PATENT ABSTRACT
For more than thirty-two years, extensive research studies involving various concepts of total vineyard mechanization have been carried out at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station under the direction of Justin R. Morris (22). Tommy Oldridge was one of the first growers in the region to commercially test, implement and improve upon the findings of these research studies. These studies at the University of Arkansas have involved the evaluation of trellising and training systems suitable for total vineyard mechanization, mechanical shoot positioning, mechanical pruning, mechanical thinning, mechanical harvesting, and the post-harvest handling and utilization of mechanically harvested grapes (2, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 35). The success of this approach to vineyard mechanization has been the fact that it has concentrated on minimizing or eliminating all limiting factors impacting the system while maintaining, or in some cases improving, fruit quality. Also, the researchers have constantly developed, modified and evaluated new equipment for the mechanization of each viticultural operation requiring hand labor. A major effort has been placed on accomplishing these objectives without any loss in fruit quality.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/950,301 filed Oct. 14, 1997, which is a continuation-in-part of provisional application Serial No. 60/035,216 filed Jan. 7, 1997, and is also a continuation-in-part of provisional application, Serial No. 60/049,285 filed Jun. 10, 1997. Each of these provisional applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable.  
         REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
         [0003]    Not applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention is directed to vineyard apparatus, systems, and methods, and, more particularly concerns, machinery, devices, systems, and methods for completely or partially mechanizing grape growing and harvesting while maintaining or improving vineyard consistency and fruit quality. The present invention applies to both wine and juice grape types, is adapted to a substantial number of different trellis types and training systems, and is especially useful in established vineyards, for example having been trained for about three or more years.  
           [0005]    Grapes are consumed in a larger quantity and in more different product types than any other fruit crop on a global basis. The major uses for grapes are for wine, raisins, fresh market, juice (and concentrate), and in canned products (such as fruit cocktail). Table 1 shows the important grape producing countries of the world.  
           [0006]    Chapter XX, “Grape Growing”, by Justin R. Morris, in the text “Modem Fruit Science” by Norman F. Childers, Justin R. Morris, and G. Steven Sibbet, published by Horticultural Publications, Gainsville, Fla., 1995, is hereby incorporated by reference. More particularly, as described on pages 478-482 including Table III and FIGS.  24 - 27 , mechanical pruning equipment has reduced the man hours required for grape pruning. Page 484 describes mechanical harvesting, and page 485 describes the economics of vineyard mechanization. As described on pages 491-494 and as shown in FIGS. 38 and 40, vinifera grapes for processing are mechanically harvested and power pruned using tractor powered, hand-held pneumatic power shears in an effort to reduce labor costs.  
           [0007]    Although mechanical harvesters, mechanical shoot positioners, and mechanical pruning devices have been known for some time, heretofore, a commercially viable and effective system and apparatus for complete mechanization of the growing and harvesting of wine and juice grape cultivars has not been developed. Although attempts have been made at vineyard mechanization, they have fallen short in that they either require excessive follow-up hand operations or other manual labor, do not provide for mechanization of both upright and drooping growth habit grape cultivars, are not adjustable, adaptable, or versatile enough to be used with a multitude of trellis types or training systems, are not cost effective, do not maintain fruit quality, and the like.  
           [0008]    For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,426,517; 3,439,482; 3,473,311; 3,563,016; 3,559,386; 3,601,964; 3,613,343; 3,715,876; 3,727,388; 3,760,574; 3,766,724; 3,783,595; 3,866,401; 3,889,454; 3,890,774; 3,890,775; 3,939,629; 3,996,730; 4,016,711; 4,022,001; 4,035,572; 4,112,657; 4,207,727; 4,112,657; 4,207,727; 4,241,569; 4,251,983; 4,282,705; 4,291,526; 4,299,081; 4,321,786; 4,370,847; 4,391,085; 5,339,612; 5,355,667; and 5,423,166 are directed to or disclose grape harvesting or grape harvester equipment or machinery.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,618, issued to Tommy L. Oldridge on Apr. 7, 1992, discloses an improved grapevine comber (shoot positioning) machine or device including a pivoting counterforce brush for use with an underslung grapevine comber for cleaning and positioning shoots of the grapevine overhanging the guide wires of a divided canopy, and is hereby incorporated by reference.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,444, issued to Tommy L. Oldridge on Aug. 13, 1996, discloses a single curtain wine and juice grape vine cane pruner and is hereby incorporated by reference.  
           [0011]    Other patents of general interest include U.S. Pat. No. 3,901,006 directed to a vine combing (shoot positioning) machine, U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,266 directed to a viticultural process and vine-dressing machine, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,638,705 directed to a machine for trimming and disbudding vine shoots for subsequent use as graft supports.  
           [0012]    Hence, there exists a need throughout the viticultural world for an improved vineyard apparatus, system and method for partial or complete vineyard mechanization and to modify, trellis, and train grapevines so that expensive hand operations can be economically mechanized without any substantial loss of yield while maintaining or improving vineyard consistency and fruit quality.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    In accordance with the present invention, a vineyard apparatus, method and system for complete or partial mechanization of grape growing and harvesting or viticulture is provided which addresses the shortcomings of the prior art and makes provision for viticulture mechanization without a substantial decrease in yield and while maintaining or improving vineyard consistency and fruit quality, especially in established vineyards.  
           [0014]    For more than thirty-two years, extensive research studies involving various concepts of vineyard mechanization have been carried out at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station under the direction of Justin R. Morris (22). Tommy Oldridge was one of the first growers in the region to commercially test, implement, and improve upon the findings of these research studies.  
           [0015]    These studies at the University of Arkansas have involved the evaluation of trellising and training systems suitable for complete vineyard mechanization, mechanical shoot positioning, mechanical pruning, mechanical thinning, mechanical harvesting, and the post-harvest handling and utilization of mechanically harvested grapes (2, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 35). The success of this approach to vineyard mechanization has been the fact that it has concentrated on minimizing or eliminating all limiting factors impacting the system while maintaining, or in some cases improving, fruit quality. Also, new equipment has been developed, modified and evaluated for the mechanization of each viticultural operation requiring hand labor. A major effort has been placed on accomplishing these objectives without any substantial loss in fruit quality.  
           [0016]    A principal object of the present invention is the provision of an improved system, apparatus and method for vineyard mechanization.  
           [0017]    Another object of the present invention is the provision of a shoot and fruit thinner for mechanical fruit and shoot thinning, a full row GDC harvester, a modified half-row and modified full row GDC floating, shaking, rotating head harvester, a modified slapper, a modified “U” trellis, and/or a modified cordon wire support assembly, a guide wire anchoring support unit for facilitating mechanization.  
           [0018]    Still another object of the present invention is the provision of respective complete and partial mechanization systems, apparatus, and methods for mechanization of  Vitis labruscana, Vitis vinifera , French-American hybrids, American hybrids, as well as other grape species and cultivars.  
           [0019]    Still yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a Morris-Oldridge vineyard mechanization system, apparatus and method adapted for use with a single curtain trellis, Geneva Double Curtain (GDC) trellis, California T-trellis, high wire bilateral cordon, standard vertical movable catch wire, Lyre or “U”, other divided canopy trellises, vertical shoot position (VSP), minimal pruning (MP or MPCT in Australia), Smart-Dyson ballerina trellis, modified forms of such trellises or training systems, or the like.  
           [0020]    Another and more particular object of the present invention is a vineyard system, apparatus and method for mechanization of  Vitis labruscana  grapes on a single curtain trellis, minimal pruned  Vitis labruscana  grapes on a GDC trellis system, minimal pruned  Vitis labruscana  grapes on single curtain trellis system,  Vitis vinifera  and French-American hybrid grapes on standard California T-trellis, high wire bilateral cordon and standard vertical movable catch wires, minimal pruned  Vitis vinifera  and French-American hybrid grapes on high wire single curtain trellising system, and  Vitis vinifera  and French-American hybrid grapes on GDC, Lyre or “U”, a modified “U”, other divided canopy trellises, and the like.  
           [0021]    Other objects and further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a graphical representation of the United States indicating the major grape producing regions.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a front plan view representation of a shoot and fruit thinner for  Vitis vinifera , French-American hybrid, American hybrids and some cultivars of other species of grapes.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a rear plan view illustration of the shoot and fruit thinner of FIG. 2.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a left plan view representation of the shoot and fruit thinner of FIG. 2.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a right plan view illustration of the shoot and fruit thinner of FIG. 2.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 6 is a front plan view representation of another shoot and fruit thinner.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 7 is a rear plan view illustration of the shoot and fruit thinner of FIG. 6.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 8 is a rear plan view of another embodiment of a shoot and fruit thinner with vertical extensions for each of the thinner arms and with the thinner having right and left circular rotary striker or thinning finger assemblies for use with vertical moveable catch wire trellis and Lyre or “U” trellis.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 is a rear plan view representation of an alternative shoot and fruit thinner embodiment with horizontal and vertical extensions adapted for use with a California T-trellis.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 is a front plan view illustration of a shoot and fruit thinner embodiment having one circular rotary striker with a chain drive arrangement for transmitting rotary motion from a hydraulic motor to the rotary striker.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 11 is a left side view representation of the shoot and fruit thinner of FIG. 10.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 12 is a right side view illustration of the shoot and fruit thinner of FIG. 10.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 13 is a front view representation of a circular, rotary striker assembly.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 14 is a rear view illustration of the circular, rotary striker assembly of FIG. 13.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIGS. 15 and 16 are respective rear plan view illustrations of alternative fruit and shoot thinner embodiments each having a brush unit on one arm and a circular, rotary striker on the other arm for use with a Lyre, or “U”, or modified “U” trellis.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 17 is a side view illustration of a shoot and fruit thinner embodiment with a brush unit on one arm.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 18 is a front view representation of the brush unit on the shoot and fruit thinner of FIG. 17.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 19 is a front view illustration of a shoot and fruit thinner embodiment having a brush unit on one arm and a circular, rotary striker assembly on the other arm.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 20 is a rear view illustration of a shoot and fruit thinner embodiment having a brush unit attached to an elongate arm for use with a Lyre or “U”, or modified “U” trellis.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 21 is a rear view representation of another shoot and fruit thinner embodiment having a brush unit extending from an arm on the opposite side as that shown in FIG. 20.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 22 is a rear view illustration of a shoot and fruit thinner embodiment having first and second brush units extending from one side thereof and adapted for use with a Lyre or “U”, or a modified “U” trellis.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 23 is a rear view illustration of a shoot and fruit thinner embodiment having an oval rotary striker assembly mounted on the end of an elongate arm.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 24 is a rear plan view representation of a shoot and fruit thinner embodiment having right and left oval rotary striker assemblies mounted on the base of each arm and adapted for use with a California T-trellis.  
         [0045]    FIGS.  25 - 33  are schematic elevational view representations of exemplary shoot and fruit thinner arrangements or embodiments indicating the versatility of the shoot and fruit thinner of the present invention as it is adapted for use with a variety of trellises and in a variety of arrangements. Brushes are used for total removal of unwanted shoots and strikers are for thinning unwanted shoots and fruit. More particularly, FIG. 25 is a schematic representation of a shoot and fruit thinner having a brush unit mounted almost vertically on one arm and a rotary circular striker mounted on the end of the other arm thereof, for use on double curtain trellising systems.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 26 is a schematic illustration of a shoot and fruit thinner having a brush unit mounted substantially horizontally at the end of one arm and a circular rotary striker mounted on the end of the other arm thereof, for use on double curtain trellising systems.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 27 is a schematic representation of a shoot and fruit thinner embodiment having an oval rotary striker assembly mounted on the base of one arm, a circular rotary striker assembly mounted on the base of the other arm and with the strikers or fingers of the oval and circular units overlapping one another near a cordon.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 28 is a schematic illustration of a shoot and fruit thinner having an oval rotary striker assembly mounted on the base of each arm thereof with the strikers or fingers overlapping one another near the cordon.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 29 is a schematic illustration of a shoot and fruit thinner having a rotary circular striker assembly mounted at the base of each of two elongate arms and adapted for use with a modified Lyre or “U” trellis.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 30 is a schematic illustration of a shoot and fruit thinner similar to that of FIG. 8 adapted for use with a standard vertical movable catch wire system.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 31 is a schematic illustration of a shoot and fruit thinner adapted for use with a California-T trellis.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 32 is a schematic representation of a shoot and fruit thinner similar to that shown in FIGS.  2 - 7  of the drawings and adapted for use with a single curtain high bilateral cordon system.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 33 is a schematic illustration of a shoot and fruit thinner arrangement having a rotary oval striker arrangement mounted on the base of one arm and a rotary circular striker assembly mounted at the base of the other arm and adapted for use with a standard or modified Lyre or “U” trellis.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 34 is a front plan view representation of an improved leaf remover or fan and blade unit for removing leaves and small shoots from one side of a standard vertical movable catch wire system.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 35 is a partial side view illustration of the leaf remover of FIG. 34 with an adjustable cover.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 36 is a front view representation of an improved dual fan unit leaf remover with a leading and trailing fan unit and adapted for use with a Lyre or “U” trellis system.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 37 is a top view illustration of the dual fan unit leaf remover of FIG. 36.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 38 is a side view illustration of the trailing fan unit of FIG. 37 with adjustable grates.  
         [0059]    FIGS.  38 A- 38 D relate to the adjustable bars or grate elements for the fan units of FIGS.  36 - 38 . More particularly, FIG. 38A is a bottom view illustration of one of the adjustable bars.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 38B is a cross-section representation of the bar of FIG. 38A taken along line  38 B- 38 B.  
         [0061]    [0061]FIG. 38C is a cross-section illustration of an alternative adjustable bar having a semicircular rather than a rectangular cross-section of the adjustable bar of FIGS. 38A and 38B.  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 38D is a cross-section illustration of an alternative adjustable bar having a triangular rather than a rectangular cross-section of the adjustable bar of FIGS. 38A and 38B.  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 39 is a front view representation of a modified leaf remover adapted for use with a highwire single curtain bilateral cordon trellis system and including a cane lifter.  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 40 is a side view illustration of the leaf remover of FIG. 39.  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 41 is a front view illustration of a single trellis shoot positioner.  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 42 is a front view representation of a divided canopy comber as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,618 issued to Tommy Oldridge.  
         [0067]    [0067]FIG. 42A is a front view representation of a GDC full-row comber incorporating operative elements as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,618 issued to Tommy Oldridge.  
         [0068]    [0068]FIG. 43 is a front view representation of a GDC half-row shoot positioner and pruner trimmer which is similar to the comber described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,618 issued to Tommy Oldridge (FIG. 42) with the addition of cutting sickles.  
         [0069]    [0069]FIG. 43A is a front view representation of a GDC full-row shoot positioner and pruner trimmer which combines two sets of the working elements of the shoot positioner and pruner trimmer shown in FIG. 43.  
         [0070]    FIGS.  44 - 47  are directed to the single curtain trellis pruner of U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,444 issued to Tommy Oldridge and relate to FIGS. 2, 4,  6 , and  8  of that patent, respectively.  
