120 THE PRACTICAL GARDEN -BOC-K 



The essential operation of pruning a Grape vine, there- 

 fore, is each year to cut back a limited number of good 

 canes to a few buds, and to cut off entirely all the remain- 

 ing canes or wood of the previous season's growth. If a cane is 

 cut back to 2 or 3 buds, the stub-like part which remains is 

 called a spur. Present systems, however, cut each cane 

 back to 8 or 10 buds (on strong varieties), and 3 or 4 canes 

 are left, all radiating from near the head or trunk of the 

 vine. The top of the vine does not grow bigger from year 

 to year, after it has once covered the trellis, but is cut back 

 to practically the same number of buds each year. Since 

 these buds are on new wood, it is evident that they are each 

 year farther and farther removed from the head of the vine. 

 In order to obviate this difficulty, new canes are taken out 

 each year or two from near the head of the vine, and the 

 2 -year or 3 -year- old wood is cut away. 



The training of Grapes is a different matter. A dozen 

 different systems of training may be practiced on the same 

 trellis and from the same style of pruning, for training is 

 only the disposition or arrangement of the parts. 



On arbors, it is best to carry one permanent arm or 

 trunk from each root over the framework to the peak. Each 

 year the canes are cut back to short spurs (of 2 or 3 buds) 

 along the sides of this trunk. 



Grapes are set from 6 to 8 feet apart in rows which are 

 8 to 10 feet apart. A trellis made of 2 or 3 wires is the 

 best support. Slat trellises catch too much wind and blow 

 down. Avoid stimulating manures. In very cold climates, 

 the vines may be taken off the trellis in early winter and 

 laid on the ground and lightly covered with earth. Along 

 the boundaries of home lots, where Grapes are often planted, 

 little is to be expected in the way of fruit because the ground 

 is not well tilled. For mildew and rot, spray with Bordeaux 

 mixture. See Spraying. 



Concord is the most cosmopolitan variety, but its quality 

 is not the best. For the home garden, a good selection may 



