49 



the operation, nearlv or quite to the buds, or so as to involve the buds. At the time 

 of starting, or shortly after, the upper buds are rubbed off and the excess of wood is 

 cut off in June. It is safe to retain one of the upper buds until the lower ones or 

 those to be retained have made shoots long enough to be secured to a stake. 



We must now look a little backward, and see what the state of the vine really is. 

 If the plant was feeble, or its entertainment has been unsuitable or neslif^ent, we may 

 be three years m getting such a shoot as the engravmg represents. To get the shoots 

 of suthcient strength, we must, in such a case, cut at a, and take only one shoot, and 

 under ordinary circumstances, where the ordinary want of care has obtained, the 

 third* season often finds the vine only just large enough for our next proceeding. 

 Such being the case, we can not promise to ourselves nearly so good or safe results 

 as when gained at the end of the first season, or not later than the second. 



I will suppose the two shoots to have grown prosperously through the season 

 under the same management as has been detailed for the single cane of Fig. 44, and 

 that the time of pruning is at hand — middle of February. We may now cut off the 

 last year's canes at c c, (Plate 45,) and have two cane.?, of about two feet each, 

 which we may lay down horizontally, and call them arms. The buds from the lower 

 side may be rubbed off, and those from the upper side, or nearest the upper side, 

 suffered to shoot. These shoots, four on each arm, should be trained upright by 

 means of a trellis or stakes, and may be suffered to bear three bunches each, or 

 twenty-four in all. 



Besides the eight shoots spoken of, at the end of each arm, and perhaps from the 

 under side, will spring two other shoots, (the buds may be seen near c c,) which also 

 may be suffered to bear three bunches each. These are to lay down horizontally at 

 the end of the season — or rather, at the beginning of the next, to continue these 

 arms until they shall become four feet long, or of the desired length. If the canes 

 for the arms should be of only moderate strength, the cutting may be at A A, and 

 then only three shoots for new bearing canes or coursons will be taken from each 

 arm, and a corresponding quantity of fruit. To improve the quality, only two 

 bunches may be taken from each cane, and this is applicable to all cases. 



To prune Plate No. 45 for one of the best vineyard systems, cut at a and h. At a 

 will be formed the spur from which two shoots will spring that are to be trained up to 

 the hight of the canes, as now seen in Fig. 50. The next season the spur is to have 

 three canes. The arm will be formed by the cane, which the first season may carry 

 four canes, and the next season two or three more may be added, when the vine 

 will be established in full bearing. The shoots from the arm are to be stopped at 

 four or five leaves beyond the upper bunch. This is the oldest system of which we 

 have any knowledge, and is, under some circumstances, the best yet known, particu- 

 larly where fine, strong plants are used, and the ground is well prepared. 



When plants of inferior quality are used, a system of layering must be employed 

 which has been already referred to. 



Plate No. 46. 



Plate No. 47. 



If the vine is very strong and well grown — and for simplicity we will assume it to 

 be so — the cut may be made at c instead of at li for the cane which is to form the arm 



