GRAPE PRUNING AND TRAINING 



295 



ffuitfulness, and vice versa. Disregard of this principle 

 may result either in over-bearing" and premature exhaus- 

 tion or in inferior yields, even practical sterility. Correct 

 management invigorates the \'ine to the highest possible 

 degree without reducing the crop. 



c. Excessive foliage and small yield usually go hand 

 in hand; and, conversely, excessive fruit and reduced 

 foliage are partners. 



d. Injuring the tissues — bending, twisting, etc. — tends 



FIG. 254— VINES GROWING IN VINEYARD THE FIRST YEAR 



Shoots are tied to stakes to keep them off the ground and thus protect them From 



whipping by the wind and from culti\ating tools. 



to reduce vegetative vigor and, except when excessive, 

 to increase productivity (103). 



e. Terminal buds and shoots farthest from the main 

 head usually develop most actively. Hence, to prevent 

 this and to keep the vines within bounds, such buds and 

 growths must be removed or methods adopted to check 

 the sap flow so buds and shoots nearer the head will de- 

 velop well. Various methods of pruning and training 

 arc faulty because they disregard this principle. The}^ 

 cannot be followed indefinitely. The vertical tying of 

 fruiting canes to stakes is one of the most common of 

 I'.iese faulty methods. 



f. The more nearly vertical a shoot the more will be 



