The Drooping System. 77 



the rows. The end posts are either braced by a 

 pole or anchored by a wire taken from the top and 

 secured to a stake or stone eight or ten feet be- 

 yond, outside the vineyard. 



Renewal Kniffin. It is an easy matter to adapt 

 the Kniffin principle of free hanging shoots to a 

 true renewal method of pruning. There are a few 

 modifications in use in which the wood is annually 

 renewed to near the ground. The trellises com- 

 prise either two or three wires, and are made in the 

 same manner as for the upright systems, as the 

 High Renewal. At the annual pruning only one 

 cane is left. This comprises twelve or fifteen buds, 

 and is tied up diagonally across the trellis, the point 

 or end of the cane usually being bent downward 

 somewhat, in order to check the strong growth from 

 the uppermost parts. The shoots hang from this 

 cane, and they may be pinched back when they 

 reach the ground. In the meantime a strong shoot 

 is taken out from the opposite side of the head 

 which usually stands a foot or less from the ground 

 to make the bearing wood of the next year ; and this 

 new cane will be tied in an opposite direction on the 

 trellis from the present bearing cane, and the next 

 renewal shoot will be taken from the other side of 

 the head, or the side from which the present bear- 

 ing wood sprung ; so that the bearing top of the vine 

 is alternated in either direction upon the trellis. 

 This system, and similar ones, allow of laying down 

 the vines easily in winter, and insure excellent fruit 



