14 CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



"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 that stake, at the 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 

 twenty-four inches from the ground. The vine is then always 

 within reach, and control. 



The experience of the writer is in favor of the bow system; 

 bending the top of the branch in a circular form, to within 

 three or four inches of its stake, and fastening it with a wil- 

 low tie, or twig, to the stake, — having made two ties pre- 

 viously, one at the lower part, the other at the middle of the 

 bow. From this how the crop of grapes is to be produced, 

 and often a bearing cane for the next year. 



The spur will bear a few bunches of grapes, but the 

 bearing wood, for the ensuing year, is generally trained 

 from it. 



Mr. Sleath has adopted a new method of training, which 

 will be found in the Appendix. 



The best time for tying the vines to the stake is when the 

 sap begins to swell the buds and make them look white — 

 from the middle of March to the first week in April. Then in 

 damp or wet weather, the bow can be formed by a slight twist 

 of the branch, and fastened to the stake without breaking. 

 This requires to be done carefully. 



See the Appendix for an excellent article on spring and sum- 

 mer pruning from Dr. S. Mosher, President of the Cincinnati 

 Horticultural Society. 



Should a vine be lost after the vineyard is in bearing, it 

 CRn be replaced by a layer from the adjoining vine, which 



