174 CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



resents the spur at the succeeding fall-pruning. The eye 

 b is to bear the fruit the following year, and the small 

 eyes a must be rubbed off if they start. Thus it will be 

 seen we are annually increasing the length of the spur 

 about an inch each year. This, though an objection, is 

 not a serious evil; and it can often be remedied by 

 taking some strong plump eye near the base, which fre- 

 quently develops sufficiently to give a good fruiting-shoot. 

 Or, if the spur becomes long and ungainly in a course of 

 six or more years, it may be remedied by adopting the 

 double-spur system for a single season. 



THE ANNUAL RENEWAL SYSTEM. 



It is known, to all who understand the habits of the 

 vine, that its fruiting-shoots are the growth of buds formed 

 the previous season. It is true that dormant eyes from 

 old wood do sometimes break, and bear fruit ; but this is 

 exceptional, and the fruit is inferior. Hence the necessity 

 of preserving newly formed wood on which to rely for a 

 succeeding crop. This necessity of new wood suggested 

 the alternate system of Speedily, which is very similar 

 to the renewal system of Clement Hoar. Fig. 35 repre- 

 sents the plan. TVhile the cane , the growth of last 



