THE GRAPE VINE. 



99 



this season's fruit-bearing growth to within an eye 

 or bud of the main stem. Fig. 9 will show the in- 

 experienced at a glance what this means. In each 

 succeeding year the pruning takes place back to the 

 single bud at the base of last season's bearing growth. 

 As the vines get older, a cluster 

 of buds generally forms at the 

 spur, notwithstanding this close 

 pruning. Only the strongest of 

 these that grow are left to bear 

 fruit. This close pruning is 

 much preferable to leaving two 

 or three eyes. Not only can the 

 vines be maintained for a long- 

 er time in a more manageable 

 and sightly condition, but they 

 yield more compact serviceable 

 bunches, that swell their berries 

 better than those long and 

 looser bunches generally pro- 

 duced from buds further from 

 the main stem. Prune, espe- 

 cially vines to be forced early, 

 immediately they have shed all 

 their leaves. The wounds 

 should always be dressed with 

 styptic to prevent any chance 

 of bleeding. When in the 

 course of time spurs get long and unsightly, a portion 

 of them can be cut right back to within an inch of 

 the main stem, and the adventitious buds there will 

 break again and form fruit-bearing wood. By cutting 

 back a certain number annually, they can thus be 

 kept within bounds, or young rods can be brought 



