TRAINING FIRST AND SECOND YEARS. 67 



of pruning, but one was simply intended to in- 

 sure against loss by accident. When the young 

 canes have grown about three inches, one of 

 them must be rubbed off, and that should be the 

 weakest; yet it is desirable that the two that re- 

 main should be on opposite sides. Usually, in 

 good vines, the three start about equally strong, 

 and no difficulty is presented ; but when it is 

 otherwise, we must either take both on the 

 same side, and submit to a little present defor- 

 mity, or we must endeavor to restore the equi- 

 librium by bending the strongest cane toward 

 a horizontal position, and growing the. weak 

 one upright. In a large vineyard this would 

 involve, considerable labor and skill, and the 

 reader may determine for himself what he will 

 do under the circumstances. Having selected 

 the two canes, they should be tied up to pre- 

 vent their accidental loss. These canes must be 

 tied to the stake from time to time during the 

 whole season of growth. One bunch of fruit 

 may be allowed to grow on strong canes, but 

 the vines, on the whole, will be better if all 

 the fruit is removed. When the thallons make 

 their appearance, they are to be athallized pre- 

 cisely at the time and in the manner directed 

 for the first year. The ends of both canes 



