390 



Grapes. 



shoot springs from a small bud, it should not bear any fruit the same 

 season, but its whole strength be given to the formation of wood to 

 furnish next year's bearing shoot. By selecting each year a small 

 number for this renewal, the process may be going on annually with 

 but little interference with the general crop. Fig. 432 shows the 

 manner in which this result is effected, the dotted line marking the 

 place where the old spur is cut out on the left, for the benefit of the 

 new shoot on the right. 



SUMMER PINCHING. At every joint of each new shoot is a strong 

 leaf. In the axil (or arm-pit) of each leaf-stalk, buds are formed, 

 which if allowed to remain will grow into fruiting branches another 

 year. Opposite to each strong leaf is a tendril ; or in its place a 

 bunch of fruit, if near the base of strong shoots tendrils being 

 regarded as abortive fruit-bunches, serving also the purpose of cling- 



Fig. 432. 



Fig. 433. Laterals. 



Ing to supports and sustaining the vine. These, it will be observed, 

 are opposite the leaf-stalk and bud. From the axil of the leaf-stalk 

 a new and feebler shoot often springs, which is called a lateral two 

 of which are shown in Fig. 433. Vigorous laterals will sometimes 

 throw out others which are termed sub-laterals. Laterals should be 

 allowed to remain, as displacing them tends to injure or destroy the 

 buds. 



To prevent shoots or canes from growing too long, and also for 

 the purpose of increasing the strength of the cane and its buds, the 

 practice of pinching off is adopted, and is generally performed after 

 midsummer. This pinching giving a check to the cane, tends to the 

 emission of laterals, which should also in turn be pinched* at their 

 tips. 



It is a common practice with most cultivators of hardy grapes, tc 



