this the vine is to be extended, and new uprights to be taken, 

 till we arrive at the end of the space to be covered ; after this 

 the vine is protected for the winter. The following spring — the 

 fourth from the setting of the vine, — it will be old enough to 

 bear fruit from the upright canes ; and this leads us to a ques- 

 tion, whether the vine this summer will need any pruning, some 

 thinking that summer pruning is injurious, and that the 

 removal of the shoots or leaves, tends to spoil the flavor of the 

 fruit. 



This is right in theory, for if we take off the leaves of a vine 

 or tree, or if they are destroyed by mildew, we know the fruit 

 will be worthless ; but notwithstanding, we would recommend 

 judicious summer pruning as absolutely necessary where we 

 have not space for the vine- to grow naturally ; as for instance, 

 over some large tree, where it has plenty of room to extend 

 itself, and get the full benefit of sun and air ; and we think 

 those who advocate letting a vine grow in summer without prun- 

 ing, on a small trellis which is intended to be well filled with 



