88 AMERICAN" GRAPE GROWIITG 



ments, and can be had at nearly all good hardware stores. 

 The springs should be of brass, as steel springs are apt to 

 break. A much lighter and smaller kind, with but one 

 spring, is very convenient for gathering grapes, clipping 

 out unripe or imperfect berries, and also in making cut- 

 tings. Shears will cut the stem easily and smoothly, with- 

 out jarring the vine, and are much superior to a knife. 

 No one who has tried them will want to use a knife again. 

 Pruj^in^g Saws. — These are sometimes necessary to 

 cut out old, diseased stumps, although if a vine is well 

 managed this will seldom be necessary. Figure 13 shows 



Fig. 13.— PRUNING SAW. 



a kind very convenient for the purpose, as also for orchard 

 pruning. The bow is of steel, the blade narrow, and so 

 connected with the wooden handle, that it can bc3 t jrned 

 in any direction, and can be tightened by a screw and 

 nut above. 



