220 AMERICAN GRAPE GROWING 



shoots have made a growth of from six to eight inches, 

 when the whole vine can be looked over easily and the 

 superfluous parts removed. If delayed for only a week 

 the work is doubled, and cannot be so well done, as the 

 mass of foliage obscures the work. 



I am decidedly in favor of pinching or shortening in the 

 bearing shoots, if it be done early which is the main 

 point. If delayed until the young growth becomes hard 

 and woody, it is decidedly detrimental. The right time 

 is when the young shoots are about eighteen inches long 

 and are yet tender. It makes the growth more stocky, 

 develops the young fruit which is then forming more 

 evenly, and brings out the laterals to shade it when it 

 most needs shade. It will also prevent the blowing off of 

 the shoots by high winds and make late cultivation 

 easier, the vine being more compact. Those who object 

 to the practice claim that it forces out too much second 

 growth, which is not desirable, and that it prevents the 

 setting of the fruit. These objections mainly arise be- 

 cause the work is done too late then it is injurious, 

 bringing stagnation of sap and uneven ripening of fruit. 

 But where the vines are topped when the young growth 

 is tender, and no more than six inches taken off, it 

 aids in the even and perfect development of the young 

 fruit, gently checking the sap and leading it into the 

 young fruit and the dormant lateral buds. 



