218 AMEKICAN GRAPE GROWING 



ing but make it somewhat longer, with more spurs 

 around the head of the vine or from the strongest later- 

 als. Wire may be used for the upper tying, and a loose 

 band of dracaena passed around the middle of the canes 

 to prevent their spreading when heavy with fruit. 



Varieties adapted for this training are Sauvignon 

 Verte, Semillion, White Burgundy, Ohauche Gris, Tram- 

 iner, Chasselas Violette, AVhite Elben, White Muscateller, 

 Grosse Blaue, Mondeuse, Petit Syrah, Meunier, Tannat, 

 Beclan, Valdepenas, Refosco, Gamay and many others. 



Another modification of this training, called the bal- 

 loon, is sometimes used. Four canes are grown instead 

 of three from opposite sides of the vine, and bent 

 together in the middle, where they are fastened by a 

 wire and thus made self-supporting, with most of the 

 fruit hanging in the middle. This method has its ad- 

 vantages and its disadvantages. The circular form in 

 which the vines are bent distributes the sap more evenly, 

 while in the upright training it goes more into the up- 

 per buds on canes and spurs. The disadvantages are 

 that it takes more room in the vineyard, does not per- 

 mit as close working, and unless the canes are of equal 

 size and equally loaded, they swerve to the heavy side. 



LONG PRUNING AND TRAINING. 



Some varieties are shy bearers, even with the latter 

 method of pruning, and need still longer training. The 

 method is the same, the difference being only in detail. 

 Six-foot stakes are used and the canes made long enough 

 to reach to the top. Exception must be made of a few 

 varieties which should have the young shoots for canes 

 pinched during the previous summer, when they have 

 reached the tops of the stakes. This forces out the lat- 

 erals into stronger growth, which are then pruned back 

 to two buds. The varieties bearing best under tliis 

 treatment ^re Kiesling, Sultana, Thompson's Seedless^ 



