293 



THE GRAPE. 



Prujiing.— In November or December it is taken down, 

 pruned, if according to the spur system, which is the 



simplest, to within 

 three or four feet of 

 its base, laid on the 

 ground, and covered 

 with leaves, evergreen 

 boughs, or mats. There 

 it remains till the buds 

 begin to swell in the 

 spring, when it is 

 again fastened to the 

 trellis. The shoot from 

 the terminal bud con- 

 tinues the cane, and no 

 fruit is allowed on it. 

 Those below it pro- 

 duce lateral shoots, 

 from each of which a 

 bunch of grapes may 

 be taken, and each of 

 these must be stopped 

 at three eyes above 

 the bunch ; and this is 

 repeated as often as 

 necessary, to give the 

 fruit the whole benefit 

 of the sap. The lead- 

 ing shoot is again 

 stopped in September 

 by pinching off its 

 I n point, to increase the 



' W^mm buds. In the fall, 



when the leaves have dropped, the vine is again taken 

 down. The leader is pruned back to within three to 



