~ 
Pruning. 
GRAPE MANUAL. 
much none of the canes will ripen their wood 
as thoroughly nor be as vigorous as when each 
hasroom, air and light. Having selected these, 
commence at the bottom of the vine, rubbing 
off all superfluous shoots, and all which appear 
weak and imperfect. Then go over each arm 
or part of the vine, pinching every fruit-bearing 
branch above the last bunch of grapes, or, if 
this should look weak or imperfect, remove it 
and pinch back tothe first perfectly developed 
bunch. Should the hud have pushed out two 
or three shoots, it will generally be advisable 
to leave only the strongest, and remove the 
ance. Do not think that you can. do part 
of it a little later, but be unsparing in taking 
away all you intend to take this time. Destroy 
all the caterpillars and all the insects you find 
feeding on the vines, and the steel-blue beetle, 
as it will eat into the buds. But protect the 
lady-bug, mantis, and all the friends of the 
vine 
After the first pinching, the dormant buds 
in the axils of the leaves, on fruit-bearing 
shoots, will each push outa lateral shoot oppo- 
site the young bunches. Our second operation 
consists in pinching each of these laterals vack 
to one leaf .as soon as we can get hold of the 
shoot above the first leaf, so that we geta young 
Species leaf additional opposite toeach bunch 
_ Of grapes. These serve as elevators of the sap, 
and iso as an excellent ana tag and shade 
to the fruit. Remember, our aim is not to rob 
the plant of its foliage, but to ich two leaves 
grow where there was but one before, and at 
a place where they are of more benefit to the 
fruit. By our method, our rows of vines have 
the appearance of leafy walls, each bunch of 
the fruit properly =: and yet each part of 
the vine is properly ventila 
After the second ick gof the fruit-bearing 
branches, as described above, the laterals will 
generally start once more, and we pinch the 
young growth again to one leaf, thus giving 
each lateral oe well-developed leaves. The 
whole course should be completed about the 
middle of dees here and whatever grows 
afterwards should be left. In closing, let us 
_ glance at the objects we have in view: 
1. To keep the vine within proper bounds,. 
so thatitis at all times under the control of the 
Vintner, without weakening its constitution by 
robbing it of a great amount of foliage, 
2. Judicious thinning of the fruit at a time | 
ee Se tee ee 
opment. 
Q ry x - Pe we a aes 
its devel- E 
fore- 
oF sg the ro the ater tevin te some 
which will shade the fruit and serve as conduc- 
tors of the sap to the fruit. 
g rous canes for next year’s 
fruiting and no more, thereby making them 
stronger; as every part of the vine is thus ac- 
_ eessible to light and air, the wood will ripen 
better and more uniformly. 
5. Destruction of noxious insects. As the 
vintner has to look over each shoot of the vine, 
this is done more thoroughly and systematic- 
ally than by any other process. 
FALL OR WINTER PRUNING. 
This may be performed at any time, during 
mild days, while the vine is in a dormant state, 
generally from November to March, but should 
be done at least a week before vegetation is 
likely to commence. Tender varieties should 
by a mulch of litter, leaves, earth, or other cov- 
ering, to prevent injury from alternate freezing 
and thawing; the vines which are not hardy 
must therefore be pruned in November, when 
they are simply laid down on the ground and 
mulched lightly, to be uncovered again in 
ther north, the — . covering up the vines, 
both tops and roo recommendable also 
with the hardy ects 
i willrequire somewhat dif- 
tment ; some varieties (strong grow- 
ers) will fruit better if pruned to spurs on old 
wood than on the young canes, retaining the 
old canes and pruning the healthy, strong 
shoots or laterals they have to two buds, 
whereas others (only moderate growers) - will 
flourish and bear best when pruned short and 
our descriptive catalogue, but only by _— 
and experience can he learn the best me 
variety. 
The following correct views on this subject 
are from the ‘Grape Culturist,’’ Nov., 1870: 
‘Some varieties will bear more readily and 
larger bunches upon the laterals of the young _ 
canes, some upon the spurs of a few eyes on old a 
bearing branches, and some will fruit-readily _ 
_— principal canes. This should a 
= Most of the strong growere ofthe Labrusen 
_Per- 
king, ete.), as well as some of its more vigorous 
hybrids (Goethe, =e ete.), and. e € 
