121 



PRUNING YOUNG VINES. 



The aim of the primer is to form a stem on which to build the 

 framework which will carry the future crop of grapes. The year 

 of planting the growth of the young vine is not 

 interfered with. The subsequent season all the 

 shoots but one are cut off, and the remaining one cut 

 back either to a height of six to nine inches, if it is 

 intended to train the vine gooseberry bush fashion, or 

 to a height of 14 to 15 inches if it is meant to train 

 it on a trellis. If a suitable shoot is not procurable, 

 cut the young vine hard back to two buds and train 

 the strongest shoot which will spring from one of 

 these buds erect to a stick or a piece of bamboo set 



into the ground. Forming young 



vine. 



STRUCTURE OF THE BUDS. 



Some knowledge of the nature of the buds of the grape vine 

 will help in understanding the reason for long or for short pruning. 



Two kinds of buds are found on a vine cane. At the base, 

 axillary buds, or, in some sorts, half -developed buds occur, which, 

 if cut in two with a sharp knife, and examined under a microscope, 

 would show a core surrounded with scales. These buds are unfertile, 

 and, if they grow at all in the spring, they form wood shoots. 



Higher up the cane, and the further away from the base, the 

 buds become more fertile ; a section of such buds show, around the 

 core, microscopic grape bunches and tendrils. They represent, in 

 embryo, the coming season's crop. If, by some agency or other, 

 either wind, frost, or accident, the shoots issuing from them are 

 destroyed, fresh shoots are often produced, which are produced by 

 less developed secondary buds, and the crop will, in consequence, be 

 reduced. It is thus seen why some vines fail to bear fruit if they 

 are pruned too short, and others overbear if too much wood is left 

 011 them. 



When it is admitted that the coming crop is present in embryo on 

 the vine at the time of pruning, it is easy to understand how a 

 droughty season, or blights of some sort or other, by weakening the 

 vine and stunting its growth, is not only detrimental to the visible 

 crop, but also affect the next season's crop as well. 



SYSTEMS OF PRUNING. 



Pruning and training differ, insomuch as pruning affects the 

 growth and the productiveness of the vine, and the quality as well 

 as the quantity of the grapes, whereas training is purely con- 

 Tentional, and does not affect the growth and fruitfulness'of the 

 vine to the same extent. Training varies according to locality and 

 to circumstances, and it is simply adopted for the sake of uniformity, 

 and to facilitate cultivation, dressing the vines, and gathering the 

 ; grapes. 



