256 THE GSAPE CULTUBI6T. 



CHAPTEE XX. 



feEVIEW OF VAEIOUS SYSTEMS OF PRUNING AND TEAININa 



In giving a synopsis of some of the most prominent 

 modes of training the vine, I shall not attempt to describe 

 them at length, or go into the minute details that have 

 been connected with carrying out any particular system, 

 but only aim to show the general principle involved. That 

 error •will often accompany truth, and creep in among the 

 most simple plans, as well as among those that are intri- 

 cate, is quite certain ; and when at last the error is dis- 

 covered, we wonder that it could have remained so long 

 hidden under so slight a covering. 



False theories and false ideas have been, and probably 

 wUl ever be, entertained and promulgated in regard to 

 grape culture. I lay no claim to infallibility, and while I 

 shall attempt to point out some of the errors of others, I 

 do not deny the right of all to criticise my modes of cul- 

 ture and training, but rather invite it, believing that in this 

 way, sooner than in any other, the true system will be 

 established. 



In glancing over the various systems of training that 

 have been in use for the last two thousand years, we ob- 

 serve that all of those which have continued in use for any 

 length of time, appear to have been founded upon what we 

 at the present time call the renewal system — that is, the 

 young canes are cut back every year, and from buds on 

 these are produced, not only fruiting canes, but other buds 

 from which fruiting canes wiU again be produced; and 

 thus two things are kept in view, fruit this year, and fruit 

 buds for the next,and both in close proximity. By this 