         [0071]    More particularly, FIG. 44 is a front view illustration of the pruner of U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,444.  
         [0072]    [0072]FIG. 45 is a side view representation of the pruner of FIG. 44.  
         [0073]    [0073]FIG. 46 is an enlarged top plan view of a vertical cane pruner of the single curtain grapevine pruner of FIGS. 44 and 45.  
         [0074]    [0074]FIG. 47 is a front elevation view representation of horizontal cane pruners of the single curtain grapevine pruner of FIGS. 44 and 45.  
         [0075]    [0075]FIG. 48 is a perspective view illustration of a center breaker adapted for use with GDC or other double curtain trellising systems.  
         [0076]    [0076]FIG. 49 is a top view representation of the center breaker of FIG. 48.  
         [0077]    [0077]FIG. 50 is a perspective view illustration of a modified Orton slapper adapted for use with GDC and other divided canopy trellising systems. This unit is a modification of a unit built by Roy Orton (grape grower, Ripley, N.Y.).  
         [0078]    [0078]FIG. 51 is a rear view representation of the modified, extended strikers on the modified Orton slapper of FIG. 50 in operation with a GDC-trellis.  
         [0079]    [0079]FIG. 52 is a rear view illustration of the modified Orton slapper of FIG. 50 with extended strikers in use with a Lyre or “U” trellis system.  
         [0080]    [0080]FIG. 53 is a rear perspective view illustration of a bow, bow-head or Quad-rod fruit thinner adapted for use with a single curtain system.  
         [0081]    [0081]FIG. 54 is a rear perspective view representation of a modified bow, bow-head or Quad-rod fruit thinner that can be adapted for use with a GDC or other divided canopy trellising system.  
         [0082]    [0082]FIG. 55 is a schematic top view illustration of the bows of the bow-head or Quad-rod fruit thinner of FIG. 54.  
         [0083]    [0083]FIG. 56 is a front perspective view illustration of a top and side pruner.  
         [0084]    [0084]FIG. 57 is a front perspective illustration of an adaption of the embodiment in FIG. 56 with two relatively short vertical sickles and a horizontal sickle adapted for GDC or other divided canopy systems.  
         [0085]    [0085]FIG. 58 is a front perspective representation of a single vertical sickle which trips rearwardly for summer pruning.  
         [0086]    [0086]FIG. 59 is a partial rear view illustration of an angularly adjustable summer cane pruner.  
         [0087]    [0087]FIG. 60 is a top view illustration of the summer cane pruner of FIG. 59.  
         [0088]    [0088]FIG. 61 is a perspective view illustration of a horizontal rotary cutter.  
         [0089]    [0089]FIG. 62 is a perspective view representation of a dual unit horizontal rotary cutter having leading and trailing cutting heads.  
         [0090]    [0090]FIG. 63 is a top view illustration of the dual unit horizontal rotary cutter of FIG. 62.  
         [0091]    [0091]FIG. 64 is a rear view illustration of a vertical rotary cutter and cane grabber.  
         [0092]    [0092]FIG. 65 is a side view illustration of the vertical rotary cutter and cane grabber of FIG. 64.  
         [0093]    [0093]FIG. 66 is a rear view illustration of an alternative vertical pruner and cane grabber unit with a vertical sickle or cutter.  
         [0094]    [0094]FIG. 67 is a side view illustration of a modified Smart-Dyson ballerina trellising system.  
         [0095]    [0095]FIG. 68 is an end view illustration of the Smart-Dyson ballerina trellising system of FIG. 67.  
         [0096]    [0096]FIG. 69 is a front view representation of a leaf remover adapted for use with the top section of the Smart-Dyson ballerina trellising system of FIGS. 67 and 68.  
         [0097]    [0097]FIG. 70 is a rear view illustration of a vertical pruner and cane grabber unit adapted for use with the bottom section of the Smart-Dyson ballerina trellising system.  
         [0098]    [0098]FIG. 71 is a front perspective view illustration of a dual sickle horizontal cutter having a short length, fixed upper sickle and an elongate lower sickle which trips rearwardly. This unit is a modification of a unit developed and tested by Dr. C. Intrieri of Bologna, Italy.  
         [0099]    [0099]FIG. 72 is a front perspective view representation of a single bar horizontal cutter adapted for summer skirting and the like.  
         [0100]    [0100]FIG. 73 is a front view illustration of a double or dual sickle horizontal cutter having a short length, upper sickle and an elongate lower sickle on each side and which both trip rearwardly. The protruding bumper guards in front of the lower sickles are designed to operate in vineyards where each plant is supported by metal or wood stakes. The metal bumper guard allows the unit to pass the post without damage.  
         [0101]    [0101]FIG. 74 is a front perspective view illustration of an angularly adjustable mast adapted for use on hillsides or sloping vineyards.  
         [0102]    [0102]FIG. 75 is a schematic perspective representation of a conventional GDC trellising system designed by Dr. Nelson Shaulis, N.Y. Agr. Exp. Sta., Geneva, 14456.  
         [0103]    [0103]FIG. 76 is a schematic end view representation of a modified vertical catch wire trellis (modified Lyre or “U”). The cross arms are flexible to allow for harvest mechanization. Also, note the location of each cordon to allow for space for the mechanization equipment to operate. The inside movable stakes allow for rapid adjustment of catch wires following mechanical fruit thinning.  
         [0104]    [0104]FIG. 77 is a partial cross-section illustration of the removable, adjustable pin attachment of the movable stakes of FIG. 76 taken along line  77 - 77 .  
         [0105]    [0105]FIG. 78 is a schematic end view representation of an alternative embodiment of a modified vertical catch wire system or a modified Lyre or “U” trellis. This trellis as well as the traditional Lyre or “U” system is not flexible and requires a modified harvesting system such as an adaption of a harvester built by G. DeGolier (grape grower, Westfield, New York) but with twin harvesting heads and a single catching system, to mechanically harvest both sides of the Lyre or “U” in one pass. Such a machine would contain two sets of beaters mounted side by side (FIG. 83).  
         [0106]    [0106]FIG. 79 is a partial top view illustration of the adjustable post attachment elements of FIG. 78.  
         [0107]    [0107]FIG. 80 is an end view representation of a modified Lyre or “U” trellis adapted for total mechanization. Note that the cordon is located approximately 10 inches (25 cm) above the lower cross bar, this allows sufficient space for the operation of all mechanization equipment including shoot and fruit thinner, leaf removal equipment, harvesting equipment, etc.  
         [0108]    [0108]FIG. 81 is a perspective view representation of a guide wire anchoring support unit and trellis system that allows for the mechanized equipment to enter the Lyre or “U” trellis. FIG. 82 is a side view illustration of the anchor unit of FIG. 81.  
         [0109]    [0109]FIG. 83 is a schematic front view illustration of a grape harvester machine adapted for use with the modified Lyre or “U”-trellis of FIGS. 80 and 81. This harvester contains two picking heads and a collecting system with a conveyor belt under each picking head.  
         [0110]    [0110]FIG. 84 is a schematic front view representation of a modified half-row, floating, at least vertically shaking, rotating head picker mechanical harvester adapted for use with a Lyre or “U” trellis modified to include a moveable cordon wire support, roller or slide assembly.  
         [0111]    [0111]FIG. 84A is an enlarged front view illustration of the moveable cordon wire roller assembly of FIGS. 84 and 85.  
         [0112]    [0112]FIG. 84D is an enlarged side view representation of a vertically and horizontally shaking, floating, rotating picking head adapted for use in the harvesters of FIGS. 84 and 85. FIG. 84B is a cross-section illustration of the moveable cordon wire roller assembly taken along line  84 B- 84 B in FIG. 84A.  
         [0113]    [0113]FIG. 84C is a perspective view representation of a modified Lyre or “U” trellis having movable cordon wire roller assemblies, and releasable catch and guide wires, and a modified wire anchor adapted for use with the modified mechanical harvesters of FIGS. 84 and 85.  
         [0114]    [0114]FIG. 85 is a schematic front view representation of a modified full-row, floating, at least vertically shaking, rotating head picker mechanical harvester adapted for use with a Lyre or “U”trellis having moveable cordon wire roller or slide assemblies.  
         [0115]    FIGS.  86 - 97  are seasonal charts showing respective embodiments of the Morris-Oldridge vineyard mechanization system in accordance with the present invention. More particularly, FIG. 86 is a seasonal chart showing vineyard mechanization activities for  Vitis labruscana  and other grapes with drooping growth habits on single curtain trellis systems.  
         [0116]    [0116]FIG. 87 is a seasonal chart for vineyard mechanization of  Vitis labruscana  and other grapes with drooping growth habits on GDC trellis and GDC-like canopy systems.  
         [0117]    [0117]FIG. 88 is a seasonal chart for vineyard mechanization activities on minimal pruned  Vitis labruscana  and other grapes with drooping growth habits on single curtain trellis systems.  
         [0118]    [0118]FIG. 89 is a seasonal chart for vineyard mechanization activities on minimal pruned  Vitis labruscana  and other grapes with drooping growth habits on GDC trellis systems.  
         [0119]    [0119]FIG. 90 is a seasonal chart for vineyard mechanization activities of  Vitis vinifera  and French-American hybrid grapes produced on high wire bilateral cordon systems.  
         [0120]    [0120]FIG. 91 is a seasonal chart for vineyard mechanization activities of  Vitis vinifera  and other French-American hybrid grapes produced on GDC and other divided canopy trellises.  
         [0121]    [0121]FIG. 92 is a seasonal chart for vineyard mechanization activities on minimal pruned  Vitis vinifera  and French-American hybrid grapes trained on high wire single curtain trellising systems.  
         [0122]    [0122]FIG. 93 is a seasonal chart for vineyard mechanization activities on minimal pruned  Vitis vinifera  and French-American hybrid grapes on GDC trellis systems.  
         [0123]    [0123]FIG. 94 is a seasonal chart for vineyard mechanization activities of  Vitis vinifera  and French-American hybrid grapes produced on standard California T-trellises.  
         [0124]    [0124]FIG. 95 is a seasonal chart for vineyard mechanization activities of  Vitis vinifera  and French-American hybrid grapes produced on standard vertical movable catch wires.  
         [0125]    [0125]FIG. 96 is a seasonal chart for vineyard mechanization activities of  Vitis vinifera  and French-American hybrid grapes produced on Lyre or “U” and other divided canopy trellises.  
         [0126]    [0126]FIG. 97 is a seasonal chart for vineyard mechanization activities of  Vitis vinifera  and French-American hybrid grapes produced on Smart-Dyson ballerina trellising systems.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0127]    Brief History of Vineyard Mechanization and Concerns  
         [0128]    [0128]FIG. 1 of the drawings provides a schematic representation of grape production across the United States with black dots representing the areas or regions of production and the size of the dots indicating the relative quantities of production. As shown in FIG. 1, California is the largest grape producer followed by New York, Washington, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Arizona, and Arkansas.  
         [0129]    California produces almost entirely the European-type grape  Vitis vinifera . The American-type,  V. labruscana , or its hybrids with  viniferas  are grown mainly in the central and northeastern states. Muscadine,  Vitis rotundifolia  is grown mainly in the gulf and southern Atlantic states.  
         [0130]    The following are the leading cultivars in California in approximate order by acreage: ‘Thompson Seedless’ (RT); ‘French Colombard’ (wW); ‘Chardonnay’ (wW); ‘Zinfandel’ (rW); ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ (rW); ‘Flame Seedless’ (T); ‘Flame Tokay’ (T); ‘Merlot’ (rW); ‘Sauvignon blanc’ (wW); ‘Emperor’ (T); ‘Grenache’ (rW); ‘Carignane’ (rW); ‘Barbera’ (rW); ‘Perlette’ (T); ‘Pinot Noir’ (rW); ‘Ruby Cabernet’ (rW); ‘White Riesling’ (wW); ‘Muscat of Alexandria’ (wW); ‘Petite Sirah’ (rW); ‘Rubired’ (rW); ‘Chenin blanc’ (wW); ‘Pinot blanc’ (wW); ‘Semillon’ (wW); ‘Ribier’ (T); ‘Gewurztraminer’ (wW); ‘Napa Gamay’ (rW); ‘Nebbiolo’ (rW); and ‘Malvasia Bianca’ (wW). The largest acreage of ‘Thompson Seedless’ is explained by the fact that this cultivar is popular for raisins, table grapes, wine, juice, and canning and therefore constitutes the majority of California&#39;s grape acreage (R-raisin; T-table; W-wine; w-white; r-red).  
         [0131]    To use machines successfully for mechanical shoot positioning, mechanical pruning, mechanical thinning, mechanical shoot removal, mechanical leaf removal, mechanical harvesting, and other grape production operations, trellis systems should be devised and shoots positioned to accommodate precise mechanical movement. These operations should occur without excessive damage to the vines and at no reduction in fruit yield and/or quality.  
         [0132]    One training system that addresses these objectives is the Geneva Double Curtain training system (GDC), developed by Shaulis et al. (38) in New York. The GDC trellising system (FIG. 75) doubles the length of cordon per vine, over the 5½ to 6 ft. (165 cm-170 cm) Single Curtain, Bilateral Cordon (BC) which is also easy to totally mechanize when the fruiting canes are selected from the lower 180° of the cordon for cultivars with drooping growth habit. The proper use of a mechanical shoot positioner increases the number of mature, productive shoots on vigorous vines that have their basal nodes adequately exposed to sunlight. Most vigorous vines of large-leafed  Vitis labruscana  L.,  Vitis aestivalis , some American hybrids, French-American hybrids and a few  Vitis vinifera  cultivars with a drooping-shoot growth habit and annual cane prunings of 1.35 kg or more at spacings of 240 cm in-the-row spacing may be expected to give excellent response to the GDC system (17). Less vigorous vines need to be spaced closer in the row or be grown on the BC high wire system.  
         [0133]    The GDC trellising system requires a 3-wire trellis with two horizontal cordon-support wires and a single trunk-support wire. The cordon support wires should be 180 cm above the ground and 120 cm apart. The vines are cordon trained and short cane pruned (i.e., 4 to 6 nodes) for most  Vitis labruscana  species. The cordon wires are attached to flexible cross arms that allow for efficient and total mechanization (FIG. 75). In contrast to  Vitis vinifera  L., the fruiting canes of  Vitis labruscana , cordon-trained vines are selected from nodes of very short vertical arms originating within the lower 180° of the horizontal cordon. The cordon must be in continuous contact with the support wire in order to obtain maximum efficiency from mechanical operations.  
