Pruning the Vine. 



J 53 



The following year, the shoot A [Fig. 59], nearest the 

 base is reserved. For the very vigorous varieties, this 

 pruning with two eyes would yield but a small quantity 

 of grapes. It will be necessary to reserve, each year, 

 three buds at the base of the plant, and then, each year, 

 reserve only the shoot nearest the old wood. This op- 

 eration is repeated each year, and by means of these 

 two modes of pruning, a number of grapes proportion- 

 ate to the vigor of the plant is produced, and the parent 



\ 



[Fie. 59.] [Fie. 60.] 



Pruning Fruit-Stems. 



stock lengthens but slowly. That portion which an- 

 nually bears the fruit-stem is called shoot-stump^ spit^ 

 etc., etc. [in this country, the spur]. 



The following process appears to us better adapted 

 to the less vigorous varieties than the preceding ones ; 

 the fruit-stem, A [Fig. 60], is cut to twenty-four inches 

 in length, and then bent down to the wire in the shape 

 of dotted line, B. This curve favors the growth of the 

 buds, by retaining the sap to their profit. As soon as 



