514 



GROWING GRAPES 



Forty buds are often prescribed as the proper number to 

 be left. This may do for a general rule, but the intelligent 

 vineyardist will take into account the variety and the vigor 

 evidenced by the vine in question. Vines lacking in vigor 

 require heavy pruning to reduce the fruiting load ; strong vines 

 will carry a proportionately larger amount of fruiting wood. 



The upper arms will each carry two buds more than the 

 lower arms. In addition to the four arms, leave short spurs 

 of one or two buds at or near the junction point of each arm 



(Cornell Exp. Station) 

 Fig. 208. The two-arm Kniffin system before pruning. 



with the trunk. From these spurs renewal arms, or canes, 

 will be taken the following year, for it must be kept in mind 

 that these arms must be replaced each season with wood of the 

 previous year's growth. 



After pruning, tie the canes along each wire, using soft 

 tw^ine or willows. Tie just back of the end bud and also back 

 near the trunk, so that the cane may not pull loose. The fruit 

 when borne will hang below the wires, easily accessible for 

 picking, with good aeration, yet protected from sun and frost. 