         [0134]    Bilateral cordon (BC) trained  Vitis labruscana  vines (FIGS. 2 and 3) also can be effectively shoot positioned, pruned, thinned, and harvested by machine (2, 23, 24, 25). Research in Arkansas (2, 24) compared the three major trellising systems used for  Vitis labruscana  grapes in the Eastern United States, and the results have shown the BC system to be as productive and to produce comparable fruit quality to the Umbrella Kniffin system, the predominate trellising system that was used at the time of the study. However, the GDC system proved to be even more productive than either of the other two systems, with no reduction in fruit quality. The GDC system has proven to be superior to the BC system with vigorous cultivars that have sufficient growth to fill the trellis of the GDC system. However, there is no advantage to the GDC system in low vigor vineyards without the utilization of close in-row spacing. The BC and GDC system can be completely mechanized; hence, these systems as well as the modified systems of FIGS.  76 - 82  and the like are the recommended or preferred systems for most cultivars and vineyards that are to be partially or totally mechanized.  
         [0135]    Bilateral cordon (BC) with a (105 cm) 42-inch cordon and two stationary top catch wires on a vertical trellis or moveable catch wires utilizing spur pruning on the upper 180° of the cordon currently are common training systems in  Vitis vinifera  vineyards in many parts of the world (FIG. 30). The fruiting spurs are selected from the upper 180° of the cordon since  Vitis vinifera  cultivars grow upright. A 210 cm stake is driven into the ground to a depth of 50 cm at each vine. One or two 12-gauge high tensile strength (HTS) cordon wires are located about 105 cm above the vineyard floor. However, with the moveable catch wire system two or three moveable foliage support wires (13-gauge HTS) are moved upward to support the new growth as the vine grows. These systems can be successfully pruned, thinned, fruiting zone leaf removed, summer tipped or trimmed, and harvested mechanically.  
         [0136]    Mechanical Shoot Positioning:  
         [0137]    Effective mechanical pruning only can be accomplished with species with a drooping growth habit when produced on a 170 cm (6 ft.) GDC or BC system when the vines are shoot positioned, which places the canes in proper position for the winter mechanical pruning operation. See Oldridge Pat. No. 5,101,618, dated Apr. 7, 1992 and hereby incorporated by reference, for a GDC vine comber with pivoting counterforce brush. Also, see FIGS.  41 - 43  for positioning and pruning equipment. Shoot positioning has been shown to be an effective method of improving fruit quality and of exposing the lower nodes on the bearing units (canes) to sunlight to make the basal nodes more productive than under shaded conditions (27, 38, 40). Shoot positioning has proven particularly effective with large vigorous vines on GDC which have a drooping-shoot growth habit. Shoot positioning can be accomplished by mechanical means. A new shoot positioner patented and manufactured by Tommy Oldridge is an improvement over other machines for the positioning of GDC-trained vines (FIG. 42 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,618 to Oldridge).  
         [0138]    As soon as the tendrils touch the wire or another cane, they fasten very quickly; therefore, vines are usually first shoot positioned just before bloom. Shoot positioning may require a second pass with a mechanical shoot positioner. For the GDC system, all vigorous shoots growing between the two cordon wires must be pulled or brushed down in order to maintain two separate foliage canopies. This can be accomplished with the Oldridge shoot positioner and middle breaker (FIGS. 48 and 49). Also, other vineyard operations can be carried out at the same time while the shoots are positioned or broken (spraying, etc.).  
         [0139]    Mechanical Pruning and/or Trimming During the Dormant Season:  
         [0140]    In the late 1960s, grape producers indicated that once mechanical harvesting was totally implemented, the most time-consuming hand labor operations in the vineyard were dormant pruning and tying. Grape producers complained of decreasing availability of qualified labor for pruning and tying and indicated that these should be the next operations mechanized (22).  
         [0141]    Background Information on:  
         [0142]    A mechanical pruner or trimmer was successfully tested in 1967 and 1968 by Morris at the University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station on a BC cordon-trained mature Concord vineyard (FIGS.  2 - 7 ). The most significant findings of these studies were that the vines had to be shoot positioned before and following bloom in order for the canes to be in the proper position for dormant pruning or trimming and equally important was the need to produce the lower nodes in sunlight to maintain node productivity and fruit quality.  
         [0143]    A mechanical pruning aid for Concord grapes was developed in New York by Pollock et al. (32) for use on cordon-trained vines. A triangular arrangement of reciprocating cutter bars established the length of cane and cane position. This New York pruning system was supplemented by a mechanized brushing technique to remove the top shoots (upper 180° of the cordon) early in the spring.  
         [0144]    In 1971, the Arkansas studies indicated mechanical pruning of grape vines could be accomplished and would reduce pruning labor by as much as 50% (26). One viticultural concern was observed in this early research, the impossibility of treating each vine individually to control crop load (balance pruning according to vine size), which might result in the overcropping or undercropping of individual vines.  
         [0145]    The mechanical thinner (shown in FIGS. 53 and 54) in this application has eliminated this concern for BC-trained vines by being able to effectively adjust fruit loads by controlling the beater speed (rpm) of this unit. The unit shown in FIGS.  2 - 9  is extremely effective in adjusting crop load with the French-American hybrid and  Vitis vinifera  grapes. This economical thinning system for the BC 170 cm (6 ft.) system is a mechanical thinning unit using bow-rods, fingers, or strikers in an over-the-row beater side-mounted unit built where the operator can see to adjust fruit load on individual vines (FIG. 2 and FIGS. 53 and 54). Results are shown in Tables 2 and 3 where less efficient equipment than that discussed in this application was used to accomplish the desired pruning results of mechanical pruning on yield, vine size, and juice quality (Tables 2 and 3) on shoot positioned Concord grapevines on GDC or BC training systems (23,24). This study was established in a 20-year old vineyard. The vines were either mechanically pruned or balance pruned to a 30+10 severity. The mechanically pruned vines were left untouched or were adjusted to the best 60 or 90 nodes per vine. After six consecutive years, follow-up pruning by hand, to limit the number of nodes per vine to 60 following mechanical pruning, maintained vine size and produced fruit yield and juice quality comparable to vines balance pruned to a 30+10 schedule in this older vineyard and under conditions of this study. Both the no-touch-up treatment and retaining 90 nodes per vine following mechanical pruning treatments reduced per vine and per node fruit yields (data not shown) after the sixth year and resulted in unacceptable objective and sensory juice quality. Also, these two treatments resulted in uneven ripening of Concord grapes (% green fruit), which contributed to the problem of low soluble solids and poor juice color.  
         [0146]    Sensory color acceptability ratings (Table 3), which included both the parameters of color intensity and hue, generally declined with increasing treatment severity on single curtain SC trained vines. However, the color acceptability was rated lower than expected on hand pruned (30+10) GDC-trained vines because of the blue appearance, rather than the expected intense purple juice color. This result was due to the influence of high pH on juice color. The high pH allowed structural transformations of the anthocyanin molecule, resulting in the shift in hue. SC-trained, no touch-up vines had the lowest ratings for both color intensity and color acceptability.  
         [0147]    Juice flavor was rated unacceptable from plots limited to 90 nodes or with no touch-up on the GDC training system and with no touch-up treatment on the SC system, following mechanical pruning.  
         [0148]    From this study it was concluded that continuous mechanical pruning in Concord vineyards is recommended only in shoot-positioned vineyards where pruning can be followed by cane selection and adequate node limitations. However, recent unpublished data shows that mechanical fruit thinning also eliminates this problem without the need for hand thinning.  
         [0149]    These preliminary findings indicated a need for a better mechanical shoot positioner and mechanical pruner. This unit has been patented by Oldridge, U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,444 hereby incorporated by reference (FIGS.  44 - 47 ). A study was designed at the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station with the objective of examining various levels of mechanical pruning in combination with shoot positioning on Concord grapes. The vineyard was planted in 1981. The vines were extremely uniform in vigor, and all vines were trained to the GDC training system with 3 m×2 m spacing and drip irrigation. The experimental field plot was an incomplete latin square 7×4 factorial (7 columns, 4 rows) with four replications. Treatments consisted of: 1. Four levels of shoot positioning; a) hand positioning, b) machine positioning, c) separating the canopy by breaking centers only, and d) no shoot positioning. (In treatments a, b, and c, the shoots were positioned vertically toward the vineyard floor two or three times, as required). 2. Seven pruning treatments; a) balance pruned by hand to a 30+10 level (6 node canes), b) balance-pruned by hand to a 50+10 level (6 node canes), c) mechanically pruned and adjusted to the best 60 nodes, d) mechanically pruned and adjusted to the best 80 nodes, e) mechanically pruned with fruit removed by mechanical beating at a green-pea size to a level approximating the fruit load of a 30+10 pruning severity, f) mechanically pruned with no touch-up in even-numbered years and hand pruned to 30+10 (6 node canes) in odd-numbered years, and g) mechanically pruned with no touch-up.  
         [0150]    Yield, pruning weight, and juice quality have been determined for eight consecutive years. Unlike some of the recent research findings in other regions, our results indicate that continued mechanical pruning with no node adjustments may have undesirable effects on fruit quality when the mechanical pruning results in extremely high yields (Tables 4 and 5). Our main concern about mechanical pruning is its affect on percent soluble solids and color (Tables 3 and 4). Shoot positioning showed reduction in soluble solids in 1991, but there was no need to position the vines in 1991 due to reduced vigor and vine size (Table 5). It was obvious that shoot positioning for sunlight exposure was not needed. The excessive heat, hot nights, and fruit exposure to the sun was detrimental to the production of soluble solids. This points out the need to maintain vine vigor or size on high yielding vineyards and also again point out the need for selective mechanical fruit thinning in order to maintain balanced high yielding production of high quality fruit.  
         [0151]    Freeman and Cullis (12) studied mechanical hedge pruning of Cabernet Sauvignon and Doradillo vines in Australia that were trained to a BC system. The following hedge shapes were established in this study: 1) a square hedge with three cutting planes that produced a square cross-section (the distance from the cutting plane to the cordon was set to give node numbers that were similar to the controls); 2) an offset rectangular hedge where the vines were trimmed close to the cordon on one side on alternate years to allow for new spurs to develop; and 3) a hedge pruned to a triangular shape on the upper 180° portion of the cordon. The yield and capacity of hedged vines were equal to or greater than the manually-pruned vines, except in 1976, when the hedged Doradillo vines had lower yields. With the Cabernet Sauvignon, a triangular hedge initially had lower yields but in later years yielded more than the square and offset hedges. This increase in Cabernet yield with the triangular hedge was a result of increased berry number compared to the other hedge shapes.  
         [0152]    Freeman and Cullis (12) concluded that under Australian conditions vine hedging was a viable alternative to detailed manual pruning for vinifera grapes in Australia. The major quality characteristics affected by total mechanical pruning are smaller berries and clusters. Minimal pruning of  Vitis vinifera  vines on a commercial scale is being adopted in Australia. Also, they indicated that the mechanically pruned hedge presents no problems during the mechanical harvesting operation. Machine-assisted pruning has become a fixture in the Australian wine industry (6).  
         [0153]    Minimal Pruning:  
         [0154]    Working on the theory that winter pruning disturbs the vines&#39; natural process of self-regulation of growth and production, Clingeleffer and Possingham (5) have developed a trellising system in Australia that requires minimal pruning and provides ideal vine conformation for mechanical harvesting. They call it Minimal Pruning of Cordon-Trained Vines. Cordon-trained vines are trained to either a single or double high wire in the vertical plane. Pruning consists of trimming at the sides only in the summer and trimming at 30 inches above the ground as a harvest aid. Over the seasons, the cordons and canes grow into a large permanent canopy. Trimming can be accomplished with simple and inexpensive tractor-mounted equipment. Commercial production has been accomplished in Australia and to a limited extent in California with this system.  
         [0155]    Pool et al. (35) have used minimal pruning in New York vineyards. Pool (34) has also studied mechanical thinning and found that the resultant crop reduction enhancedjuice soluble solids contents.  
         [0156]    Intrieri and Marangoni (15) reported alternate “up-down” mechanical pruning of GDC-trained  Vitis vinifera  grapes in Bologna, Italy, has given satisfactory results in terms of production and vegetative response of the vines for a three-year period. After four years of tests and surveys, Cargnello and Lisa (1) in Veneto, Italy, concluded that for mechanical pruning to be practical it is necessary to control the bud load annually, and that mechanical pruning must ensure an adequate number of renewal canes with short cuts on some parts of the cordon to avoid the premature aging of the vine. In some regions, success is not or will not be possible until trellis systems are modified for mechanization. Also, this system will not work in regions with short growing seasons, where harvest may be delayed from big crops, and vines are subject to severe injury from low winter temperatures.  
         [0157]    Parallel work on pruning and shoot positioning mechanization has occurred in other grape growing regions of the world, e.g., New Zealand (42), France (37, 44), Italy (7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 33, 41, 43), Spain (13), Bulgaria (21, 29, 30), and the Ukraine (28).  
         [0158]    Mechanized Systems for the Production of French-American hybrids:  
         [0159]    The French hybrids are interspecific hybrids that vary a great deal in their vine characteristics, but, in general, the majority of the cultivars that have been selected for production have shorter internodes than the  Vitis labruscana  species. Most all hybrids tend to be extremely fruitful. This fruitfulness is due to a large extent to the high cluster numbers for shoot and extremely fruitful basal buds. These basal buds are seldom, if ever, fruitful with  Vitis labruscana  and  Vitis vinifera  species. These basal buds or nodes are considered non-count on  V. labruscana , but on some French hybrids the basal or non-count buds can account for 30-40% of the fruit that is produced.  
         [0160]    An individual bud of the French-Hybrid is more productive since the secondary bud at each node can produce almost as many grapes as the primary buds.  
         [0161]    Hand thinning is a method to produce consistently high quality fruit from these cultivars. Hand thinning is expensive and one of the greatest challenges in producing these cultivars. To fruit and shoot thin these cultivars mechanically and economically, the mechanical shoot and fruit thinner described in this application (FIGS.  2 - 33 ) is recommended. The fruit zone area for most French hybrids is the same as for the  Vitis vinifera  species (FIGS.  2 - 7 ). Mechanical crop control of this group of grapes may be accomplished by both mechanical shoot and fruit thinning (FIGS.  2 - 33 ). This new mechanical fruit and shoot thinner is relatively simple and extremely effective.  
         [0162]    Mechanization of the  Vitis vinifera  Species:  
         [0163]    Most of the  Vitis vinifera  cultivars have upright growth habits and require that the fruiting zone be located on the upper 180° of the cordon. The majority of the premium wine produced in the world comes from this species of grapes. Wineries pay premium prices for high quality  vinifera  grapes. In many premium wine grape regions, the need to restrict crop sizes following mechanical pruning is paramount. These concerns become even greater in regions of the world where there are short growing seasons and potential for winter injury. Producers have to go to extreme hand thinning measures to reduce crop loads, to ensure maturity and maximize winter hardiness. In both cases, the need for cluster and/or berry thinning is necessary to adjust the fruit load to the capacity of the vine. The rule of thumb for foliage to fruit ratio for many cultivars has been 10 to 15 square centimeters of leaf to one gram of fruit. Lakso (18) has reported that after the final exposed leaf area/grams reaches about 8-12 cm 2  of functional leaf area per gram of fruit, there is little benefit of having additional leaf area. Crop adjustments to ensure the proper leaf-fruit ratios is used in many grape regions of the world and is even enforced by law in some regions.  
