194 



THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



year, to supply the place of the one which is to be cut out at 

 the fall pruning. 



This is, unquestionably, the best system of pruning, on the 

 long cane principle, and it is explained here by a representa- 

 tion of the vine in the successive years. 



a, is the vine after planting. 



b, is the vine cut back, at the close of the first year of growth. 



c, is the vine cut back, at the close of the second year. 



d, is the vine as it will be, after pruning, at the end of the third year. 



e, shows the vine with the first bearing cane cut out, and pruned for fruiting the 

 ne.xt year; every successive year, the long shoot must be cut out, and its place sup- 

 plied, as above directed. 



Another system, practised in this country, is, to train a 

 new cane, every year, the whole length of the rafter, to fruit 

 the successive season ; the cane, which bore the fruit, being 

 pruned back to one eye, in November. This is more simple 

 than the former plan ; but an objection to this, and all other 

 long cane pruning and training is, that it requires the vine 

 to produce and ripen a large crop of fruit, and a great extent 

 of wood also, every year. The result of this plan would be, 

 that, in a few years, the vine would evidently be less and 

 less vigorous, and the new cane would be constantly growing 

 smaller, until the vine would not bear any fruit, when a year 

 of rest would be required to enable it to ripen a crop again. 



