CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 177 



therefore chosen for the fruiting-shoot ; while a bud e 

 forms a new shoot, springing from the base, or near it, 

 which is to be the spur for the succeeding year. Thus 

 the process is repeated from year to year, with but a 

 slight increase in the size of the spur. It is also an ad- 

 vantage that strong fruit-buds can always be selected; 

 the bud d, in fig. 36, being generally stronger than c, and 

 always stronger, and showing larger fruit-clusters, than 

 the bud e. The principle is the same as in the alternate- 

 cane or annual-renewal system, and a corresponding ad- 

 vantage is claimed for it ; and it is obvious that the same 

 objection lies against this as against that. It is manifest, 

 that while the branch a, in fig. 36, is bearing fruit, it is 

 a serious tax upon the vine to be forming the new shoot 

 b in preparation for the following year. It is plain that 

 the shoot b will draw much nourishment away from a, 

 which clearly ought to be economized for the fruit. This 

 unnecessary expenditure of strength is so great, for the 

 twofold object of avoiding the increasingly long spurs, or 

 knobs, and of securing large and plump fruiting-eyes> 

 that, though the ejids are desirable, we cannot afford to 

 purchase them at such expense. 



Careful and close summer pinching is a great help in 



developing the buds at the base of the shoots : horizontal 

 12 



