THE GRAPE. 



393 



diversity in treatment, and many have their own peculiar 

 modes of pruning and training. General rules are applica- 

 ble to all. ' Universal experience proves that cutting away 

 a large portion of the wood every autumn or wmter, is indis- 

 pensibie to the regular and continued production of fine 

 fruit. The bunches are borne near the base of the present 

 year's growth ; and in the mode termed spur- primings 

 these side-shoots ^n the single main stem are annually cut 

 off", to be annually replaced by new shoots springing from 

 buds left for this purpose, fig. 298. In the long-cane or re- 

 newal system, more than one main stem is al- 

 lowed to grow ; and each year every alternate 

 stem is cut down to send up a new shoot in its 

 place, the previous year's shoots bearing the pre- 

 sent year's grapes on its side shoots. Spur prun- 

 ing is best adapted to the more slowly growing 

 or foreign sorts ; and the renewal pruning to the 

 more vigorous or American. Fig. 299, exhibits 

 the usual mode of training American grapes 

 (the trellis not being represented,) every upright 

 shoot of which may be treated as a permanent 

 stem and spur pruned ; or else every alternate 

 shoot cut out each year, as in the renewal mode. 

 These upright shoots should be three feet apart, 

 if spur pruning is adopted ; and two feet, 

 if the alternate shoots only, are permitted to 

 bear. 

 The summer treatment of grapes consists chiefly in thin- 

 ning the shoots where there is 

 danger of the leaves becoming 

 crowded ; thinning out the 

 bunches ; and, on exotic sorts, 

 thinning out freely the berries. 

 The frequent practice of nipping 

 off the ends of the shoots, just 

 above the bunches, when the 

 grapes are as large as a pea, lessens their subsequent 

 growth. For all fruits grow and ripen best when fed from 

 a good supply of v/ell grown but not crowded leaves, hence 

 the foliage should not be lessened, nor the shoots shortened 

 until they interfere with each oihcr's full developmerit, * 



Fig. 299 — Training ha dy grapes 