         [0164]    Dr. Robert Pool, Cornell University, Geneva, N.Y. (37), has developed a method to estimate crop level to determine the amount of fruit that should be mechanically removed. Assuming the grower knows the number of vines per acre, an estimate of crop weight (lb.) can be calculated. The grower should harvest all fruit from a representative sample (e.g. two post-lengths) at 1200 growing degree-days, or when berries reach 50% of final weight. For ‘Concord’ in NY, Pool has shown that regardless of pruning system, weather, year, or crop level, 50% of final cluster weight will occur at 1200 growing degree days. However, this timing will change for different cultivars and for different grape growing regions. The grower then multiplies the weight of fruit per vine at 1200 degree-days by 2 to determine crop weight per vine at harvest. Then multiply lb./vine by vines per acre and divide by 2000 to arrive at tons/acre. If the estimated crop is above the desired tons/acre for maximum quality for the cultivar or vineyard, the grower can calculate the percent of fruit he needs to remove from each vine to arrive at the desired cropping level. As a rule, machine thinning should be used about 20-30 days following bloom in cool growing regions such as the “grape belt” region of New York.  
         [0165]    Winkler et al. (Text 1974), who wrote one of the most respected texts on viticulture, felt that one approach to this functional leaf/fruit ratio was to leave vines unpruned and control the crop by thinning. However, during this time period, it was not practical or feasible since mechanization of harvest of unpruned vines was not an option. Unlike the French hybrids, most  vinifera  grapes are only moderately fruitful and normally do not produce fruitful basal buds. Therefore, mechanical thinning and shoot removal of vigor or large size vines becomes more critical, and in most cases and some trellising systems, will need to be combined with mechanical leaf removal (FIGS.  34 - 40 ).  
         [0166]    Although the Morris-Oldridge complete vineyard mechanization system of the present invention provides the viticulturist with an arsenal of tools, careful use and intelligent implementation of the desired results from each of these tools must be understood for the system to be successful. Adoption of these new completely mechanized systems will mean a more reliable, more stable, and more economical production of premium quality fruit that will be competitive for the local, regional, national and global markets.  
         [0167]    With reference again to FIGS.  2 - 5  of the drawings, an exemplary shoot and fruit thinner in accordance with the present invention generally designated by the reference numeral  10  is especially adapted for use with  Vitis vinifera  and French-American hybrid grapes and is shown in use in connection with a high wire single curtain bilateral cordon trellising system  12 .  
         [0168]    The shoot and fruit thinner  10  includes a central support platform  14 , right and left depending arms  16  and  18  each supporting at the lower end thereof a circular rotary striker unit  20  and  22  having striker fingers or beaters  24  and  26  extending therefrom. The shoot and fruit thinner  10  also includes a guide wheel  28  which is adapted to ride on a guide wire or cordon wire  30  to facilitate the proper positioning of the shoot and fruit thinner  10  relative to the vine being treated.  
         [0169]    Each of the rotary striker units  20  and  22  rotates about a substantially horizontal shaft in the same or opposite directions under the influence of a hydraulic motor  36  which provides drive to a drive sprocket  38  which in turn drives a drive chain  40  which supplies drive to respective rotary unit drive sprockets  42  and  44  and which also passes around a plurality of idler and directional sprockets or rollers  46 ,  48  and  50 .  
         [0170]    As shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the chain and sprockets are usually covered with a removable metal cover or guard  52  to prevent shoots and foliage from obstructing movement of the chain.  
         [0171]    The support platform  14  includes a vertical plate  54  and a horizontal support member  56  pivotally connected to one another by brackets and bolts  58  and  60 . The angle of the vertical plate  54  with respect to the horizontal member  56  is adjusted by respective turn buckles or length adjustable telescoping members  62  and  64 . Since the upper end of each of the arms  16  and  18  is attached to the vertical plate  54 , the angle of each of the rotary heads  20  and  22  can be adjusted by adjusting the length of members  62  and  64  by, for example, removing the bolts therefrom, and adjusting the length of the members  62  and  64  to a different hole setting, and replacing the bolts therein.  
         [0172]    Guide wheel  28  is adjustable and is supported from platform  14  by forwardly extending members  66  and  68  which extend from horizontal support member  56  and support a pivoting yoke  70  about a pivot bolt  72 . Upward and lower travel of the guide wheel  28  is limited by upper and lower nuts  74  and  76  placed on respective side rods  78  and  80  which pass through respective circular openings in guide brackets  82  and  84  which are themselves attached to the extension members  66  and  68 .  
         [0173]    Horizontal member  56  of support platform  14  is made up of two side pieces  86  and  88  welded to a horizontal plate  90 . A hitch ball  92  is attached to plate  90  and provides for quick attachment and detachment of the shoot and fruit thinner  10  to and from a hitch tongue  94  extending horizontally from a horizontal member  96  of a vineyard tractor mast  98  such as shown in any one of FIGS. 34, 36,  39 ,  48 ,  51 ,  56 ,  74 , or the like. After the hitch tongue  94  of mast member  96  is attached to the ball  92 , the horizontal plate  90  and horizontal member  56  of support platform  14  are fixed in position relative to the end of mast member  96  by, for example, bolts which pass through brackets extending from member  96  and into plate  90 .  
         [0174]    In accordance with the present invention, and as shown throughout the drawings, each of the devices, apparatus, implements, or the like of the present invention preferably utilize a quick disconnect ball hitch mechanism or assembly to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the respective implements or devices to the mast of a vineyard tractor, harvester, or other machinery or equipment. Also, the ball hitch can be used to facilitate the storage of each of the implements, devices, apparatus, and the like by having a storage rack with a plurality of spaced ball receiving hitch ends which are adapted to attach to the ball on the respective implements.  
         [0175]    Although the shoot and fruit thinner  10  is shown to utilize a hydraulic motor  36  which receives hydraulic fluid from hydraulic lines  100  operatively connected to a hydraulic system of the tractor or other vineyard equipment (or an anxiallary hydraulic system attached to, for example, the power take off on the back of the tractor) which is used to transport the shoot and fruit thinner  10  through the vineyard and simultaneously drive both rotary striker units  20  and  22 , it is to be understood that other motors such as pneumatic or electric motors can be used to simultaneously drive both rotary units  20  and  22  or respective separate drive motors can be added in place of the single motor  36  to drive each of the rotary units  20  and  22  independently of one another. See, for example, FIG. 36 of the drawings which shows respective hydraulic motors for driving each of two rotary units.  
         [0176]    The amount of shoot and fruit thinning that is accomplished using the rotary striker units  20  and  22  and in particular by the striker fingers  24  and  26  of the rotary units  20  and  22 , is determined by the speed and direction of the rotary units, the number of striker fingers, the flexibility of the fingers, the spacing of the rotary units and fingers from one another, the alignment of the flexible fingers on the respective rotary units (in sync with one another or out of sync with one another), the speed with which the shoot and fruit thinner  10  is moved through the vineyard and along the vine, and combinations thereof.  
         [0177]    With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the striker fingers  24  and  26  are attached to or mounted in respective finger receiving sockets  102  and  104  which are attached to respective rings or annuluses  106  and  108  by respective radial support members  110  and  112  (see FIGS. 13 and 14). In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that a preferred arrangement of striker fingers includes a pair of such fingers placed adjacent one another and with each of the fingers having a flexible core  114  such as a rubber hose, tube, shaft, or the like, covered partially near its base with a rigid support  116  such as a metal pipe, tube, or the like. The flexible ends  114  of the adjacent fingers  24  of the finger pair tend to grab foliage, shoots, grape bunches, and the like, during travel of the fingers through the vine. Also, the flexible ends  114  on the fingers allow the ends to bend or give, should they contact a solid item such as a wire, post, brace, stay, trellis member, cordon wire support, cordon, other striker fingers, brushes, brush bristles, or the like. Although it is preferred to use pairs of fingers, especially for fruit bunch removal, it is contemplated that one could use single fingers to, for example, remove foliage, shoots, thin bunches, or the like, or one could use a single finger having a split end to achieve nearly the same result as a pair of adjacent fingers. Further, the pair of fingers may be further supported by attaching them one to the other near their base by, for example, wrapping tape around the base supports  116  of adjacent fingers. This increases the rigidity of the finger pair and increases the amount of foliage or fruit which is removed during use thereof. Each of the fingers  24  and  26  may be releasably attached or mounted in the receiving sockets  102  and  104  by, for example, threaded fasteners, cotter keys, wire, or the like.  
         [0178]    The number and arrangement of the striker fingers is selected to achieve the desired amount of shoot and fruit thinning, leaf removal, and the like. The rotary striker units  20  and  22  of FIGS.  2 - 5  are adapted to receive anywhere from one to twelve fingers per unit. The speed of rotation of the striker fingers is controlled by controlling the hydraulic fluid sent to motor  36 .  
         [0179]    The amount of shoot and fruit removal can be adjusted along the travel of a particular row in a vineyard or along a particular vine section to adjust for different physiological stages or conditions of the vine, shoots, fruit, or the like to insure that the shoots and fruit are evenly spaced along the length of the cordon. Also, the rotary striker units may be replaced with brushes or bristles (see FIGS.  15 - 22 ) or with oval rotary striker units (see FIG. 23) to achieve a desired result. In accordance with a particular example of the present invention, the rotary striker units  20  and  22  of the shoot and fruit thinner  10  each included four respective pairs of striker fingers driven at a rotary speed from 10 to 250 rpm with the fingers of the respective units  20  and  22  offset or out of sync by about 45°, and with the transporting tractor driven from 1½ mph to 2½ mph to achieve a desired shoot and fruit thinning along a row of  Vitis vinifera  trained on a high wire single curtain bilateral cordon trellis system. Also in accordance with a particular example of the present invention, each of the rotary striker units  20  and  22  of the shoot and fruit thinner  10  is about 32 inches from tip to tip having a 10 inch center disk and 12 inch length fingers with one inch of each finger inserted into its receiving socket. Further, each of the fingers is one-half inch in diameter and made of a flexible solid rubber material. It is preferred to use striker fingers having an outer diameter of from about one quarter inch to one inch and varying in length from about 4 to 24 inches. Further, when brush units are used in place of rotary striker units, it is preferred to use a brush unit having a tip to tip dimension of about 20 to 40 inches, preferably 32 inches. Adjustments in shoot and fruit removal depend on cultivar and shoot numbers and the projected or desired fruit load.  
         [0180]    Although it is not shown in FIGS.  2 - 5  of the drawings, an automatic height adjustment mechanism or device can be added, for example, to the guide wheel yoke  70  or one of the height adjustment members  78  and  80  to automatically adjust the height of the striker fingers  24  and  26  relative to the vine by automatically adjusting the position of the guide wheel  28  relative to the platform  14 . For example, a hydraulic cylinder or an electric motor and screw arrangement can be used to automatically adjust the position of the guide wheel relative to the platform from a control lever or mechanism on the tractor.  
         [0181]    As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a shoot and fruit thinner is generally designated by the reference numeral  120  and shown to be substantially identical to the shoot and fruit thinner  10  of the FIGS.  2 - 5  with the exception of the removal of the guide wheel  28  and the supporting assembly therefor. The shoot and fruit thinner  120  includes a support platform  122 , right and left arms  124  and  126 , circular rotary striker units  128  and  130 , striker fingers  132  and  134 , chain  136 , hydraulic motor  138 , and the like.  
         [0182]    As shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings and in accordance with yet another embodiment or arrangement of a shoot and fruit thinner of the present invention, a shoot and fruit thinner  140  is especially adapted for use with a standard single catch wire trellis system and is substantially identical in its construction to the shoot and fruit thinner  120  of FIGS. 6 and 7 with the exception of the addition of vertical lower extension arms  142  and  144  added to the bottom of each of right and left angled arms  146  and  148  attached to the support platform  150 . The shoot and fruit thinner  140  is similar to the shoot and fruit thinners  10  and  120  of FIGS.  2 - 7  in that it includes a hydraulic motor  152 , a drive chain, and a plurality of sprockets  154  and  156  for providing drive to each of two circular rotary striker units  158  and  160 .  
         [0183]    With reference to FIG. 9 of the drawings, and in accordance with still yet another embodiment of the present invention, a shoot and fruit thinner is generally designated by reference numeral  170  and has a substantially identical construction to that of the shoot and fruit thinner  140  of FIG. 8 except that the extension arms are elongated and positioned at different angles to accommodate a California T-trellis  168 . The shoot and fruit thinner  170  includes upper arms  172  and  174  which extend outwardly and lower extension arms  176  and  178  attached to the free end of each of the upper arms  172  and  174  and which extend inwardly toward the trellis  168 . Respective rotary striker units  180  and  182  are supported at the base of each of arms  176  and  178  and are driven by a hydraulic motor  184  and a chain which passes over directional sprockets  186  and  188 . The motor  184  and upper arms  172  and  174  are supported on a substantially vertical plate  190  of a support platform  192 . As shown in the drawings, the vertical plate  190  and support arms  172 ,  174 ,  176  and  178  include a plurality of openings to allow for angular adjustment and repositioning of the support arms relative to one another and to the support platform  192 . The arms are attached to the support platform by releasable fasteners  194  such as nuts and bolts. Further, rotary striker assemblies  196  and  198  are attached to the rotary disks by releasable fasteners such as bolts and locknuts.  
         [0184]    As shown in FIGS.  10 - 14  of the drawings, and in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, a shoot and fruit thinner generally designated by the reference  200  is substantially identical in construction to the shoot and fruit thinner  10  of FIGS.  2 - 5  except that the shoot and fruit thinner  200  includes only a single arm  202  and single rotary striker unit  204 . The arm  202  is attached to a support platform  206 . The rotary striker  204  is rotatably driven by a motor and a chain  208  to drive a plurality of striker fingers  210  in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. The support platform  206  of shoot and fruit thinner  200  is releasably attached to a horizontal mast member  212  by a ball hitch  214  and bolts  216 .  
         [0185]    With particular reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings, a guide wheel  218 , supporting assembly  220  and adjustment mechanism  222  has been added to the shoot and fruit thinner  200 . Also, for the sake of clarity, a rotary striker assembly  224  has been removed from a rotary striker support disk  226  of the rotary striker unit  204 .  
         [0186]    With reference to FIGS. 10, 13 and  14  of the drawings, the rotary striker assembly  224  is adapted to be releasably connected to the support disk  226  by a plurality of threaded fasteners such as nuts and bolts  228  with the bolts being received through respective openings  230  in a disk or ring  232 .  
         [0187]    With reference to FIGS.  15 - 22 ,  25 , and  26  of the drawings, in accordance with the present invention, one can replace, substitute or augment one or both circular rotary striker units with one or more rotary circular brush units. The brush units may be driven by an independent motor, for example, a separate hydraulic motor.  
