Pruning the Vine 61 



At the annual pruning the growth arising from 

 the arms of the currant vine is cut back to form 

 either single or double spurs. To form a single 

 spur the previous season's growth is cut back to 

 two buds. During the following spring and sum- 

 mer these buds will each produce a cane upon which 

 the season's crop is borne. At the following win- 

 ter's pruning the top bud with its growth is cut 

 right off, and the cane growing from the bottom one 

 is cut back to two buds. This treatment is repeated 

 annually. 



To form a double spur the rod is cut back to two 

 buds the first season, as in the case of the single 

 spur. During the next season's pruning of the two 

 rods growing from these buds, the top rod is cut 

 back to two buds and the base bud, while the lower 

 rod is reduced to one bud and the base bud. At the 

 following winter's pruning the upper spur with its 

 growth is cut right off, and the two canes growing 

 from the previous season's lower spur are cut back 

 the uppermost of these canes to two buds and 

 base bud, and the lower one to one bud and base 

 bud. This constitutes the annual winter's treat- 

 ment for this system of pruning. As the leaving of 

 numerous buds for fruiting wood is a great strain 

 upon a vine, owing to the crop therefrom resulting, 

 the double-spur system of pruning is best adapted 

 for vines of very vigorous habits, while the single 

 spur system will give satisfactory results with vines 

 of medium growth. 



In addition to the usual single or double spurs 

 small rods or long spurs are sometimes left on 

 vigorous vines. This system was first introduced 

 into the South Australian portion of the Murray 

 Valley by Mr. Beverley, of Pyap Estate, and called 

 by him the "drooping spur." The "spurs," of from 

 four to six buds, are usually left at the ends of the 



