176 



CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



vine; but this is entirely different from the annual re- 

 newal. The short-spur system is the one now almost 

 universally adopted, as best adapted to practical purposes, 

 and economizing to the utmost the strength of the vine. 



THE ALTERNATE-SPUR SYSTEM. 



This is also called the long-spur and the double-spur 

 system, and is based upon the same principle as the an- 

 nual renewal of the cane, but is applied to the fruit- 

 branches. It is illustrated in 

 fig. 36. By a comparison with 

 fig. 33, it will be seen that 

 the branch a, in fig. 36, is the 

 developed bud d in fig. 33, 

 which has borne fruit : the bud 

 b has also developed to the 

 shoot b in fig. 36; while the 

 bud c, in fig. 33, has been rubbed off. The branch a is 

 now to be cut away at the dotted line, leaving the shoot 

 b, which grew to the same length as a, but which is now 

 represented as it appears after pruning, to take the place 

 and perform precisely the same part as the removed shoot. 

 The bud d will, in general, be stronger than c, and is 



Fig. 36. 



