HOW TO GROW GRAPES 141 
are rubbed out. Then the Vine begins the work of bearing fruit. 
Probably as the side shoots develop (and they must be tied to the 
wires almost at right angles to the stem) a bunch of Grapes will 
show on each. Although it is best to cut them off and so allow 
the Vine to devote all its energy to making growth, most amateurs 
will like to leave them, rather than wait another year for fruit. 
The leading shoot is allowed to grow unchecked, the rest of the side 
shoots are pinched off at one leaf beyond the bunch (or if there is no 
bunch, when four or five leaves are formed, not counting the small 
ones at the extreme base). Thus at the end of the second year the 
Vine has only two 
side shoots and a 
leader. After the 
former are stopped, 
smaller shoots will 
arise from the leaf 
axils. These are called 
sublaterals and are 
stopped as soon as 
they have made one 
leaf. 
How a Vine is 
Pruned.—Again, in 
the following 
January pruning is 
carried out, and the 
method then prac- | | 
tised is similar to that \ 
J 
oar we, 
aa 
followed throughout 
the life of the Vine, 
except in the treat- 
ment of the leading 
shoot. This is tear 3 
Seu SHOWING HOW THE SIDE SHOOT IS STOPPED 
hen: Gt Canes. Ee BEYOND THE FOURTH LEAF. 
tension ceases : and A, important leat ‘ fae & buds to, which the 
growth is restricted to SLO Ne : . 
the side shoots. The : : ; : 
method of treating the side shoots is quite simple once the 
principle is understood. Take the two side shoots which were 
stopped at one leaf beyond the bunch, or when they had 
made four or five leaves. In the February following this season 
of growth each shoot is cut back to within two buds of its base, 
say within 1 inch or less of the main stem This is the sort of 
thing that the amateur will not do, and in consequence his Vines get 
out of order and full of weak shoots that never bear fruit. When the 
two buds start into growth only one is retained ; the other is rubbed 
off. When the little shoots are about 1 inch long it can be seen 
ee 
