2 THE AMERICAN VINE-DRESSER'S GUIDE. 



OF PRUNING HIGH VINES. 



IF you wish to have your vine high, one shoot 

 must be left at the first pruning, and that shoot 

 seven or eight inches long, according to the 

 strength of the vine ; always remembering to 

 cut it immediately below an eye, taking care to 

 destroy all the eyes next the trunk, and leaving 

 but two at the extreme end of the shoot just 

 cut. At the second pruning, the same points 

 are to be observed, and two shoots to be left. 

 At the third, leave one shoot more, but only 

 two eyes on each shoot. At the fourth, you 

 may leave four and even five, if the ground 

 be good ; for by this time your vine has at- 

 tained the desired height. After this, the 

 pruning is to be similar to that for low vines, 

 unless the soil be very fertile, in which case 

 you cut two or three shoots, twelve, eighteen, 

 or twenty : four inches long, leaving all the 

 eyes on. This the vine-dressers call "making 

 a bend," for the twig is bent to be tied to the 

 prop. Take care to twist it half a turn, so 