         [0188]    With particular reference to FIGS. 15 and 16 of the drawings, respective shoot and fruit thinner embodiments  240  and  280  each have a brush unit at the lower end of one arm and a circular rotary striker unit on the lower end of the other arm and are adapted for use with a Lyre, “U”, or modified U-trellis  242 . As shown in FIG. 15 and in accordance with a still another embodiment of the present invention, shoot and fruit thinner  240  is shown to include a circular rotary striker unit  242  operatively attached to the lower end of a lower arm  244  with the upper end of the arm  244  attached to the lower end of an upper arm  246  having the upper end thereof attached to a support platform  248 . The rotary striker unit  242  includes a plurality of striker fingers  250  which are rotated under the action of a hydraulic motor  252  which provides drive to the rotary striker unit  242  via a chain and a plurality of sprockets.  
         [0189]    The shoot and fruit thinner  240  also includes a rotary brush unit  254  including a plurality of stacked circular bristle assemblies  256  which are operatively attached to the rotary shaft of a hydraulic motor  258 . The hydraulic motor  258  and rotary brush unit  254  are supported by a plate  260  which is attached to a lower end of a first or lower rectangular support member  262 . The first support member  262  is received in a first adjusting collar or bracket  264  which is welded to a second adjusting collar or bracket  266  which is received on a second rectangular support member  268 . The second or upper support member  268  is attached to the lower end of an arm  270  and the upper end of the arm  270  is attached to the support platform  248 . Hydraulic fluid is supplied to the motor  258  to rotate the bristles  256  of brush unit  254  in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction and at a selected speed to provide the desired removal of foliage, shoots, fruit, and the like from the interior of the trellis and/or from the area of the cordon. The brush unit  254  can be used to provide an almost complete removal of shoots, foliage, fruit, and the like from a cordon. Adjustable collars or brackets  264  and  266  include releasable set screws or bolts  272  and  274  which allow for a wide range of adjustment in the angle and position of the brush unit  254 . The shoot and fruit thinner  240  is adapted to thin the foliage, shoots, and fruit from the exterior of the trellis  242  using the circular rotary striker unit  242  and to clean out the interior of at least one side of the trellis using the bristles  256  of brush unit  254  to remove foliage, shoots, and fruit from the interior of the trellis.  
         [0190]    With reference to FIG. 16 of the drawings, an alternative shoot and fruit thinner  280  is substantially similar to the shoot and fruit thinner  240  of FIG. 15 except that the rotary striker unit  282  and rotary circular brush unit  284  are on opposite sides of the device. The shoot and fruit thinners  240  and  280  of FIGS. 15 and 16 are adapted to thin the exterior of at least one side of the trellis and clean the interior of at least the other side of the trellis with a single pass along a vine or can clean the entire interior of the trellis  242  and both exterior sides of the trellis by either using the shoot and fruit thinners  240  and  280  in combination or by making two passes along a particular row in opposite directions. In accordance with one example, the bristle or brush unit  254  is 32 inches from tip to tip and has relatively stiff plastic or resin bristles.  
         [0191]    As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 of the drawings, a shoot and fruit thinner or removal device generally designated  290  includes a single rotary brush unit  292  of substantially similar construction to that of the rotary brush unit and support assembly  254  of FIG. 15. The rotary brush unit  292  includes a hydraulic motor  294  attached to a plate  296  which is attached to one end of a first or lower rectangular support member  298 . The first support member  298  is clamped in an adjustment collar or bracket  300  which is attached to another adjustment collar or bracket  302 . The bracket  302  is releasably attached to a second or upper rectangular support member  304  which is welded to a support arm  306 . The brush unit  292  includes a plurality of circular bristle assemblies  308  which are clamped to a circular disk  310  which is operatively connected to the rotary shaft of motor  294 . The number of bristle assemblies  308 , the stiffness of the bristles, the speed of rotation of the motor  294 , the position of the brush unit  292 , the ground speed of the tractor or other equipment transporting the device  290 , and the like can be varied to provide the selected removal of foliage, shoots, fruit, and the like from the interior of the trellis.  
         [0192]    Removal device  290  may include a guide wheel  312  as shown in FIG. 17 if desired or may be operated without a guide wheel as shown in FIG. 18 of the drawings. The brush unit  292  may be used to clean the interior or exterior of a trellis, a cordon, or the like and may also be used for pruning. It is important to open up the interior of a GDC, Lyre, “U”, or modified “U” trellis to allow light and air to get to the fruit, and to assist in the mechanical harvesting thereof.  
         [0193]    With respect to FIG. 19 of the drawings, a multi-purpose shoot and fruit thinner or removal device generally designated  320  is similar to a combination of the shoot and fruit thinners  290  of FIGS. 17 and 18 and  200  of FIGS.  10 - 14  and includes both a circular rotary brush unit  322  and a circular rotary striker unit  324  each having their own separate drive motor and which can be driven at different speeds and in different directions. The shoot and fruit thinner  320  is in a similar arrangement to that shown in FIG. 26 of the drawings and can be used in connection with a Y or GDC trellising system.  
         [0194]    [0194]FIGS. 20 and 21 of the drawings show respective shoot and fruit thinner embodiments  340  and  350  each having a circular rotary brush unit  342  and  352  each mounted at the base of an elongate arm assembly including respective upper arms  344  and  354 , lower arms  346  and  356 , and adjustable support assemblies  348  and  358 . The shoot and fruit thinners  340  and  350  of FIGS. 20 and 21 are adapted to reach down into the interior of a deep divided curtain trellis such as a Lyre, “U”, or modified “U”, or to reach down and under the “U” or upper end of a Y, T, Lyre, “U”, or modified “U” trellising system.  
         [0195]    With respect to FIG. 22 of the drawings, a shoot and fruit thinner embodiment or arrangement in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral  360  and shown to include first and second circular rotary brush units  362  and  364  with the first rotary brush unit having a circular bristle assembly  366  positioned substantially vertically and in front of the second rotary brush unit  364  having a circular bristle assembly  368  position substantially horizontally and trailing the first brush unit  362 . Each of the rotary brush units  362  and  364  is supported by respective adjustment assemblies  370  and  372 , attached to respective support arms  374  and  376 , each of which is attached to a support platform  378 . Each of the rotary brush units  362  and  364  includes a separate and independent drive motor  380  and  382  to provide for driving of the bristles of each of the brush units at independently selected speeds and in independently selected directions.  
         [0196]    The circular rotary brush units  362  and  364  of shoot and fruit thinner or removal device  360  are adapted for use on the interior of a Lyre, “U”, or modified “U” trellis  384  and are shown in operation adjacent a cordon  386  within the interior of the upper or U portion  388  of the trellis  384 .  
         [0197]    With reference to FIGS. 23, 24,  27 ,  28 , and  33  of the drawings, in accordance with the present invention, one can replace, substitute or augment one or both circular rotary striker units or circular rotary brush units with one or more oval rotary striker units each having a plurality of striker fingers attached to a single chain or belt which provides for movement of the fingers around the unit.  
         [0198]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a shoot and fruit thinner generally designated  400  is shown to include a singular oval rotary striker unit  402  having a plurality of striker fingers  404  emanating circumferentially therefrom and having an oval front casing or support member  406 . The oval rotary striker unit  402  is supported in a substantially horizontal position at the lower end of a lower arm  408  which is attached to the lower end of an upper arm  410  which is attached to a platform  412  of the device  400 . The rotary striker unit  402  may be driven by a motor  414  and chain and sprocket arrangement leading from the motor down to the oval rotary striker unit  402  or from a separate and independent motor on the front end of a striker unit drive shaft  416 . It is preferred that the oval rotary striker units also include an oval rear housing or support member opposite housing  406 , a drive sprocket and a plurality of idler sprockets therebetween, a chain  418 , and a plurality of finger receiving sockets or bases  420  attached to the chain  418 . As with the circular rotary striker units, the number, spacing, and flexibility of the fingers or strikers, speed of operation, speed of movement of the unit along the vine, and the like can be selected as desired to provide the necessary removal or thinning of foliage, fruit, canes, shoots, and the like.  
         [0199]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the striker fingers  404  of the oval rotary striker unit  402  are short sections of hydraulic line  422  having metal threaded connection ends  424  and  426  with at least connection end  426  adapted to be threadably received into base  420 . In contrast to the circular rotary striker units, it is preferred to use single spaced fingers  404  in place of finger pairs.  
         [0200]    With reference to FIGS. 24 and 28 of the drawings, a shoot and fruit thinner embodiment generally designated  430  is shown to include first and second oval rotary striker units  432  and  434  and which is especially adapted for use with a California T-trellis  436 . Each of the oval rotary striker units  432  and  434  are supported by respective lower arms  438  and  440  and upper arms  442  and  444 , each attached to a support platform  446 . Each of the striker units  432  and  434  may be driven by a common hydraulic motor  448  or by respective separate independent drive motors mounted adjacent to the lower end of each of support arms  438  and  440 . In accordance with a particular example of the present invention, and with respect to the California T-trellis of FIG. 28, the cordon is located approximately 42 inches above the vineyard floor, there is about 24 inches between the cordon and the horizontal cross bar, the cross bar spans about 48 inches, and the overall height of the T-trellis is about 64 inches. Also, in accordance with this example, each of the flexible strikers or fingers of the oval rotary strikers is about 9-12 inches in length and the short turning radius on the ends of the chain-driven oval rotary strikers adjacent the cordon is used for close cordon to top cross bar shoot and fruit removal to adjust shoot numbers.  
         [0201]    FIGS.  25 - 33  of the drawings depict schematic shoot and fruit thinner or removal device embodiments or arrangements and highlight the versatility of this equipment with respect to the use for different trellises or training systems and to accomplish different results. Further, FIGS.  2 - 24  also highlight the versatility and adaptability of the shoot and fruit thinner embodiments of the present invention. In order to facilitate the operation of the fruit and shoot thinner devices and to provide for a selected removal, clearing, thinning, or pruning, each of the shoot and fruit thinners may include one or more meters or gauges which indicate the speed of rotation of, for example, each circular rotary striker, oval rotary striker, or brush unit and allow the tractor or other vehicle operator to adjust the speed of rotation accordingly, depending on the physiological condition of the vine in that area, amount of fruit, or the like.  
         [0202]    Also, it is to be understood that the shoot and fruit thinner embodiments or arrangements of FIGS.  2 - 33  of the drawings are adapted for use with the modified trellises of FIGS.  76 - 81  of the drawings as well as the Smart-Dyson ballerina trellising system of FIGS. 67 and 68.  
         [0203]    FIGS.  34 - 40  and  69  of the drawings depict improved leaf removal fan units in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention. More particularly, FIGS. 34 and 35 of the drawings are directed to an improved leaf remover or fan and blade unit generally designated  500  and shown to include a single vertically and angularly adjustable blade and fan assembly  502  adapted for cleaning one side of a standard vertical, movable catch wire trellising system. Fan assembly  502  includes a fan blade  504 , a housing  506 , an intake connected to a conical cutting blade housing  508 , and a discharge  510  at the lower end of the housing  506 . A cutting blade  512  is located in the cutting blade housing  508  directly behind a plurality of horizontal bars or rods  514  which pass across the circular fan intake opening  516 . The bars or rods  514  are spaced a sufficient distance apart to allow leaves and small shoots to enter the cutting blade housing  508  and to be cut by the blade  512  or cut by being sheared between the rods  514  and the blade  512 . Fan blade  504  and cutting blade  512  are mounted on a drive shaft  518  which is rotatably driven by a hydraulic motor  520  and supported by a pair of spaced shaft bearings  522 .  
         [0204]    The fan assembly  502  of leaf remover or fan unit  500  is vertically supported by spaced vertical support members  524  which extend downwardly from a horizontal support member  526  which is attached to the horizontal mast member  96  via a ball hitch  528  and nuts and bolts  530 . The angle of the fan and blade assembly  502  is selected by adjusting the relative position of first and second angle support members  532  and  534  with the upper end of member  532  being connected to horizontal member  526  and the lower end of member  534  being pivotally connected to a bracket extending from fan housing  506 . Also, the lower end of vertical support members  524  are pivotally connected to a housing or plate supporting the fan housing  506 , shaft bearings  522 , and motor  520 . Furthermore, the vertical position of the fan assembly  502  can be quickly and easily altered by vertical extension and retraction of a hydraulic cylinder  536  of mast  98 . Also, the side to side position of the fan unit (the distance of the fan unit from the tractor  538 ) can be adjusted by extending or contracting a cylinder located within or adjacent the horizontal member  96  of mast  98 .  
         [0205]    With particular reference to FIG. 35 of the drawings, fan assembly  502  of fan unit  500  may have an adjustable fan cover  540  added to the face thereof to selectively cover a portion of the fan intake opening  516  and thereby provide for leaf and shoot removal in only a selected region or area, for example, the bottom half of opening  516 . A threaded fastener or bolt  542  provides for adjustment of the location of the cover  540  relative to the opening  516 . Although the rods or bars  514  are shown as being cylindrical, it is to be understood that other cross-sections such as semi-circular, rectangular, or triangular may be used.  
         [0206]    With reference to FIGS.  36 - 38  of the drawings, a modified or improved dual fan leaf remover is generally designated  550  and shown to include leading and trailing fan units  552  and  554  adapted for use with a Lyre, “U”, or modified “U” trellising system. Each of the fan units  552  and  554  of the dual unit leaf remover  550  is similar to the fan assembly  502  of FIGS. 34 and 35. The leading and trailing fan units  552  and  554  are supported from a horizontal support member  556  which is attached to the horizontal mast member  96  by ball hitch  558  and nut and bolt and bracket assemblies  560  and  562 . Leading fan unit  552  includes spaced vertical support members  564  and  566  and angle adjust support members  568  and  570 . Upper angle adjust member  568  is pivotally attached to a horizontal member  572  which is attached to a horizontal cross member  574  which is attached to horizontal member  556  and supports the upper end of vertical support members  564  and  566 .  
         [0207]    Leading fan unit  552  includes a fan blade  576 , a fan blade housing  578 , an intake operatively connected with a conical cutting blade housing  580 , and a bottom discharge  582 . Attached to the front surface of conical cutting blade housing  580  is a cowling or cover plate  584  having a bent or angled leading surface  586  which facilitates movement of the fan unit along the vine. Attached to cowling or cover plate  584  are a plurality of adjustable rods or bars  588  each having small and large sized portions  590  and  592  with the small portion  590  telescopically received within the large portion to allow adjustment of the length thereof. A cutting blade  594  is located within the housing  580  just behind the adjustable bars  588  to provide not only a cutting of the leaves and small shoots by the blade  594  but also by being sheared between the blade  594  and the bars  588 . Cutting blade  594  and fan blade  576  are attached to a drive shaft  596  of hydraulic motor  598 .  
