TIME TO PRUNE VINES. 143 



Fig. 50 represents a two-tier system of training upon 

 the same principle. It is equally as good as the single 

 tier of arms, but it usually requires one year more to 

 perfect it, and the trellis must be made considerably 

 stronger, as its height offers more resistance to the wind 

 than in the former mode of low training. 



It has one advantage over the other mode, as a larger 

 number of vines are planted to the acre, producing, con- 

 sequently, an increase in amount of fruit. It is particu- 

 larly valuable where land is very expensive and labor 

 cheap, and the greatest amount is desired from a given 

 space. The vines are planted four feet apart in the row, 

 and the rows eight feet apart, which gives 1,361 per 

 acre. 



When the vines are pruned for forming the arms, 

 every alternate vine is cut back to within one or two 

 feet of the ground, and the others at the height of four 

 or five feet ; the upper two buds on each one are allowed 

 to grow, and from these the arms are made. Those that 

 start nearest the ground are bent down for arms on the 

 lower bar, and those at four or five feet are taken for 

 arms on the middle or second bar ; both sets are treated 

 as directed for training a single vine. Sometimes those 

 vines that are left four feet long will not produce canes 

 sufficiently strong the first season to make the arms; it 

 they do not, then they must be cut back a second time, 

 or until canes are produced that are strong enough for 

 arms. 



The engraving shows the vine and trellis complete, 

 except that only one arm is shown on the vines on the 

 upper tier. The posts are eight feet apart, and they 

 may be set opposite to every alternate vine, as shown, or 

 midway between every other vine ; it is better to set 

 them between the vines, if the trellis is not built until 

 after they are ready to train, because at that time it will 

 be difficult to set the posts near the vines without dis- 

 turbing the roots. 



