115 



may be removed. In other words, the eye at b is left to provide for 

 the replacement of an arm, which, through old age or faulty pruning, 

 had become unduly elongated. 



A properly pruned vine (pruned according to this system) should 

 present spurs which radiate upwards and outwards, so that the young 

 shoots springing from them do not get tangled and twisted together. 



The number of these spurs to be left upon a vine depends upon the 

 climate ; if the ch'mate be cold, three or four will be ample, whilst 

 if it be warm it will be better to leave a considerable number say, 

 eight or nine. 



This is as much on account of the extra size of the vine under the 

 influence of the increase in light and heat as to regulate to some 

 extent the strength of the wine. The greater the development and 

 number of bunches on each vine the lighter will this be, as we have 

 several times had occasion to see. 



This method applies equally well to vines trained to stakes or 

 gooseberry style ; but should never be adopted for vines trained on 

 wires, as no advantage is to be gained, whilst all the disadvantages 

 of the wire will present themselves. 



All vines which were said to require short pruning in Chapter IV. 

 should be pruned according to this system. Those which will give 

 good results with short or long pruning may also be pruned in this 

 way in the cool parts of the first region. Those which were said to 

 require long pruning should never be pruned in this way, although 

 giving good results with either method. 



The Muscats should be short pruned, and if grown for the production 

 of raisins should, in addition to this, have their crowns near the 

 ground, so as to enable large berries, with as high a percentage of 

 glucose as possible, to be obtained. 



ROD-PRUNING, 



Or, in other and general terms, long pruning, consists in leaving on 

 the vine at pruning time one or more rods or leaders of wood of the 

 current year having more than six buds or eyes on it. The shoot 

 that has served during the previous year is removed and a new one 

 brought down in its place, so that each leader only lasts a season. 



Great care should be exercised in the choice of the leader. It is 

 unnecessary to say that it should fulfil the conditions illustrated in 

 Fig. 30 (page 110), as unless capable of bearing fruit it would be 

 absolutely useless. 



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