         [0208]    Trailing fan unit  554  differs from leading fan unit  552  in that the trailing fan unit  554  is adapted to be swung up and out of the way of the trellis if necessary for egress into and exit out of the trellis or for angular adjustment with respect to the vine. Trailing fan unit  554  is supported by vertical support members  600  and  602  connected by an upper horizontal cross member  604 . Vertical support member  600  is attached to apivotally supported member  606  which is operatively connected to a second pivoting support member  608  by a length adjustable turnbuckle or connector  610 . The second pivotal support member  608  is connected to the shaft of a hydraulic cylinder  612  which itself is supported by a horizontal member  614  extending forwardly from horizontal support member  556 . The hydraulic cylinder  612  is not shown in its entirety in FIG. 36 for the sake of clarity of other components. With this arrangement, retraction of the shaft of hydraulic cylinder  612  causes upward movement of the fan housing of fan unit  554  with complete retraction providing movement to the phantom line position shown in FIG. 38.  
         [0209]    Further, trailing fan unit  554  includes a fan blade  616 , a fan housing  618 , a fan housing intake operatively connected to a conical cutting blade housing  620 , an upper discharge channel  622 , and an upper discharge outlet  624 . A cutting blade  626  is located in cutting blade housing  620  just behind a cover plate or cowling  628  having an inlet or opening  630 . Opening  630  like the intake opening in leading fan unit  552  is covered by a plurality of adjustable rods or bars  588 , each having large diameter and small diameter portions  592  and  590 . Trailing fan unit cover  628  has a forward bent edge  632  which facilitates movement of the fan unit along the vine. Cutting blade  626  and fan blade  616  are connected to a drive shaft of a drive motor  634 .  
         [0210]    The cutting opening  630  of trailing fan unit  554  subtends an arc of over 90° but less than 180° and provides for leaf and small shoot removal over only a small section of the fan housing. In contrast, the cutting opening of leading fan unit  552  is circular and similar to the opening  516  of the fan unit  500  of FIGS. 34 and 35. In accordance with one example, the leading fan unit  552  has a cutting blade  594  with a length of about 16 inches while trailing fan unit  554  has a cutting blade  626  with a length of 28 inches. Hence, the total effective area of the intake of each of the fan units  552  and  554  is substantially the same even though the opening  630  is not circular.  
         [0211]    With reference to FIGS. 38 and 38A- 38 D, each of the adjustable bars or rods  588  has depending studs  636  and  638  extending therefrom which pass through stud receiving openings  640  and are adapted to receive a locknut  642  for securement in a selected position. The spacing between the rods or bars  588  and the angle of attack of the rods with respect to the vine can be adjusted or varied upon the conditions to provide for more or less leaf and small shoot removal and also to facilitate the guiding of the leaves and shoots to the inlet or cutting openings of the fan units.  
         [0212]    With respect to FIGS. 38, 38A, and  38 B of the drawings, the rods or bars  588  have a substantially rectangular cross-section with the large portion  592  telescopically receiving at least a portion of the small end  590  therein with each of the large and small portions having a flat base which provides for a shearing action between the cutting blades  594  and  626  and the lower surface of each of the bars or rods  588 .  
         [0213]    With respect to FIGS. 38C and 38D of the drawings, it is contemplated that the rods  588  may have other cross-sections than rectangular. For example, the rods may have a semi-circular cross-section such as rods  644  of FIG. 38C or a triangular cross-section such as rods  646  of FIG.  38 D. Each of the rods  644  and  646  have a flat base which provides for shearing action between the base of the rod and the cutting blades  594  and  626 .  
         [0214]    With respect to FIG. 37 of the drawings, horizontal mast member  96  is shown to have an external hydraulic cylinder  648  which provides for extension and retraction of a large rectangular section relative to a smaller rectangular section of horizontal member  96 . Hence, one can adjust the horizontal position of the leading and trailing fan units relative to the tractor by extending or retracting cylinder  648 . Further, one can adjust the vertical position of the leading and trailing fan units with respect to the vine by adjusting the vertical support members and/or the hydraulic cylinder  536 .  
         [0215]    [0215]FIGS. 39 and 40 of the drawings are directed to a modified leaf remover or fan and blade unit  650  adapted for use with a high bilateral cordon trellis system and including a cane lifter  652  for lifting the canes prior to leaf and small shoot removal. The leaf remover or unit  650  is identical in construction to the leaf remover or unit  500  of FIG. 34 with the exception of the addition of the cane lifter  652  including an arcuate upper pipe or tube  654 , a lower horizontal pipe or tube  656 , an intermediate plate or skin  658 , and a plurality of attachment brackets  660 ,  662 , and  664  which provide for attachment of the cane lifter  652  to the cover or front plate  666  of the fan unit.  
         [0216]    Like fan unit  500  of FIG. 34, leaf remover or unit  650  of FIGS. 39 and 40 includes a cutting blade  668 , a fan blade  670 , a plurality of cross rods or bars  672 , vertical support members  674  and  676 , angle adjust members  678  and  680 , a horizontal support member  682 , a ball hitch  684 , bolt nut and bracket assembly  686 , and a motor  688 .  
         [0217]    As shown in FIG. 41 of the drawings, a single trellis shoot positioner such as a single curtain or bilateral cordon shoot positioner (Slawson-Meade) is generally designated by the reference numeral  670  and shown to include a plurality of selectively positioned motor driven brush units  672 - 682  supported from a horizontal member  684  extending from a vertical member  686  of a mast  688  attached to the front of a tractor  690 . Such a single trellis shoot positioner is used to mechanically shoot position the vines to place the canes in proper position for the winter mechanical pruning operation. Shoot positioning is an effective method of improving fruit quality and of exposing the lower node to sunlight to make the basal nodes more productive than under shady conditions.  
         [0218]    Shoot positioning has proven particularly effective with large vigorous vines on GDC which have a drooping-shoot growth habit. Also, as soon as the tendrils touch the wire or another cane, they fasten very quickly. Therefore, vines are usually first shoot position just before bloom. Shoot positioning may require a second pass with the mechanical shoot positioner.  
         [0219]    For the GDC system, all vigorous shoots growing between the two cordon wires must be pulled or brushed down in order to maintain two separate foliage canopies. This can be accomplished with the Oldridge shoot positioner of FIGS. 42, 42A,  43 , and  43 A and middle breaker of FIGS. 48 and 49. With particular reference to FIG. 42 of the drawings, a grape vine comber and shoot positioner adapted for use with a divided canopy is generally designated by the reference numeral  700  and is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,618 issued to Tommy L. Oldridge on Apr. 7, 1992 and hereby incorporated by reference. The grapevine comber or combing unit  700  is operatively attached to a mast  702  on the front of a tractor  704  and is adapted for use with a divided canopy vine system including a series of upright members  706  with cross-member  708  in a “T” or “Y” configuration. Vine trunks  710  extend vertically past a central wire to roof portions  712  which extend out to a cordon supported by a cordon wire near the extremity of cross-member  708 . Extending downwardly from the cordons are fruiting canes  714 .  
         [0220]    The grapevine combing unit and shoot positioner  700  is releasably mounted to a horizontal member  716  which is attached to the top of a vertical mast member  718  of mast  702 . Comber unit  700  includes a horizontal support member  720  releasably attached to horizontal mast member  716  by a ball hitch  722  and a bracket assembly  724 . The comber unit  700  includes a U-shaped underslung frame  726  mounted to horizontal member  720  so that the vine canes  714  can hang down within the U-shaped frame  726 . A plurality of brushes  728 ,  730 ,  732 , and  734  are supported on the tractor side of an upright  736  of frame  726  and are operated against a plurality of brushes  738  mounted on a vine side upright  740  to comb the canes  714  hanging downwardly from the cordon and cordon wire. Brush  734  is a primary brush which grooms the roof portion  712  of the vine. However, primary brush  734  cannot effectively accomplish its purpose without a counterforce being exerted from the underside of the roof portion  24  by a pivoting counterforce brush assembly  742  including an elongate brush  744  which is urged upwardly against the lower surface of the roof portion of the canopy. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,618, the brush  744  remains free to rotate downwardly about a spindle in response to contact of the brush with the canopy, cross-members  708 , or other immovable objects.  
         [0221]    In accordance with a particular example, the U-shaped frame  726  and in particular the tractor side upright  736  is attached to vertical support members  746  and  748  received in respective mounting bracket  750  attached to horizontal support member  720 . Adjustment of the vertical support members  746  and  748  in their respect bracket  750  provides for raising and lowering of the brushes with respect to the divided canopy system and vines. Further, the vertical position of the frame and brushes can be adjusted by raising and lowering the vertical member  718  of mast  702  by, for example, extending or contracting a hydraulic cylinder located within vertical member  718 . Likewise, the comber unit  700  can be adjusted horizontally with respect to the tractor  704  by moving horizontal mast member  716  by, for example, extending or contracting the hydraulic cylinder located within mast member  716 .  
         [0222]    Like the Oldridge vine comber  700  of FIG. 42, the vine comber and shoot positioner  760  of FIG. 42A is adapted to shoot position and vine comb both halves of a GDC system and incorporates both right and left vine combers or shoot positioner units  762  and  764  suspended from a power driven harvester chassis or modified high clearance type 4-wheeled tractor  766 . Each of the combers or shoot positioning units  760  and  762  is of substantially identical construction to the comber  700  of FIG. 42 except that the comber unit  762  is a mirror image of the unit  764 . The comber or shoot positioner  760  of FIG. 42A is adapted to treat both halves of the GDC or divided canopy system with a single pass of the machine along the row or vines. The comber  700  of FIG. 42 is adapted to treat one-half of the GDC system and as such requires two passes, one down each side of the GDC, or divided canopy system, to treat the entire row.  
         [0223]    The comber units  762  and  764  of machine  760  each include a plurality of outer brushes  768  and  770 , inner brushes  772  and  774 , and pivoting counterforce brush assemblies  776  and  778 . The inner brushes and pivoting counterforce brush assemblies  772  and  776  of unit  762 , and  774  and  778  of unit  764  are supported on respective vertical members  780  and  782  which extend from respective horizontal members  784  and  786  which are received in brackets or channels  788  and  790 . The brackets  788  and  790  are adjustably mounted to respective vertical support members  792  and  794  which allow for vertical adjustment of the inner brushes and counterforce brushes relative to the GDC system and vines.  
         [0224]    Further, the outer brushes  768  and  770  of units  762  and  764  are supported on respective vertical support members  796 ,  798 ,  800 , and  802  which are received in respective brackets  804  and  806  attached to horizontal support members  808  and  810 . Hence, the position of the outer brushes  768  and  770  can be adjusted by adjusting the position of the vertical support members in their respective brackets.  
         [0225]    Simultaneous vine combing, shoot positioning, and pruning is accomplished using the comber, (positioner), pruner, and trimmer or positioning and pruning unit  820  of FIG. 43. The unit  820  is identical in construction to the comber and positioner unit  700  of FIG. 42 with the exception of the addition of first and second horizontal sickles or cutter bars  822  and  824 . The comber and pruner  820  includes a plurality of outer brushes  826 , inner brushes  828 , and counterforce brush  830 . First or lower horizontal sickle or cutter  822  is mounted atop a vertical support member  832  received in a bracket  834  attached to horizontal frame member  836 . Lower sickle  822  is mounted near the front of the unit  820  and in front of at least the lower exterior brushes  826  to cut off and prune or trim any lower ends of canes or shoots extending below sickle  822  and to facilitate the movement of the unit along the vine without having canes wrap around the lower frame members.  
         [0226]    Lower sickle  822  includes a lower fixed sickle blade  840 , an upper movable sickle blade  842 , a support plate  844 , a motor support plate  846 , a counterweighted drive disk  848 , a drive rod  850 , and a drive bracket  852  attached to upper blade  842 . A motor, for example, a hydraulic motor, is attached to the rear surface of motor plate  846  and in position to drive disk  848 .  
         [0227]    Upper sickle  824  of unit  820  is located above lower sickle  822  and behind brushes  826 ,  828 , and  830  in a position to prune, cut, or trim depending vine sections  854  of vines which have been positioned, combed, and the like by the brushes  826 ,  828 , and  830 . Upper sickle  824  is identical in construction to lower sickle  822  and is supported from a vertical support member  856  received in a bracket attached to a horizontal support member  858 . The position of each of the upper and lower sickles  824  and  822  can be adjusted by adjusting the relative positions of their support members  856  and  832 .  
         [0228]    With reference to FIG. 43A of the drawings, a vine comber, shoot positioner, pruner and trimmer machine, or device generally designated  860  includes right and left comber, positioner, pruner, and trimmer units  862  and  864  extending downwardly from a modified high clearance 4-wheeled tractor or harvester chassis  866 . The units  862  and  864  are identical in construction to the comber and pruner  820  of FIG. 43 except that the unit  862  is a mirror image of the unit  864  and the frame members and vertical support members are similar to those of the comber machine  760  of FIG. 42A. Like the comber and pruner unit  820  of FIG. 43, each of the comber and pruner units  862  and  864  of the machine  860  include outer brushes  868  and  870 , inner brushes  872  and  874 , counterforce brushes  876  and  878 , first lower forward horizontal sickles  880  and  882 , and second upper rear horizontal sickles  884  and  886 .  
         [0229]    The comber and pruner unit  820  of FIG. 43 is adapted to treat one-half of a GDC or other divided canopy trellising system while the comber and pruner machine  860  of FIG. 43A is adapted to treat both halves of a GDC or other divided canopy system simultaneously and with a single pass down along a row or vine.  
         [0230]    The combing, shoot positioning, pruning, and trimming apparatus of FIGS. 42, 42A,  43 , and  43 A of the drawings, are particularly suited for use with GDC and other divided canopy trellises and training systems, especially those with downward or drooping growth and fruiting zones.  
         [0231]    As shown in FIGS.  44 - 47 , a single curtain vine cane pruner is generally designated  900  and is identical to that shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,444, issued to Tommy L. Oldridge on Aug. 13, 1996 and hereby incorporated by reference. More particularly, FIGS.  44 - 47  each relate respectively to FIGS.  2 , 4 , 6 , and  8  of U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,444. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,444, the vine cane pruner  900  includes a main support structure or mast  902 , a suspension carriage  904 , vertical cane pruners  906  and  908 , and horizontal cane pruners  910  and  912 . As shown, the machine  900  is mounted on the mast  902  which is attached to the front of a tractor and has a horizontal member  914  which extends laterally to the tractor and over the single curtain system. The suspension carriage  904  supports each of the vertical cane pruners  906  and  908  on opposite sides of and on the front end of the carriage and supports each of the horizontal cane pruners  910  and  912  on opposite sides of the carriage and rearwardly of the vertical cane pruners. Thus, as the vehicle travels along the single curtain trellis system, the trellis and vine first pass between the vertical cane pruners  906  and  908  and then between the horizontal cane pruners  910  and  912 .  
         [0232]    Each of the vertical cane pruners  906  and  908  include a housing  920 , a substantially planar reciprocating hedger, sickle, or cutter  922  mounted on the housing with cutting teeth  924  extending forwardly from a cane inlet end  926  to a cane outlet end  928 . A cutter drive motor  930  is connected to a suitable linkage  932  for driving the sliding tooth plate of the hedger  922  in relation to the fixed tooth plate.  
