278 TREATISE ON FRUIT TREES. 



When a grapevine stock is fastened to a vine prop one can't prune as many shoots 

 as when it's on espalier or on counterespalier. The reason is clear. Normally there are 

 only two spurs & two fruit-bearing shoots left on it. At the next pruning the two fruit- 

 bearing shoots are removed, cutting back the branches that they emerged from above the 

 spurs, in case the latter would each produce two good shoots. Otherwise the fruit-bearing 

 shoots on the lowest shoots are cut back; as a result only four shoots are ever pruned. 

 However, if the vinestock is exceptionally vigorous, two spurs & three fruit-bearing 

 shoots can be left on it, or the two fruit-bearing shoots can be allowed more length, up to 

 six or seven buds, unless several vine stakes are driven in. The vinestock thus is kept low, 

 growing no more than two buds each year. If in the end it gets too tall, it's replaced by 

 layering. Alternatively one can take advantage of an occasional vigorous shoot emerging 

 from old wood or from the stock. It's first pruned to a spur & developed to rejuvenate the 

 vinestock, which is cut off above it when it's productive & in renewable condition. The 

 branches of vinestocks on espalier or on counterespalier that are too old, worn out, or 

 damaged by disease or accident are restored the same way. 



At the end of May or the beginning of June all new shoots of false wood are 

 removed, unless some are to be saved to fill gaps or to replace branches that soon will 

 have to be cut off. 



A new inspection is done in July to disbud growths of false wood in case any 

 more have developed. At the same time a good part of the small shoots that emerge from 

 the axillas of leaves are cut off. If the shoots bearing grape clusters are weak 



