200 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



frequent intervals. Possibly the Concord and Niagara, 

 under average conditions, are best trained either in this way 

 or in the four-cane Kniffen system. 



Arboks and Bowers. 

 But little skill is needed to train grapes as coverings for 

 arbors and bowers. The permanent trunks are carried to the 

 top or center of the arbor. From these trunks canes are 

 laid out from year to year at intervals of about 24 inches, 

 a feat possible only by leaving spurs for renewal. The vines 

 should stand from 6 to 10 feet apart, and the canes are cut 

 at half the distance between the vines, meeting in the middle 

 of the dividing space. Shoots springing from these canes 

 cover the arbor. The object in this sort of training is to 

 secure shade, and it is not to be expected that fine grapes 

 can be so grown, but if the vines are severely cut back from 

 year to year, grapes of very fair quality and in considerable 

 quantity may be produced. 



Pruning I^eglected Vines. 

 Many times it becomes desirable "to prune neglected vines. 

 Occasionally one finds a vineyard several years old that has 

 never been pruned. In either case such vines can seldom 

 be made over advantageously. If they are healthy and vigor- 

 ous the best thing to do is to grow a new vine from a cane 

 taken out from the root. The old trunk in such a case is 

 allowed to remain until the new one is strong enough to be 

 tied to the wires. To encourage the production of a new 

 cane from the roots, and to induce vigorous gi'owth in the 

 new trunk, the old vine should be heavily cut back. If the 

 new cane is exceptionally strong it can be tied to the wires 

 at the end of the first season. More often it should be cut 

 back in the winter to about three buds, from one of which 

 the permanent trunk can be grown the second season. The 

 new trunk is tied as if it were a young vine. Suckers are 

 bound to arise under such treatment, and these should be 

 removed frequently. 