         [0233]    Further, each of the vertical cane pruners  906  and  908  include a vertical cane gathering device  934  including a plurality of prongs  936  attached to fittings  938  which are themselves attached to a chain  940 . The chain  940  is driven by a drive sprocket  942  operatively attached to a drive motor  944 . In accordance with one example, prongs  936  are made of lengths of ⅜ inch rubber hose and are of sufficient length to extend approximately 4 to 12 inches beyond the cutter  922 . The chain or spine  940  is driven in a counterclockwise direction so as to move the prongs from the inlet end  926  to the outlet end  928  of hedger  922 . Also, each of the vertical cane pruners  906  and  908  include a horizontal disk or bumper  946 .  
         [0234]    With respect to FIGS. 45 and 47 of the drawings, each of the horizontal cane pruners  910  and  912  of the pruning machine  900  includes a housing  950  mounted on an arm  952 . Each horizontal cane pruner includes a substantially planar reciprocating hedger, pruner, sickle, or cutter  954  mounted on housing  950  with cutting teeth  956  facing substantially inwardly in relation to the pruning machine. A cutter drive motor  958  is connected by a suitable linkage  960  for driving one or both of the sliding tooth plates of the hedger  954 .  
         [0235]    Further, each of the horizontal cane pruners  910  and  912  includes a cane grabber or feeder  962  having a plurality of prongs  964  extending from fittings  966  attached to a chain  968  driven by a drive sprocket  970  operatively attached to a motor  972 . The chain  968  of horizontal cane pruner  910  is driven clockwise while the chain  968  of horizontal cane pruner  912  is driven counterclockwise so that the prongs  964  of each cane grabber  962  travel downwardly on the vine side of the respective housings  950 . Lastly, each of the horizontal cane pruners  910  and  912  include a horizontal disk or bumper  974  which are adapted to come into contact with obstacles and cause the horizontal cane pruners to rotate on their pivot points to clear the obstacles and then return under spring bias to the operating position.  
         [0236]    As shown in FIGS. 48 and 49 of the drawings and in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an Oldridge center breaker generally designated  980  is shown to include a plurality of vertically depending breaker bars or rods  982 ,  984 ,  986 , and  988  each having an elongate downwardly extending portion and a forwardly bent portion at the lower end thereof. The breaker bars  982 - 988  are adapted for clearing out the center of the top of a GDC, Y, U, or other double curtain trellising system in order to open up the center, prepare the vine for shoot positioning and pruning, facilitate harvesting, and the like. The breaker bars  982 - 988  are adapted to be dragged along the row to reposition movable items such as canes, shoots, foliage, and the like, to partially remove, break, or clear away canes, foliage, shoots, and the like, while tripping rearwardly and passing over immovable objects such as trellises, vine trunks, catch wire stakes, wires, and the like. Further, the breaker bars  982 - 988  open up the center and break or position shoots to allow air and light into the center of the divided canopy system.  
         [0237]    Also in accordance with the present invention, the center breaker  980  can be used in combination with, for example, spraying equipment to accomplish a plurality of activities while driving the tractor down along the row. Also, although four breaker bars are shown in use in FIGS. 48 and 49, it is to be understood that one to four breaker bars may be utilized simply by removing or adding breaker bars to the device. Also, additional breaker bars could be added for clearing, positioning, and breaking out the center on a larger trellising system.  
         [0238]    In accordance with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 48 and 49 of the drawings, each of the breaker bars  982 - 988  is supported in a releasable bracket  990  having one or more set screws  992  which hold the breaker bar  982  in position relative to the bracket. Depending on the vine being treated, the breaker bar can be raised or lowered simply by loosening the set screws  992 , positioning the bar to the selected position, and tightening the set screws. Each of the brackets  990  is supported on an arcuate lever  994  which is pivotally attached to a support bracket  996  by a bolt  998 . Thus, each of the breaker bars  982  pivots in an arc about the pivot point  998 . Attached near the base of each of the levers  994  is one end of a coil spring  1000  having the other end thereof fixed to the lower end of a vertical support member  1002 .  
         [0239]    Each of the brackets  996  and support members  1002  are connected to a rearwardly extending horizontal support member  1004 . Each of the support members  1004  is received in an adjustment bracket  1006  which allows for adjustment in the position of the support relative to a cross member  1008 . The cross member  1008  is attached to a forwardly extending support assembly  1010  adapted to be attached to a horizontal member  1012  of a mast  1014  on a tractor  1016  via a ball hitch  1018  and nut and bracket assemblies  1020 .  
         [0240]    With particular reference to FIGS. 48 and 49 of the drawings, breaker bars  982 ,  984 ,  986 , and  988  of breaker device  980  are adapted to trip rearwardly upon contact with solid structures such as trellis support arms  1022  and  1024  and vine trunks  1026 . The amount of center breaking, shoot positioning, shoot breaking, foliage removal, and the like by device  980  can be adjusted or controlled by selecting the length of the breaker bars, the strength of the trip springs  1000 , the number and rigidity of breaker bars, the ground speed of the tractor, and the like. In accordance with a particular example, each of the breaker bars  982 - 988  is made of a length of 2-6 ft., preferably 4 ft., of steel or aluminum pipe, tubing, rod, or the like having an outer diameter of from ½ inch to 4 inches, preferably 1-2 inches.  
         [0241]    As shown in FIGS.  50 - 52  of the drawings, a modified Orton slapper generally designated  1030  is adapted for use with GDC and other divided canopy trellising systems and is designed to clean out the center of the trellis removing shoots, foliage, fruit, and the like from the interior of the trellis to open up the center of the trellis to light, air, and the like. The modified slapper  1030  includes a support frame  1032  having a support platform  1034  adapted to be releasably attached to a horizontal member  1036  of a mast  1038  attached to a tractor  1040  via a ball hitch  1042  and bolt and bracket assemblies. The slapper support frame  1032  includes right and left side assemblies  1044  and  1046  which serve as a yoke for supporting a rotary slapper unit  1048  on a drive shaft  1050  extending from a motor  1052  attached to a motor support plate  1054  attached to left side frame assembly  1046 . The drive shaft  1050  is supported by respective shaft journal bearings  1056  and  1058 . Each of the shaft journals  1056  and  1058  is attached to a respective side assembly  1046  and  1044 .  
         [0242]    The rotary slapper unit  1048  of modified slapper  1030  includes large right and left circular support plates  1060  and  1062  each attached to shaft  1050  to rotate therewith and support therebetween a plurality of cross members  1064  which serve as not only structural support members between the plates  1060  and  1062  but also as attachment elements for extended striker straps or striker pairs  1066  and  1068 . Each of the striker straps or striker pairs  1066  and  1068  is releasably attached to a respective cross member  1064  by a bolt assembly  1070 . The number and location of the striker straps or striker pairs  1066  and  1068  is selected to provide the desired clearing and removal of foliage, shoots, and the like from the center of the trellis. Successful operation of this unit is influenced by the size of the trellis, the condition of the vine, the ground speed of the tractor, and the like.  
         [0243]    It is preferred to form each of the striker straps or striker pairs  1066  and  1068  of a flexible yet sturdy material such as leather or rubber, pieces having a width of one to four inches, preferably two inches, a thickness of at least ¼ inch, preferably ½ inch, and a length of from 1 to 3 feet, preferably 18 to 24 inches. In accordance with one example of the present invention, each of the slapper or striker straps is about 2 inches in width by 18 inches in length and formed of rubber belting material, the modified slapper has 4 to 6 slappers or slapper pairs, the circular support plates have a diameter of about 20 inches, the circular plates are supported by 6 cross members, and the overall width and length of the modified slapper are 32 inches by about 56 inches.  
         [0244]    As shown in FIGS.  50 - 51  of the drawings, there are six striker pairs  1066  and  1068  attached to support members  1064  in sets of two pairs at an angular spacing of 120° between sets. It is to be understood that singular striker straps  1066  or  1068  may be attached in such an arrangement, that additional sets of strikers or striker pairs may be added, or that fewer sets of strikers or striker pairs may be used to accomplish the desired clearing and cleaning out of the center or interior of the trellis. FIGS. 51 and 52 show the modified slapper  1030  in use with a GDC and Lyre or “U” trellis, respectively.  
         [0245]    With reference to FIG. 50 of the drawings, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a speed gauge  1076  may be added to the modified slapper  1030  to provide the tractor operator with an indication of the speed of rotation of the rotary unit  1048  so that a desired removal can be reproduced from row to row by selecting a speed of rotation of the rotary slapper unit  1048 , selection and arrangement of striker slapper or striker pairs, ground speed of tractor, and the like.  
         [0246]    As shown in FIG. 53 of the drawings, a bow, bow-head, or Quad-rod fruit thinner is generally designated  1080  and adapted for use with a single curtain system. The bow-head or Quad-rod fruit thinner  1080  is attached to a horizontal member  1082  of a mast  1084  attached to a tractor  1086 . The bow or Quad-rod fruit thinner includes right and left bow-rod support and drive assemblies extending downwardly from a horizontal support member  1092 . Each of the side assemblies  1088  and  1090  supports four bow-rods  1094  with the bow-rods of the left side assembly offset slightly lower than the bow-rods of the right side assembly. The bow-head or Quad-rod fruit thinner includes a drive motor  1096  which drives an output shaft  1098  which provides reciprocatory drive to the bow-rods of the right side assembly via a rotary to reciprocating converter  1100 . Drive is transferred from shaft  1098  to a second shaft  1104  via a drive belt  1102  and from second shaft  1104  to a rotary to reciprocatory converter  1106  to drive the bow-rods of the left side assembly.  
         [0247]    Bow-head or Quad-rod fruit thinner  1080  may include a speed gauge  1108  which provides an indication to the tractor operator of the speed of rotation of the shafts  1098  and  1104  and the speed of reciprocation or operation of the bow-rods  1094 . One can adjust the amount of fruit thinning by adjusting the speed of operation of the bow-rods, the number of bow-rods, the angle or inclination of the bow-rods, the rigidity of the bow-rods, the ground speed of the tractor, and the like.  
         [0248]    With reference to FIGS. 54 and 55 of the drawings, and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a modified bow, bow-head or Quad-rod fruit thinner is generally designated  1120  and can be used for use with the modified “U” of FIG. 80 or adapted for use with GDC or other divided canopy trellising systems. Bow-head or Quad-rod fruit thinner  1120  is similar in construction to the bow-head or Quad-rod fruit thinner  1080  of FIG. 53 in that it is supported from a horizontal member  1122  of a mast  1124  attached to the front of a tractor  1126 . Further, the bow-rod fruit thinner  1120  includes right and left bow-rod assemblies  1128  and  1130  depending from a horizontal support member  1132 , a motor  1134 , first and second drive shafts  1138 , a drive belt  1140 , rotary to reciprocatory converters  1142  and  1144 , and a speed gauge  1146 .  
         [0249]    The bow-rod fruit thinner  1120  of FIGS. 54 and 55 differs from the bow-rod fruit thinner  1080  of FIG. 53 in that different sized bow-rods are arranged in an alternating sequence of small and large bow-rods  1148  and  1150  with the bow-rods of the left assembly  1130  slightly offset downwardly from the bow-rods of the right assembly  1128 . With particular reference to FIG. 55 of the drawings, each of the short bow-rods  1148  is angled inwardly with respect to the adjacent longer bow-rod  1150 . Further, it is to be understood that the bow-rods may be angled downwardly, for example, from 5-30° with respect to horizontal depending on the cultivar, trellis, and fruit load. With respect to a particular example of the present invention, each of the bow-rods  1150  is about 44 inches in overall length and made from a flexible beater rod material about 1 inch in diameter, each of the short bow-rods  1148  is about 24-32 inches in overall length and formed of the same flexible beater rod material, also the gap between the bow-rods of the left assembly and the right assembly is about 4 or more inches to prevent excessive damage to the vine, trellis, and the like.  
         [0250]    The bow-rod fruit thinner  1120  is adapted for use with a GDC or other divided canopy trellising system. In particular, selected bow-rods may be removed to avoid contact with a cordon. Also, the thinner  1120  may be adapted for use with GDC by removing the right or left assembly  1128  and  1130  and/or tilting one or both of the right or left assembly to a 10-20° angle with respect to vertical. In accordance with one example, the bow-head or bow-rod fruit thinner  1120  is adapted for use with a GDC trellising system by removing the right assembly  1128  altogether and tilting the left assembly  1130  at a 10-20° angle with respect to vertical. Alternatively, both the right and left assemblies may be angled away from on another and mounted under a harvester chassis to simultaneously treat both sides of a GDC or other divided canopy system having flexible or pivoting support arm.  
         [0251]    With reference to FIG. 56 of the drawings, a vertical and horizontal sickle or hedger unit  1160  is shown to include first and second vertical sickles or cutter bars  1162  and  1164  and a trailing horizontal sickle or cutter bar  1166  adapted for use with a single curtain system. The first and second vertical sickles or hedgers  1162  and  1164  extend from respective support brackets  1168  and  1170  attached to a horizontal support member  1172  releasably attached to a horizontal member  1174  of a mast  1176  on a tractor  1178  by a ball hitch  1180  and bolt and bracket assemblies  1182 .  
         [0252]    Horizontal sickle  1166  is attached to a vertical support member  1184  received in a collar or bracket  1186  attached to a horizontal member  1188  received in a collar or bracket  1190  attached to horizontal support member  1172 . The support members  1184  and  1188  and brackets  1186  and  1190  allow for adjustment of the location of the horizontal sickle relative to the vertical sickles  1162  and  1164  with respect to not only the height of the horizontal sickle  1166  but also the distance that the horizontal sickle trails the vertical sickles  1162  and  1164 . Each of the sickles or hedgers  1162 ,  1164 , and  1166  includes a drive motor  1192 , a drive disk  1194 , a drive rod  1196 , a drive bracket  1198  attached to a movable set of teeth  2000  which translate relative to a fixed set of teeth  2002  to provide for cutting, pruning, trimming, hedging, and the like.  
         [0253]    As shown in FIG. 57 of the drawings, a top and side pruner generally designated  2010  is similar in construction to the top and side pruner  1160  of FIG. 56 except that the vertical sickles have been shortened and the horizontal sickle has been raised to adapt the top and side pruner  2010  for GDC or other divided canopy systems. More particularly, top and side pruner  2010  includes first and second vertical sickles or hedgers  2012  and  2014  and a trailing horizontal sickle or hedger  2016 . Vertical sickles  2012  and  2014  and trailing horizontal sickle  2016  can be tilted relative to vertical to accommodate a Y or GDC trellis by either tilting mast  2018  (see FIG. 74) or by angling the attachment of each of the sickles to support member  2020 . The short second vertical sickle or hedger  2014  is adapted to be inserted down inside a Lyre or “U” trellis and prune or trim foliage, shoots, and the like from the interior of the trellis. The first vertical sickle  2012  is adapted to prune or trim on the outside of the trellis. The trailing horizontal sickle  2016  is adapted to trim above the trellis.  
