88 AMEEICAN GRAPE GROWING 



ments, and can be had at nearly all good hardware stores. 

 The springs should be of brass, as steel springs are apt to 

 break. A much lighter and smaller kind, with but one 

 spring, is very convenient for gathering grapes, clipping 

 out unripe or imperfect berries, and also in making cut- 

 tings. Shears will cut the stem easily and smoothly, with- 

 out jarring the vine, and are much superior to a knife. 

 'No one who has tried them will want to use a knife again. 

 PRTJiiriiirG Saws. — These are sometimes necessary to 

 cut out old, diseased stumps, although if a vine is well 

 managed this will seldom be necessary. Figure 13 shows 



Fig. 13.— PRUNING a^w. 



a kind very convenient for the purpose, as also for orchard 

 pruning. The bow is of steel, the blade narrow, and so 

 connected with the wooden handle, that it can be turned 

 in any direction, and can be tightened by a screw and 

 nut above. 



