160 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



Before planting. 



For planting, cuttings, one-year-old rooted vines, or bench 

 grafts are used. In all cases, they need some attention from 

 the pruner. 



The usual way to prune a good rooted vine of average size 

 having a single cane at the top and several good roots at 

 the bottom is to shorten the cane to one or two buds and 

 the roots to two or four inches, according to their size. 

 Shortening the cane makes the vine less liable to dry out 

 before rooting and forces the growth from the lower buds which 

 produce more vigorous shoots. The roots are shortened so 

 that there will be no danger of the ends being turned upwards 

 when planted. If they are to be planted in a large hole, they 

 may be left as long as five or six inches ; if to be planted with 

 a crowbar or dibble, they must be cut back to half an inch. 



If the rooted vine has several canes, all but one should be re- 

 moved entirely, and this one shortened to one or two eyes. 

 The one left should be that which is strongest, has the best 

 buds, and is the best placed. Where a horizontal cane is left, 

 it should be cut back to the base bud. Otherwise the main 

 growth may occur at a higher bud and the vine will have a 

 crook which will result in a badly formed trunk. 



If canes are growing from different joints, it is usually best 

 to leave the lower cane if they are equally vigorous. This 

 brings the buds from which growth will come nearer to the 

 roots, and leaves less of the original cutting, which are ad- 

 vantages. The upper joint between the canes is, moreover, 

 often more or less decayed or imperfect. 



First growing season. 



The treatment during the first spring and summer will de- 

 pend on what growth the vines are expected to make and on 

 whether the vines are staked the first year. 



