142 GENERAL AUTUMNAL PRUNING. 



Now, before selecting the shoots that are to .contain 

 this number of buds, means must be taken to provide 

 for a proper supply of future bearing-wood. For this 

 purpose, choose some of the strongest current year's 

 shoots that are situated nearest to the stem of the vine, 

 and at appropriate distances form each other, and cut 

 each of these down to the two lowermost buds. The 

 number of shoots to be thus spurred, must not be less than 

 two, nor need they be more than six. Having thus pro- 

 vided for the supply of future bearing-wood, proceed in 

 the next place, to select the shoots that are to be retained 

 as fruit-bearers. In doing this, remember that good 

 bearing-wood is almost invariably round and hard, of 

 a good size, and short- jointed, with large prominent buds, 

 that are, in general, rather round at their extremities. 

 Bearing these qualities in mind, choose such shoots as 

 answer this description, and that are situated nearest to 

 the stem, but sufficiently distant from each other to 

 admit of their fruiting shoots being conveniently trained 

 in the next summer, without being crowded. Shorten 

 each shoot to such part of it as is sound and hard, 

 retaining as many well-ripened buds as possible. Let 

 the shoots be situated in equal numbers on each of the 

 main branches ; for instance, if the vine contain only 

 two arms, similar to figure 3, (page 92,) and four bear- 

 ing-shoots be retained, let two be situated on each arm ; 

 also, let the two shoots on one arm contain the same 

 number of buds, or nearly so, as the two on the other 

 arm. Now, count the buds on each shoot, omitting the 

 two bottom ones, and set apart the required number on 

 the fewest shoots possible. Having done this, cut all the 

 other parts of the vine entirely away, retaining only 

 those on which are situated these bearing-shoots and 

 the spurs to produce future bearers ; the main object 

 in view, being, to get rid of the greatest quantity pos- 

 sible of old wood. But if any of the shoots that are 

 to be thus cut away, should be favourably situated for 



