46 Training. 



BUSHBERG CATALOGUE. 



Pruning. 



hardy, vigorous varieties should be thus 

 trained. 



Some people believe that we could even dis- 

 pense with both trellis and stakes entirely, 

 and urge the adoption of the " Souche " or 

 "Buck Pruning" plan, used in parts of 

 France and Switzerland, but quite impracti- 

 cable for our strong growing species m tliis 

 climate. 



If you have covered your .young vines last 

 fall, remove the earth from over them at the 

 approach of spring, as soon as danger from 

 frost is past; then cultivate the whole ground., 

 plowing Itetween the rows j|_^ 

 from four to six inches Jr*~M. 

 deep, and carefully hoeing / | 

 around the vines with the 

 two-pronged German hoe 

 or Karst.1 or H«^xaiiKn'''s 

 ]>ro/iged hoe. The ground 

 should thus be broken up, 

 inverted, and kept in a 

 mellow condition continu- 

 ally; but do not work the 

 ground, lohen icet. 



During the second .snninier a cane or shoot 

 is produced from each of the two or three 

 buds which were left on the 3'ouug vine last 

 fall. Of these 3'oung shoots, if there are 

 three, leave only the two strongest, tying 

 them neatlj- to the trellis, and let them grow 

 unchecked to the uppermost wire. 



With the strong-growing varieties, espe- 

 cially where we intend to grow the fruit on 

 laterals or spurs, the two main canes are 

 pinched off when they reach the second hori- 

 zontal wire, whereby the laterals are forced 

 into stronger growth, each forming a medium- 

 sized cane, which is shortened in the fall from 

 four to six buds. One of the two main canes 

 may be layered in June, covering it with mel- 

 low soil, about an inch deep, leaving the ends 

 of the laterals out of the ground. These will 

 general!}' make good plants in the fall for 

 furtiier plantations ; with varieties which do 

 not grow easily from cuttings, this method is 

 particularly desirable. Fig. 70 shows the 

 vines tied and pruned, accordingly, at the 

 end of the second season, (the cross lines 



through the canes showing wliere they are 

 cut off or pruned). 



Another good mode of training, recom- 

 mended by Fuller, is to bend down in fall, 

 at the end of second season, the two main 

 canes of the vines (the laterals of which have 

 been pinched back to concentrate the growth 

 into these main canes) in opposite directions, 

 la3ing and tying them against the lower wire 

 or bar of the trellis, as shown in Fig. 06, and 

 shortening them to four feet each. Then let 

 five or six of the buds on the upper side of 

 the arms be grown into upright canes. (Fig. 



FiL'. 70. 



Fi.s. 71. 



71.) All buds ami shoots not wanted for 

 upright canes should be rubbed or broken 

 off. This latter method is not well adapted 

 for varieties which require covering in winter. 

 Where the canes are started lower, near the 

 ground, and cut loose from the wire, they 

 can be easily covered with earth. 



At the commencement of the third ."tea.son 

 (uncover and) tie the canes to the trellis. 

 For tying, any soft string or stout yarn may 

 be used : some obtain their tying material 

 from basswood-bark, soaked for two weeks 

 or longer in running water, others i)lant the 

 Golden Willow, and use its small twigs for 

 tying purposes. Tie closely, and as young 

 canes grow keep them tied, but, in all cases, 

 take care against tying too tightl}', as the 

 free flow of sap may be obstructed. 



The ground is now plowed and hoed again, 

 as before. One j^lowing in spring, taking 

 care, however, not to cut or tear the roots of 

 the vines, and two or more shallow cultiva- 

 tions in summer. From each of the buds 

 left at the last pruning (as shown 

 in the preceding figures), canes 

 can be grown during the third 

 year, and each of these canes will 

 l)robably bear two or three bunch- 

 es of fruit. There is danger of 

 their being injured by over-bear- 

 ing, on which account the bunches 

 should be thinned out by taking 

 away all imperfect bunches and 

 feeble shoots. 



