50 Training. 



BUSHBERG CATALOGUE. 



Training. 



hole, their tops diverging. A wire is stretched 

 along the tops of these posts and a third wire 

 is hung lower, hetveen them. The trunk of 

 the vine, or its head, is secured to this middle 

 lower wire and the shoots top over the side 

 wires. The growth therefore makes a 

 V-shaped or trough-like mass of herbage, as 

 shown in Fig. 74. 



The bearing canes, two or four in number, 

 which are left after the annual pruning, are 

 tied along the middle wire. The trellis 

 stands six feet high ; the shoots stand upright 

 at first, but soon hang down supported by 

 the side wires. Mr. Munson gives the follow- 

 ing account of the system : After the vines 

 have flowered, the bearing laterals have their 

 tips pinched off; and that is all the summer 

 pruning the vine gets, except to rub off all 

 eyes that start on the body below the crotch 

 or fork. Two or four shoots, according to 

 strengsh of vine, are started from the fork or 

 crotch and are trained along over the lower 

 central wire for renewal canes. "When prun- 

 ing time arrives, the entire bearing cane of 

 the present year, with all its laterals, is cut 

 away at a point near where the young renewal 

 shoots have started, and these shoots are 

 shortened back, according to strength of 

 vine. The different varieties are set at vari- 

 ous distances apart, according as they are 

 strong or weak growers. 



" Thus the trellis and system of pruning 

 are reduced to the simplest form. A few 

 cuts to each vine cover all the pruning and a 

 few ties complete the task. A novice can 

 soon learn to do the work well. The trunk 

 or main stem is secured to the middle lower 



wire, along which all bearing canes are tied 

 after pruning, and from which the young 

 laterals which produce the crop are to spring. 

 These laterals strike the two outer wires, 

 soon clinging to them with their tendrils, and 

 are safe from destruction, while the fruit is in 

 best possible position for spraying and 

 gathering, and is still shaded with the canopy 

 of leaves. 



Among the advantages secured by this sj'S- 

 tem are: Simplicity and convenience of trel- 

 lis, allowing free passage in any direction 

 through the vineyard ; circulation of air with- 

 out danger of breaking the tender shoots ; 

 case of pruning, spra3ing, cultivation, har- 

 vesting. Maintenance of the vine's natural 

 habit. Ease of laying down in winter ; the 

 vine being pruned and not tied, and can, at 

 the proper season, be again quickly raised 

 and tied in position ; and its construction is 

 cheap and durable. 



A similar method of training, but more 

 suitable to the wind-beaten shores of Long 

 Island has been introduced and successfulh' 

 tried for several years by Mr. Elbert Wake- 

 man, a distinguished amateur grape-grower 

 of Oyster Bay, L. I. Fig. 75 illustrates this 

 method. The trellis is 3 J to 4 feet high onlj'- ; 

 the bearing canes are fastened to the two 

 side wires when long enough, making a 

 V-shaped trough of branches and foliage, like 

 the former ; there is space enough between 

 the wires for the bunches to hang down, free 

 from any interference and just the proper 

 height to be easily bagged and sprayed. It 

 is strong, not very expensive and will pay for 

 the little extra care. 



\y/ TV. MUN50N5 Training System 

 \i/ Denison, Texas. 



j\.S<>.-.>>.\>ret.\V V 



Fiir. 74. 



Elbert Wakemans Method ofTraining. 

 Oyster Bay, L.I. 



Fi<r. 75. 



I 



