172 



THE GRAPE CULTURIST. 



assist the development of the lower leaves, which are so 

 important to the proper development of the fruit. When 

 they have started and grown a foot or two more, stop 

 them again ; they will usually need checking several times 



during the season. The canes 

 should be neatly tied to a stake, 

 and the laterals may be allowed 

 to grow a foot or more before 

 being checked, as they assist in 

 hiding the stake, and their 

 own weight causes them to 

 slightly droop, giving a more 

 pleasing effect than when all 

 is kept tied close ; for when 

 vines are grown in a flower 

 garden we endeavor to com- 

 bine the ornamental and use- 

 ful. The third year the vine 

 with two canes should be cut 

 back to two buds each. From 

 these buds we produce four 

 shoots, each of which will usu- 

 ally bear three to five bunches 

 of fruit, so that we have from 

 twelve to twenty bunches on 

 the vine. Fig. 61 shows the 

 vine with four canes as it will 

 be at the end of the third 

 season. 



The vine may now be pruned 

 in the same manner as before; 

 that is, each cane is cut down 

 to two buds, and eight canes 

 be allowed to grow the fourth 

 year ; or two may be cut en 

 tirely away and leave but two 



