GRAPE 119 



The canes arising from these buds should be staked and allowed 

 to grow through the season ; or in large plantations the first- 

 year canes may be allowed to lie on the ground. The second 

 year one cane should be cut back to the same number of eyes 

 as the first year. After growth begins in the 

 spring, two of the strongest buds should be 

 allowed to remain. These two canes now aris- 

 ing may be grown to a single stake through the 

 second summer, or they may be spread hori- 

 zontally on a trellis. These are the canes which 

 form the permanent arms or parts of the vine. 

 From them start the upright shoots which, in 

 succeeding years, are to bear the fruits. Grape 



In order to understand the pruning of Grapes, the opera- 

 tor must fully grasp this principle : Fruit is borne on wood of 

 the present season, which arises from wood of the previous 

 season. To illustrate : A growing shoot, or cane of 1899, 

 makes buds. In 1900 a shoot arises from each bud; and 

 near the base of this shoot the Grapes are borne (1 to 4 

 clusters on each). While every bud on the 1899 shoot may 

 produce shoots or canes in 1900, only the strongest of these 

 new canes will bear fruit. The skilled Grape-grower can 

 tell by the looks of his cane (as he prunes it in winter) 

 which buds will give rise to the Grape -producing wood the 

 following season. The larger and stronger buds usually 

 give best results; but if the cane itself is very big and 

 stout, or if it is very weak and slender, he does not expect 

 good results from any of its buds. A hard, well-ripened 

 cane the diameter of a man's little finger is the ideal size. 



Another principle to be mastered is this : A vine should 

 bear only a limited number of clusters, say from 30 to 80. A 

 shoot bears clusters near its base ; beyond these clusters the 

 shoot grows on into a long, leafy cane. An average of two 

 clusters may be reckoned to a shoot. If the vine is strong 

 enough to bear 60 clusters, 30 good buds must be left at the 

 pruning (which is done from December to late February). 



