PRUNING AND TRAINING THE THIRD SEASON. 241 



torn of the rafter, and train the same as the first year, 

 rubbing out all shoots that break for six feet above 

 the rafter. 



PRUNING AND TRAINING THE THIRD SEASON. 



The vines should be cut back at the same time as 

 the previous year, leaving about six feet of the main 

 cane above the bottom of the rafters, or, if the cane was 

 allowed to grow as first described, ten feet may be left. 

 The buds upon this shoot should break into strong lat- 

 erals, upon which the fruit is borne. Not over two 

 bunches should be allowed, even upon the strongest 

 shoots, and the Literals should be pinched after one or 

 two leaves beyond the last bunch have formed. A lead- 

 ing shoot should be trained from the strong bud at the 

 upper end of the main stem, from which all lateral 

 shoots should be rubbed. When growth is over in the 

 autumn and the leaves have fallen, the vines should be 

 cut back for the fourth season. The laterals should be 

 cut back to one bud and the leaves should be cut so as 

 to allow about five feet of the stem to extend up the 

 rafter. This is known as the spur system of pruning, 

 and after the leader has reached the end of the rafter it 

 merely consists in cutting the laterals back to one bud. 



SUMMER PINCHING, DISBUDDING AND THINNING. 



As soon as the buds break, all extra shoots should 

 be rubbed out, and during the season the vines should 

 be frequently examined and all superfluous shoots 

 removed. As a rule, if large bunches are desired, only 

 one should bo left upon a spur, although two may be 

 grown upon strong shoots. Each year, as soon as the 

 fruit has set, the shoot should be pinched off, leaving 

 one leaf beyond the last bunch, and if laterals start, they 

 should be rubbed off. Not only should the surplus 

 shoots and bunches be removed, but if large berries are 

 desired the bunches themselves should be thinned out. 

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