TRAINING FIRST AND SECOND YEARS. 61 



ones start from one and the same point. We 

 therefore ask the reader's particular attention 

 to what we shall say of the vine during the 

 first three years of its life. That part of the 

 subject being well understood, the rest becomes 

 comparatively easy. We propose now to take 

 a single vine, and carry it through the first year 

 of its growth. At the time of planting, we 

 directed the vine to be cut down to three eyes 

 or buds. From these eyes three shoots will 

 grow. When they have reached the length 

 of three or four inches, the strongest must be 

 selected, and the other two rubbed off. It is 

 an object, however, to have the selected cane as 

 low down as possible ; if, therefore, the three 

 are nearly of the same strength, rub off the two 

 upper ones. The one selected must be tied to a 

 stake, and the tying repeated from time to time, 

 as growth progresses. It is an essentially bad 

 practice to let the canes grow on the ground. 



We propose the first year to grow one strong 

 healthy cane, like that shown in Fig. 21. This 

 can only be done by tying the cane to a stake, 

 and having recourse to athallage. We thus 

 secure large and durable foliage, fitted to with- 

 stand changes in the weather and the attacks of 

 disease ; better and more enduring roots ; and a 



