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137 



Thus the vine has four horizontal canes tied to two wires 

 instead of two tied to one wire as in the method previously 

 described. These canes are at such a distance from the 

 ground that shoots growing from them hang down instead 

 of growing upright, and hence require no tying. Thus 

 the labor of caring for the viues during sumuier is greatly 

 lessened. 



The pruning of vines trained by the KniflFen system is 

 very similar to that in the upright method described. All 

 is cut away save the four canes which hang nearest the 

 trunk. These four canes are then cut back to strong wood 

 and are tied to the wires the following spring (Pig. 39). 



In case the canes nearest the triuik are not strong enough 

 for main canes, they may be cut back to one or two buds 



(spurs), and the next 

 cane used that is 

 sufficiently strong. 

 The following sea- 

 son, the shoots 

 growing from these 

 spurs may be ex- 



FiG. 39. Tlie vine shown in Fig. 38 after pruning. I'^ctcd tO regain 

 (From Bailey's "Pruning Book.") their vigOr. As the 



vine acquires age, it is customary to prune the canes tied to 

 the upper wire longer than the lower ones. In strong varie- 

 ties like Worden, each of the upper canes may bear ]0 

 buds, and each of the lower ones 5, which gives 30 buds to 

 the vine. 



Vines pruned by the Kniifen system are commonly 

 grown to stakes the first two seasons, and the canes are put 

 upon the trellis the third season. The vine is usually car- 

 ried directly to the top wire the first season of training, 



