138 • OPEN AIK GEAPE CULTUEE. 



circumstances to procure fruit from the buds at f. 

 But if B be always kept short, and no shoots be al- 

 lowed except from its base, no difficulty of this 

 kind will arise. FolloY\'ing this arrangement, then, wo 

 have: 



I. The long-rod renewal system. 



II. The long-s]3ur system. 



III. The short, or secondary-spur system. 

 lY. The close-cut, or primary spur system. 



This system of classification we believe to be the 

 only true one, although we are not aware that it has 

 been adopted by any preceding author. Each of 

 these four systems is not only distinct, but it may be 

 adapted to almost any system of training, while none 

 of them can be well combined in the same vine, un- 

 le^^s the power of tlie roots is greatly in excess over 

 tlie extent of the branches. Suppose, for example, 

 on a vine with a well balanced head, a few long rods 

 are left. ISTo buds will start from the base of the 

 spurs. But if all parts are treated alike, the eyes will 

 break equally and in general will be all fruilful. The 

 fiicility with which this principle may be explained 

 and enforced is greatly increased by a clear and sys- 

 tematic classification, such as we have given above, 

 and most authors have been aware of the importance 

 of such a classification ; but if the reader will com- 

 pare the attempts of Loudon, who depends in his 



