54 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES UNDER GLASS 



it to the wire lor support, lor tlicsc shoots are apt to snap oil wlicn \cry Muincr, 

 and that would naturally disfigure and weaken them; we like to see this leading 

 shoot make a good, strong growth, which means stronger shoots from this lead 

 the following year. For spur shoots the best time for disbudding is when they 

 are about an inch long. Sometimes three or four shoots come away at a spur; 

 under these conditions do not take all the surplus shoots away at one time, 

 but disbud down to two shoots, then wait a day before removing the other But 

 disbud to one shoot before they get far advanced, as then the full strength is 

 concentrated in the remaining shoot. After the house is disbudded to the 

 proper number of shoots, the remaining ones must be handled carefully, for the 

 young shoots of the Grape vine are exceedingly brittle and, when they are growing 

 strong, in careless hands irremediable destruction may be done. If a shoot is 

 snapped from a spur it may easily cause the loss of the spur. While such a loss 

 may not stand in the way of a full crop, still it means a disfigurement which 

 should be avoided. 



When the shoots are disbudded, they must be tied, and this operation of 

 bringing them into position requires as good judgment as that of disbudding. 

 The shoots naturally draw away toward the glass when left to themselves. Yet 

 they should not be tied too soon. Allow them to run until they get near to the 

 glass, but keep them away from it, otherwise the foliage is apt to get damaged. 

 Bring the shoots down to the trellis by degrees, and take your time in securing 

 them to their permanent positions, for when they are a little older they will be 

 firmer at the base and not so liable to snap. While the shoots are being brought 

 down, the men working in the fruithouse should be instructed to be cautious 

 in going through, and not to slam the doors, a bad habit that is often found among 

 them and of which they should be broken. A sudden jar will cause a vibration 

 overhead which would be liable to snap off the shoots if they are very brittle. 

 The men can work just as fast with less noise. When all the shoots are tied 

 down evenly the house has a neat appearance. 



Shoots are sometimes tied straight out, on what is called horizontal train- 

 ing. I do not recommend this method. It is better to have the shoots inclined 

 slightly upward, the terminal ends being a trifle higher than the base; this is a 

 more natural position. A training at an angle between the horizontal and the 

 oblique is a good medium between the two. Aside from the better appearance, 

 this angle is more favorable to their growth than the horizontal position, especi- 

 ally so for weak growino: \arietics. 



PINCHING OR STOPPING THE SHOOTS 



As regards pinching or stopping the shoots, it has been generally recom- 

 mended to stop the shoots at the first or second joint beyond the bunch. But 

 at times the bunch will appear much nearer to the main cane, and you must 

 use your judgment whether to stop them at one, two, or three joints beyond 

 the bunch. The shoots should be left long enough so that when full}- developed 

 there will be foliage sufficient to cover the entire roof or trellis without crowding. 

 Bear in mind that one perfectly clc\cloped leaf will count more than two poor 



