TRAINING GRAPES IN EASTERN AMERICA 133 



is carried to the lower wire and there tied. In this case, the 

 following year a cane is extended to the top wire. This trunk 

 is permanent. If the stem reaches the upper wire the third 

 year, growers break out many of the developing shoots and 

 allow only the strongest to grow, choosing those that arise 

 close to the wires. The stem should be tied tightly to the 

 top wire and somewhat loosely to the lower. If girdling re- 

 sults at the top, it is not objectionable as the head of the vine 

 should be below rather than above the wire. When the shoots 

 are sufficiently hardened, 

 those growing close to 

 the wires should be 

 loosely tied to prevent 

 injury during cultiva- 

 tion. At the beginning 

 of the fourth year, as 

 shown in Fig. 18, the 

 vine should consist of a 

 stem extending from the 

 ground to a point below 

 the top wire. From this, 

 all but two canes and 

 two spurs of two buds 

 each have been cut away below each wire level. As growth 

 is most vigorous at the top of the stem, four to six more 

 buds are left on the upper than on the lower canes. A vine 

 of which the stem reaches the upper wire the third year should 

 support* the next season canes, aggregating twenty-two buds 

 with eight additional buds on the spurs. If the growth is 

 weak, only half this number should be left. 



The tying at this time consists of fastening the stem loosely, 

 with ordinary grape twine, to the lower wire, and with the 

 same material the canes are tied along the two wires to right 

 and left of the stem. The canes should be tied tightly toward 



FIG. 18. Single-stem, Four-cane Kniffin 

 training. 



