GRAPE PRUNING AND TRAINING 



347 



For this system of pruning, the rows should be 12 to 14 feet 

 apart and the vines 6, 7 or 8 feet apart in the rows. As the cordon 

 or trunk of each vine should reach the next vine, it will have to be 

 6 to 8 feet long. The best shape is obtained when the trunk is all 

 formed one year from a single cane. It is necessary, however, some- 

 times to take two years for the formation of the trunk. In any case, 

 the cane first tied down should reach at least half way to the next 

 vine. The following year a new cane from the end of this should 

 be used to complete the full length of the trunk. In attaching the 

 cane to the wire, it must be bent over in a gentle curve and care 

 taken not to break or injure it. Sharp ends should be avoided. 



The cane should be placed on top of the wire, not twisted around it. 

 The end should be tied firmly and the rest of the cane supported by 

 strings tied loosely in order to avoid girdling when the cane grows. 



In the following spring, most of the buds on a good cane will 

 start. If the cane is short jointed, some of the shoots should be 



* b c 



FIG. 289 TREATMENT OF AVERAGE VINE IN THIRD SEASON OR VIGOROUS 



ONE IN SECOND 



a, Vine pruned to one cane and tied to stake; b, removal of suckers (S) and lower 

 shoots (W) in spring; c, vine in summer at time of pinching. 



removed and only those shoots allowed to develop which are con- 

 veniently situated for permanent arms. If the vines are to be short 

 pruned, the arms should be developed every 8 to 12 inches from a 

 few inches beyond the bend to the extreme end. For long pruning, 

 the arms should be farther apart, 12 to 20 inches. Shoots starting 



