FEUITS. VARIETIES AND CULTURE. 



371 



or fourth year, according to the strength of the vine, cut 

 down the weakest cane to a spur of two or three eyes, 

 arid select the best shoot of the preceding year, cut it 

 down to six or eight joints, bend it over in the form of a 

 hoop, and tie to the stake, or fasten it to the adjoining 

 stake, in a horizontal position. 



? The bow form, figure 96, is the best. Training the 



vine in this form checks the 

 flow of sap, and causes the 

 buds to break more evenly, 

 retarding growth and increas- 

 ing productiveness. 



" From this bow the fruit 

 is to be produced the current 

 year, and the bearing wood 

 of the next year from the 

 spur left for this purpose. 

 The next winter, this bow is 

 to be cut away, and the bow 

 for the next crop is formed 

 from the best branch of the 

 new wood of last year. Keep 

 the old stalk within eighteen 

 inches of the ground. Tie 

 the vines carefully, without 

 breaking them, in damp 

 weather, when the buds are 

 swelling, the last of February 

 or early in March. In the summer remove the suckers, 

 and pinch off lateral shoots, leaving but two for the next 

 year. 



" The object is to throw the strength of the vine into 

 the fruit and the next year's bearing branches. The vine- 

 yard should be heavily manured once in two or three 

 years. Wood ashes and gypsum are good applications, 

 and are thought to prevent the rot. The trimmings of 



Fig. 96. BOW TRAINING. 



