Miscellaneous Systems. 8g 



in its place. This pruning is essentially that of 

 the Kniffin vine in fig. 22. Imagine this vine, 

 with as many joints or tiers as necessary, laid upon 

 the arbor. The canes are tied out horizontally to 

 the slats instead of being tied on wires. This same 

 system — running up a long trunk and cutting in to 

 side spurs — will apply equally well to tall walls and 

 fences which it is desired to cover. Undoubtedly 

 a better plan, so far as yield and quality of fruit 

 is concerned, is to renew back nearly to the root, 

 bringing up a strong new cane, or perhaps two or 

 three every year, and cutting the old ones off; but 

 as the vines are desired for shade one does not 

 care to wait until midsummer for the vines to reach 

 and cover the top of the arbor. 



Remodelitig Old Vines. — Old and neglected tops 

 can rarely be remodeled to advantage. If the vine 

 is still vigorous, it will probably pay to grow an en- 

 tirely new top by taking out a cane from the root. 

 If the old top is cut back severely for a year or 

 two, this new cane will make a vigorous growth, 

 and it can be treated essentially like a new or 

 young vine. If it is very strong and ripens up 

 well, it can be left long enough the first fall to 

 make the permanent trunk;* but if it is rather 

 weak and soft, it should be cut back in the fall or 

 winter to two or three buds, from one of which the 

 permanent trunk is to be grown the second season. 

 Thereafter, the instructions which are given in the 

 preceding pages for the various systems, will apply 



