THE AMERICAN' GRAPES. 239 



deep, and bore fruit the first summer." In this deep 

 setting of cuttings or vines the lower part sends out rootlets 

 which extend growth still deeper in soil not too wet. But 

 the surface roots are sent out in proper position. The 

 gain is merely in the first year's growth, as when set in 

 the ordinary way the deep roots will be extended in due 

 time. 



231. Varied Modes of Training. — Under natural condi- 

 tions the wild vine climbs to the top of forest-trees and 

 spreads out laterally in the tops, where it bears fruit 

 exposed to the sun and air. While the vine is climbing 

 upward it rarely if ever shows fruit until a branch assumes 

 an approach to the horizontal position. Under cultivation 

 practically the same plan is followed except in the way of 

 shortening the stem and controlling the amount of fruit 

 produced by cutting back the new growth, which alone 

 produces the flowers and fruit. In Nature, the tree or 

 rocks to which it clings gives stability and relative freedom 

 from damage from winds, while under culture this is given 

 in California by adopting the dwarf -tree form and in other 

 sections by training on stakes or a wire trellis. Many 

 plans of training on wire trellis have been practised in this 

 country and Europe, but in this connection only those 

 generally practised in this country will be considered. 



232. Training for Laying Down at the North. — In the 

 North, especially in the prairie States, vines are pruned 

 late in autumn and the canes laid down for winter cover- 

 ing. To avoid much bending in laying down, the main 

 cane is trained on the lower wire, as in Pig. 68. 



The first year it is usual to allow the vines to grow on 

 the ground without care. They are not much in the way 

 in cultivation, and they make about as much root growth 

 and ripen their wood quite as well as when tied up. Li 

 the fall the growth is cut back to a stub which is covered 



