Trailing Chain Culture of the Vine: 



215 



TEAILIXG CHAIN CULTURE OF THE VINE. 



(Concluded.) 



The canes are formed suefcssivelyiipon one, 

 two, and three main branches. These produce 

 shoots, among which one is chosen to form the 

 leader; two spiii-s are also left to produce 

 laterals the following season, and in this man- 

 ner the main arms attain gradually 15 to 18 

 feet. These can be and are frequently short- 

 ened in, and allowed to grow again in the same 

 manner. 



The second year, two fruit l)ranches are 

 retained (Fig. 8), which liave to be cut back 

 to 18 or 20 inches, leaving only four or five 

 buds to grow on each. 



Fig. 7— FIvst year. Fig. 8 — Second yoai-. 



The first year, only one spur is left to grow. 



(Fig. 7.) " ■ , 



Fig. 9— Thinl year. 



The third year (Fig. 9), of the four or five 

 buds grown the preceding year, only two aj'e 

 kei: t on each brancli . 



Each succeeding year (Figs. 10 and 11) two 

 more branches are added to the niunber until 

 there are 50 or 60 of them, if the richness of 



Fig 10— Fourth year. 



the soil and the strength of the plant admit 

 of it. When twelve years old, the stock 

 should be able to bear that amount. 



The arms are allowed to grow to 15 feet, or 

 more, leaving one fruit branch <;very 24 inches, 

 and carefully removing all useless buds before 

 the sap is ascending. And here is shown one 

 of the immense advantages of the trailing 

 chain culture for regions subject to spring 

 frosts. One-half, or at least fully one-third of 

 the numerous buds do not come out when 

 the sap commences running upwards, so that 

 should the early buds be swept oil' by a late 

 frost, those that remained dormant come out 

 in their turn and take possession of the sap. 

 Experience has fully demonstrated this superior 

 advantage. * * * * 



He.vding off. — This important operation 

 is performed three times during tlie season; 

 first, as soon as vegetation starts; next, Avhen 

 it has attained foiu" to six inches; and lastly, 

 at blooming time. As is well known, it con- 

 sists in removing the non-bearing buds, which 

 are not to be used in pruning the following 

 year, and its olyect is to keep un the strength 



11— Fifth year. 



of the main stem and branches, and 

 them of a greetly and useless growth. 



relieve 

 there bv 



. 1-2— Trailing Cliain, by IS It. apa 



