SPRING AND SUMMER PRUNING. 81 



give only what lias proved most successful with me. My 

 vines or a portion of them have been planted nine years ; the 

 rows five feet apart, and the vines three feet distant in the 

 rows. Roots, one year old from the cuttings, were planted 

 after being cut close down to the crown. The first year 

 they were allowed to grow without any other care than 

 keeping the ground clear from weeds. The second spring, 

 early, the tops were all cut down to two eyes, and a stake 

 driven to each vine, six or seven feet long. One or two of the 

 best shoots were allowed to grow, all others rubbed off. 

 These two shoots, or canes as they are technically called, are 

 tied up to the stakes when they have grown eighteen or 

 twenty inches in length, and should be kept tied from time to 

 time, as they advance in height through the second summer ; 

 little or no pruning will be required this season. 



The third spring, I would cut these canes down to two 

 eyes, although some of the strongest might bear fruit the third 

 summer, it is much better to let them grow another year, and 

 become strong, before raising a crop. This season more 

 attention is required, and they must be prepared to bear a 

 good crop the fourth summer. The two most thrifty shoots 

 must be selected the third spring and kept tied with rye- 

 straw, or some other strong and suitable material, to the 

 stakes, as in the second summer. This year I pinch off all 

 the lateral or axillary branches between the thumb and finger- 

 nail before they become too large and woody — otherwise, if 

 left too long, so as to require the knife, the determination of 

 sap in that direction is liable to force out the sleeping eyes, 

 which should remain dormant till next year. These lateral 

 shoots should be pinched off to the height of four or five feet, 

 or as high as is intended to prune the next spring ; after that 

 they may be allowed to grow as they check the extension of 

 the main shoots. 



The two canes of this year will be strong and vigorous and 

 soon rise to the top of the stakes, where they must always be 



