248 



THE GBAPE. 



a few grapes. Train two canes to the stake this year, and take off 

 TO"" advise the cutting down or pruning to be done as 



soon as the fall of the leaf 

 in Autumn, but any time 

 when the fro<t is not in the 

 wood will answer. " Prun- 

 ing the fourth year requires 

 good judgment, as the 

 standard stem or stalk has 

 to be established." "Se- 

 lect the best shoot or 

 cane of last year, and cut 

 it down to six or eight 

 joints, and fasten it to the 

 adjoining stake in a hor- 

 izontal position, or bend 

 it over in the form of a 

 hook or bow, and tie it to 

 its own stake. The ties 

 should be of willow. This 

 is the bearing wood. The 

 other cane, cut down to a 

 spur of two or three eyes, 

 to make bearing wood for 

 the next season. 



" 4 Give the shoot the 

 first tie on the stake, nine 

 inches from the ground, 

 and the second, nine inches 

 above it ; then bow it over 

 to the neighboring stake in 

 a horizontal position, and 

 give it the third tie to the 

 stake, at that top of the 

 vine.' 



" In the succeeding, and 

 all subsequent years, cut 

 away the old bearing wood, 

 and form the new bow, or 

 arch, from the best branch 

 of the new wood of the 

 last year, leaving a spur as 

 before, to produce bearing 

 wood for the coming year, 



thus keeping the old stalk of the vine down to within eighteen to 



