174 GRAPE CULTURE AN]) 



the lower tie either the Phormium tenax, Drcena leaves, or 

 the golden willow, (Salix Aurea), can be used, of which each 

 grape grower ought to make a plantation along the ravines 

 and gullies, where they will not take up any room, and can 

 be cut every year; the young twigs are very soft and pliable. 

 The silver leaved willow, growing wild on many of our streams, 

 is equally tough and serviceable. For want of cheaper and 

 better material, use grape twine. Wire is not advisable for the 

 lower tying, as it will cut into the vines. The young resistant 

 vines, if they have attained a diameter of from half an inch 

 to three quarters, should also be grafted, as described before, 

 in the chapter on grafting. April and May will be found the 

 best time to do this. 



When the vines have been pruned and tied as indicated 

 above, they will bring their strongest shoots or branches from 

 the upper buds. Of these, two or three of the strongest 

 should be left, to form the future head or stool ; if the vine is 

 rather weak, leave but two ; if stronger, three, all the rest 

 which may appear from the lower buds, should be rubbed off. 

 It will be found advantageous to pinch off the tops of the re- 

 maining, when they have grown about a foot ; they will then 

 throw out laterals, and become more stocky and bushy; espe- 

 cially is this advisable in windy locations, as the winds have 

 less power on many shorter shoots, than on a few long ones. 

 Besides it shades the vine and the fruit, and prevents sun- 

 scalds ; as the laterals always come from the axils of the 

 leaves opposite the bunch and thus shade it. But do not fol- 

 low late summer pruning, lopping off the woody shoots with 

 knife or side, which is unfortunately practiced too much. It 

 is barbarous to the vine, causing the cane to die back, and 

 the fruit to ripen unevenly. The sooner summer pruning can 

 be done, the more beneficial it is to the vine ; and besides, it 

 is done so much more rapidly and easy. In half a minute a 

 man (or woman either) can go over a large vine in May or 



