VARIOUS SPECIES OF FRUITS 



141 



To detail the growth of the vines year by year: At the beginning 

 of the second year exceptionally sturdy vines, those that have made a 

 growth of five feet or more, may be cut back slightly and allowed to 

 develop one strong shoot in each direction along the wire, all other 

 shoots from lower buds being nipped off while soft and green. The 

 shoots so developed may be allowed to bear one or two clusters of 

 Grapes each. Moderate growing vines must be cut back to 18 to 24 

 inches and only one shoot allowed to grow up and stretch upon the 

 wire. All fruit clusters must be cut off so as to concentrate energy. 

 The following year (the third) these vines may be allowed to grow 

 like the sturdy ones did the previous year. Very weak growing vines 

 may have to be cut back twice (two different years) before reaching 

 the bearing stage mentioned. 



Annual Winter pruning is simple. Each year, preferably early 

 in the dormant season, November to February, the canes that extend 

 along the wire must be cut back, leaving twelve to sixteen buds on 

 strong vines (six or eight on each of the two horizontal canes on the 

 wire) and only four to six 

 on the weak vines. After 

 being pruned each cane 

 must be firmly tied in two 

 places to the wire around 

 which it should be coiled 

 once or twice. 



At the beginning of 

 the second season after 

 the trellis is started cross 

 pieces of 2 x 4 scantling 

 and 24 inches long are 

 to be spiked or wired to 

 the tops of the posts 

 (Fig. 100). An inch from 

 each end on their upper 

 sides, shallow slits (one- 

 half inch is deep enough) 

 are to be sawed for the 

 two other trellis wires to 

 rest in. These wires are 

 to be stretched taut and 

 fastened at the ends like 

 the first. They are for the 

 Summer fruiting shoots to 

 rest upon and hang from. 



Fig. 100. Munson or Canopy trellis seen^from the 

 end 



