8 LEAFLET 218, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
young trees up to bearing age, is to prune them as little as will accom- 
plish this specific purpose. Cross branches and suckers should be 
removed and broken or dying limbs cut out. Young trees of most 
fruits require little pruning before they come into bearing. Pruning 
of fruit trees in general should be done during the dormant season, 
preferably in the spring after danger of severe freezing is past but 
before growth has started. 
If the growth of grapevines is rather weak during the first season, it 
is advisable to cut the vine back at the end of the first growing season 
to one or two buds and to train up a strong trunk during the second 
growing season. If the vine is to be trained to a fence or a two-wire 
system, it should be tied to a stake and carried upright until it reaches 
the top wire. At that point it should be pinched off and two laterals 
led out, one in either direction, along-the wire. During the following 
season, lateral canes will grow from all the buds along the trunk. Two 
of these at the height of the first wire above the ground should be 
selected and tied to that wire to develop fruiting wood. The other 
branches along the trunk should be rubbed off or pinched back during 
the growing season. 
In most cases, if properly cared for, the vines will begin to bear 
fruit the third year after planting and should continue to produce a 
satisfactory crop for many years thereafter. 
Pruning should be done while the vines are in a dormant condition. 
It is important to note that the fruit is borne on shoots from the canes 
of the previous season’s growth. In pruning, therefore, enough new 
wood should be saved to provide for the next summer’s crop and the 
rest removed. With healthy, vigorous vines, 50 to 60 buds will 
produce as much fruit as the vine can mature properly. More wood 
may be left on vines for home production, provided sufficient space is 
available for the vine to develop. With vigorous vines, the leaving of 
more wood may result in a greater total quantity of fruit, but the 
individual bunches may be inferior in size and the fruit of poorer 
quality. 
The pruning of raspberries and. blackberries consists in removing 
the old fruiting wood each.season. These old canes should be cut off 
close to the ground after the fruit has been picked, and the new canes 
will then develop strong growth to produce fruit for the following 
season. The tips of new shoots of black raspberries are pinched off 
at a height of 12 to 18 inches. Red raspberries are not cut back, but 
weak canes should be removed. Winter pruning of blackberries 
consists in cutting back lateral branches to about 12 inches. Canes 
2 and 3 years old produce the most satisfactory gooseberries and 
currants. In general, the pruning of these fruits should be limited 
during the first 2 years to thinning out the bushes, if more than 8 or 
10 shoots have developed. After the planting is 3 or 4 years old, a 
systematic cutting out of the oldest wood each season is desirable, 
leaving young shoots to replace this old wood. ‘This should be done 
during the dormant season. 
Sprayine.—For those who find it possible to spray in order to pro- 
duce the best quality of tree fruits and grapes, the State agricultural 
college can furnish a spray program giving details of sprays and times 
of application. 
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1942 
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C. - - - - - - - Price 5 cents 
