324 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF PRUNING 



beginning of the second year they are pruned back to 

 two buds. If the vine is a strong grower, it is tied this 

 season to the lower wire of the trellis, which is from 18 

 to 20 inches above ground. The beginning of the third 

 year finds the vines cut back to a stem or trunk 10 to 20 

 inches high, tied to the lower wire. The fourth year the 

 vine consists of the short stem and two or three canes, 

 each of 5 to 8 buds, laid along the lower wire and tied. 

 The shoots from these are carried perpendicularly to the 

 second and third wires, which are about 20 inches apart, 

 as fast as growth will permit. 



The following year all the wood is cut away except two 

 or three canes that have grown from the buds nearest the 

 head of the trunk. These canes have five to eight buds. 

 The number retained after each pruning depends upon 

 the variety and the vigor of the vine. If two canes are left 

 they are tied to right and left along the lower wire ; if 

 three, the third is carried to the second wire and tied. 



As there is a tendency for long spurs to result from the 

 repeated renewals secured in this manner, frequently 

 buds from the head of the stem are allowed to develop 

 and fruiting wood secured from them. Thus the fruiting 

 wood arises from near the head of the trunk, and as this 

 is usually short almost the entire vine is renewed an- 

 nually. When the trunk approaches the end of its use- 

 fulness a shoot is allowed to grow from the ground to 

 develop into a new trunk, the old one being cut away. 

 The advantages claimed for this method of training are 

 the low head, the reduction of the old wood to a minimum 

 and the case of getting a complete renewal. 



234. The spur renewal or horizontal arm spur system. 

 (Fig. 276.) The trellis for this system is practically the same 

 as for the high renewal. Two canes are placed right and 

 left of the trunk, which has been brought to the height of 

 the lower wire or just below. The number of buds left 

 on each cane will depend upon the vigor of the vine and 

 the availability of the space between the adjoining vines. 



