56 



VINEYARDS. 



good cluster, all small or imperfect ones being removed. 

 If the spur showed no fruit, it was allowed to grow all 

 the same, and was pinched at about the same length, or 

 a little shorter. When these spurs had grown suffi- 

 ciently, they were tied to the second or fourth wires, 

 as they belonged to the lower or upper set of vines. 

 The horizontal shoots from the end of the arms were 

 allowed to grow until they had met the adjoining ones, 

 and two or three joints beyond, at which point they 

 were pinched off. It would be more correct to say that 

 they were pinched off at seven feet from the upright 

 stem of the vine. All laterals, wherever found, were 

 successively pinched off as often as they made a new 

 growth, so as to leave but one additional leaf only each 

 time. 



The vines have been pruned this autumn as follows : 



The horizontal shoot which is now the continuation of 



i 



the arm, was cut off at five feet and about eight inches 

 from the central stem. Each upright spur is cut off so 

 as to leave but two buds, not counting the undeveloped 

 buds around the junction of the spur with the arm. 

 The ground has all this time been cultivated with a 

 horse hoe, except the space between the trellis and the 

 trunks of the vines, which is kept loose by the 

 hand hoe. 



To exhibit this mode of treatment in full, it will be 

 necessary to give the proposed operations for one year 

 more. The vines are to be laid upon the ground, before 

 it freezes up permanently, and kept there by a little 

 soil thrown upon them. Next spring just before the 

 buds start, they are to be tied to the trellis, and from 

 the upright spurs, the upper bud will be allowed to 

 grow and show fruit. If from any cause this bud fails 



