512 



GROWING GRAPES 



tillage operations (Fig. 205). Cut off the cane just above the 



top wire, at the same time tying it 

 loosely to the lower wire for the 

 sake of support. 



Leave nothing but this single 

 upright cane^ unless the vine is ex- 

 ceptionally strong, when short side 

 arms may be left each way along 

 the lower wire. From these some 

 fruit may be borne the third season. 

 Buds will be present along the en- 

 tire length of the trunk. As shoots 

 develop from them near the base 

 or suckers spring from the ground 

 level, rub them off, repeating the 

 operation two or three times during 

 the season. Side shoots will appear 

 both to the right and left of the 

 trunk. These constitute the fruit- 

 ing wood for the coming season. 



Strictly speaking, the fruit is 

 borne on shoots that develop in the 

 spring from buds on wood that was 

 formed the previous season (Fig. 

 206) . If all new wood remains, the 

 clusters of fruit have the character- 

 istic loose and scraggly appearance 

 of those on unpruned grape arbors 

 or wild vines. From the commer- 

 cial standpoint the vine ^^overbears." 

 To prevent this, leave at pruning 

 time only a fraction of the fruiting 

 wood. The part that is permitted, 

 to remain is naturally that adjacent to the wires where it may 

 be tied. 



(Md. Exp. Sta.) 



Fig. 205. A vine pnmed and 

 tied after two years in the 

 vineyard. 