         [0254]    As shown in FIG. 58 of the drawings and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a single vertical sickle pruner  2030  includes a vertical sickle or hedger  2032  pivotally attached to a support bracket  2034  by a bolt  2036 . Attached to bracket  2034  is a stop  2038  which limits forward travel of the sickle  2032 . One end of a spring  2040  is attached to sickle  2032  while the other end is attached to a forwardly extending support member  2042 . The spring  2040  allows the sickle  2032  to trip rearwardly should the sickle contact an immovable or uncutable object. Support member  2042  is attached to a horizontal support member  2044  which is releasably attached to a horizontal member  2046  of a mast  2048 . Single vertical sickle pruner  2030  is adapted for summer pruning of, for example, a single curtain system.  
         [0255]    With reference to FIGS. 59 and 60 of the drawings, an angularly adjustable summer cane pruner is generally designated  2050  and shown attached to the end of a horizontal member  2052  of a mast attached to a tractor. The pruner  2050  includes a sickle or hedger  2054  pivotally attached to a cantilever member  2056  by a bolt  2058 . The cantilever member  2056  is attached to a collar  2060  which is received on a support member  2062  which is attached to a support plate  2064  which is releasably attached to mast member  2052  by a ball hitch  2066  and nut and bracket assemblies  2068 . Sickle  2054  is biased downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 59 by a spring  2070  having one end attached to a motor support plate  2072  and the other end attached to a flange extending from a horizontal valve support plate  2074  attached to collar  2060 . The sickle  2054  is raised to a horizontal position by retraction of a shaft  2076  of a hydraulic cylinder  3078  having the shaft pivotally attached to motor support plate  2072  by a bolt  2080 . The opposite end of hydraulic cylinder  2078  is attached to an almost vertical support member  2082  by a pivot pin  2084 . Hydraulic cylinder  2078  is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder control valve  2086  attached to valve support plate  2074 . The hydraulic cylinder support plate  2082  is fixed to cantilever member  2056 .  
         [0256]    A vertical valve support plate  2088  is attached to collar  2060  and supports a hydraulic motor speed control valve  2090  having a control lever  2092  which allows the operator to control the speed of sickle motor  2094 . Sickle  2054  also includes a drive disk  2096 , a drive rod  2098 , a drive bracket  2100 , a movable rack or set of cutting teeth  2102 , and a fixed rack or set of cutting teeth  2104 . Hydraulic lines  2106  and  2108  are operatively connected to the hydraulic system of the tractor or an auxiliary hydraulic system attached to the tractor.  
         [0257]    Hydraulic cylinder control valve  2086  receives electronic signals from, for example, a control panel located adjacent to the tractor operator to raise and lower the sickle  2054  by extending and contracting cylinder  2078 . One can easily maneuver the sickle  2054  over the side of a Lyre, “U”, or modified “U” trellis by raising the sickle  2054  to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 60, extending the horizontal member  2052  of the mast to locate the sickle  2054  inward of the side  2110  of a modified “U” trellis  2112 , and then lowering the sickle  2054  to the vertical position shown in FIG. 59 by extending hydraulic cylinder  2078 . One can adjust the amount of pruning or trimming by adjusting the location of the sickle relative to the vine, adjusting the speed of the motor  294 , selecting the ground speed of the tractor or other machinery, and the like.  
         [0258]    As shown in FIG. 61 of the drawings and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a modified single horizontal rotary cutter or pruner adapted for use in, for example, the dormant pruning of the canes adjacent to the cordon of  Vitis vinifera  and French-American hybrid vines is generally designated  2120  and shown to include a rotary cut head  2122  attached to the end of a horizontal support member  2124  pivotally attached to a base  2126  of a vertical support member  2128 . The vertical support member is adjustably received in a bracket or collar  2130  attached to one end of a horizontal support member  2132  which itself is received in an adjustable support bracket or collar  2134  attached to a support platform  2136 . The support platform  2136  is releasably attached to a horizontal member  2138  of mast  2140  on tractor on  2142  by a ball hitch  2144  and bolts  2146  (FIGS. 62 and 63).  
         [0259]    Horizontal support member  2124  pivots about a vertical axis with forward movement of support member  2124  limited by a vertical stop  2148  extending downwardly from base  2126 . Further, a spring  2150  extends from support member  2124  to a forwardly extending anchor member  2152  attached to base  2126  to draw support member  2124  and rotary cut head  2122  forwardly while allowing the rotary head and support member  2124  to pivot or trip rearwardly when the rotary head contacts an immovable or uncutable object such as a trellis or post.  
         [0260]    Rotary cut head  2122  of horizontal rotary cutter or pruner  2120  includes a free wheeling or idling deflector assembly  2154  and a housing  2156 , a cutting blade having radial cutting teeth extending from a cutting opening in the housing, and a hydraulic motor  2160  for rotating the cutting blade and teeth relative to the housing. The motor  2160  is attached to housing  2156  which is attached to support member  2124 . The deflector assembly  2154  includes a horizontal circular plate or disk  2162  and a plurality of deflecting veins or vertical flanges  2164  welded to the disk  2162 . The disk  2162  is rotatably journaled on a shaft  2166  with disk  2162  free to rotate in either direction upon contact of one or more of the deflecting veins  2164  with an immovable object or an object larger than the space between the veins, such as the trunk of a vine. The deflector assembly  2154 , and in particular the deflecting veins  2164 , are shaped and spaced to prevent the contact of the cutting teeth  2158  with an immovable object such as a trellis or post and to prevent objects larger then, for example, 1 or 2 inches in diameter, preferably anything larger than 1½ inches in diameter, from being cut or pruned. Since the entire rotary cutting head  2122  can trip rearwardly and the deflector assembly  2154  is free to rotate about shaft  2156 , the rotary cut head  2122  is adapted to prune, trim, or cut smaller items such as shoots or canes without damaging trellises, vine trunks, or the like.  
         [0261]    The horizontal rotary cutter or pruner  2120  of FIG. 61 is especially adapted for the horizontal cutting and pruning of substantially vertically oriented canes or shoots, for example, in the dormant pruning of  Vitis vinifera  or French-American hybrid grape vines (seasonal charts of FIGS.  94 - 97 ). The horizontal rotary cutter  2120  is highly versatile in that the vertical height can be adjusted over a wide range by adjusting the position of vertical support member  2128  relative to support bracket  2130 , and the distance of the rotary cut head  2122  from the tractor can be adjusted by adjusting horizontal support member  2132  relative to bracket  2134 . The cutter  2120  can be used with different trellises or training systems including California T-trellis, standard vertical moveable catch wire, GDC, Lyre, “U”, Smart-Dyson ballerina, Scott-Henry, or the like. Typically the canes are cut or pruned by the rotary cutting teeth  2158  of rotary cut head  2122  within a few inches of a substantially horizontal cordon.  
         [0262]    Although the cutting teeth of blade  2158  of rotary cut head  2122  are shown as large triangular cutting teeth, it is contemplated that in accordance with the present invention any circular cutting blade such as a circular saw cutting blade for cutting wood may be used as the rotary cutting blade. In accordance with a particular example, the rotary cutting blade  2158  is a conventional circular saw blade adapted for cutting wood and having an outer diameter from about 10-36 inches.  
         [0263]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in FIGS. 62 and 63 of the drawings, a dual unit horizontal rotary cutter or pruner generally designated  2170  is substantially identical in construction to the single horizontal rotary cutter  2120  of FIG. 61 except that a second trailing horizontal rotary cutter  2172  has been added. Items having identical construction to that shown in FIG. 61 have the same reference numeral. The second and trailing rotary cutter  2172  is similar in construction to the cutter  2120  except that the support arm and motor are located above the rotary cut head to prevent entanglement or obstruction of the support arm and motor of the second trailing cutter  2172  with, for example, the interior of a Lyre, “U”, or modified “U” trellis.  
         [0264]    The dual unit horizontal rotary cutter or pruner  2170  includes a first or leading rotary cutter  2122  and a second or trailing rotary cutter  2172 . The rotary cutters  2122  and  2172  are designed and adapted to simultaneously prune or cut substantially vertically oriented canes, shoots, or the like extending from a cordon. The rotary cutters  2122  and  2172  can be used to simultaneously prune, for example, a  Vitis vinifera  or French-American hybrid vine trained on a standard vertical catch wire, Lyre, “U”, or modified “U” trellis or trellising system. In contrast, the single rotary cutter  2122  of the single horizontal rotary cutter  2120  of FIG. 61 is adapted to prune or trim only one side or the exterior of a trellis, for example, a GDC or other divided canopy trellis.  
         [0265]    The trailing rotary cutter  2172  has a cut head  2173  and is operatively attached to a bracket  2174  extending from a horizontal support member  2176  pivotally attached to a base  2178  of a vertical support member  2180  adjustably received in a bracket or collar  2182  attached to a second collar or bracket  2184  adjustably received on horizontal support member  2132 .  
         [0266]    Rotary cut head  2173  includes a free-wheeling or idling deflector assembly  2186  having a plurality of veins or vertical deflector members  2188  fixed to a rotating disk  2190 . Further, rotary cut head  2173  includes a cutting blade  2192  having cutting teeth extending from an opening in a housing  2194 . Cutting blade  2192  rotates within housing  2194  under operation of a motor  2196 . Further, support arm  2176  and rotary cutter  2173  are biased forwardly or towards the leading rotary cutter  2122  by a spring  2198  attached to support arm  2176  and a member  2200  extending from base  2178 . A stop  2202  limits forward travel of the second cutter and support arm  2173  and  2176 .  
         [0267]    With reference again to FIGS. 62 and 63 of the drawings, cut head  2173  of second or trailing rotary cutter  2172  is shown in its forward most position where it trails the cut head  2122  of the first or leading cutter by at least several inches. Both rotary cutters  2122  and  2172  of dual horizontal cutter or pruner  2170  are free to trip rearwardly should they contact an immoveable or uncutable object.  
         [0268]    As shown in FIGS. 64 and 65 of the drawings and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention a vertical rotary cutter and cane grabber assembly or vertical pruner is generally designated  2210  and is shown adapted for use with a single curtain high bilateral cordon system and suited for dormant pruning of the canes of  Vitis vinifera  and French-American hybrid grape vines. Although the vertical rotary cutter and grabber  2210  is shown in use in conjunction with a single curtain high bilateral cordon arrangement, it is contemplated that this device may be used for the vertical pruning or cutting of substantially horizontally oriented canes of vines on other training or trellising systems. The vertical rotary cutter and cane grabber  2210  includes a vertical rotary cutter  2212  and a substantially vertical cane grabber  2214 . The vertical rotary cutter  2212  includes a vertical rotary cut head  2216  and a parallel deflector or guide roller  2218  operatively supported from a vertical support member  2220 , the base of which is attached to first end of a horizontal support member  2222  pivotally attached at its second end to a lower end of a vertical support member  2224  by a bolt  2226 . A spring  2228  having one end attached to horizontal member  2222  and the other end attached to vertical member  2224  allows the vertical cutter  2212  to trip rearwardly should it contact an immovable or uncutable object. Vertical support member  2224  is attached to a horizontal support member  2230  releasably attached to a horizontal member  2232  of mast  2234  by a ball-hitch  2236  and bolts  2238 .  
         [0269]    Further, rotary cut head  2216  includes a housing  2240  attached to vertical member  2220  by a short member  2242 . Also, housing  2240  supports upper and lower brackets or journals  2244  and  2246  which support deflector roller  2218  therebetween. Housing  2240  supports a motor  2248 , for example, a hydraulic motor, having a drive shaft operatively attached to a rotary cutting blade  2250  having a plurality of cutting teeth  2252  thereon. A plurality of separate cutting teeth  2254  are fixed to a cutting opening  2256  of housing  2240  to form a circular or rotary sickle or hedger with the rotating cutting teeth  2252  of cutting blade  2250 .  
         [0270]    Deflector or idler roller  2218  of the vertical rotary cutter unit  2212  of the rotary cutter and cane grabber  2210  of FIGS. 64 and 65 is adapted to contact the cordon and guide the vertical cutter  2216  along the cordon to trim or prune the canes extending therefrom while at the same time serving as a deflector for deflecting the vertical cutter  2216  away from immovable objects such as a trellis or post  2258 , a vine trunk, and the like. The vertical cutter  2212  can trip rearwardly should the roller  2218  or forward edge or surfaces of the cutter  2216  contact an immovable object and thereby prevent damage to the teeth  2252  and  2254 .  
         [0271]    Cane grabber  2214  of vertical pruner or rotary cutter and grabber  2210  of FIGS. 64 and 65 are similar in construction to the cane grabbers  962  of FIG. 47 of the drawings with the exception that inner and outer housings  2260  and  2262  of cane grabber  2214  include elongated upper protrusions  2264  and  2266 , respectively, which facilitate the removal of cut cane pieces from the cane grabber once they have been trimmed from the vine by the vertical rotary cutter  2216 . The cane grabber  2214  includes a plurality of flexible fingers  2268  extending from a chain  2270  driven in a counter-clockwise direction by a motor  2272  mounted on a plate  2274  attached to housing  2262 .  
         [0272]    As shown in FIGS. 64 and 65 of the drawings, the vertical rotary cutter  2216  is mounted substantially parallel to the tractor and vine while the cane grabber  2214  is offset at an angle of, for example, 20° to 60°, preferably 30° to 45°, with respect to the plane of the cutter  2216 . With the fingers  2268  moving about the cane grabber  2214  in a counter-clockwise direction, the fingers tend to grab and direct the canes toward the cutting blade  2250  and cutting opening  2256  of vertical cutter  2216 . Also, the fingers  2268  draw the cut ends of the canes away from the vertical cutter  2216  and then the protrusions  2264  and  2266  of the housings  2260  and  2262  force the cut cane pieces and any uncut canes away from the fingers and away from the device to avoid entanglement of the device with sections of cut cane as well as uncut canes which would otherwise tend to wrap around and be entangled with the device. It is to be understood that the vine and canes are not shown in FIG. 65 for the sake of clarity of the device  2210  and its components. Cane grabber  2214  and more particularly housing  2260  is attached to a first end of a horizontal member  2276  pivotally attached at its second end to the lower end of a vertical member  2278  by a bolt  2280 . A spring  2282  has one end attached to horizontal member  2276  and the other end attached to vertical member  2278  to allow the cane grabber  2214  to trip rearwardly should it contact an immovable obstruction or object. The upper end of vertical member  2278  is attached to horizontal support member  2230 .  
         [0273]    In accordance with one example of the vertical rotary cutter and cane grabber  2210 , the cane grabber  2214  includes a plurality of flexible fingers  2268  formed of 9-12 inch lengths of ⅜ to ¾ inch diameter hydraulic line having a metal fitting on each end thereof and rotary cutting blade  2250  having an outer diameter of from 10-36 inches. Also in accordance with one example, it is preferred to drive the motor, chain, and fingers of cane grabber  2214  in a counter-clockwise direction while driving the motor and cutting blade of the rotary cutter  2216  in a clock-wise direction using separate hydraulic motors  2272  and  2248  receiving hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic system of the tractor or an auxiliary hydraulic system mounted on the tractor.  
         [0274]    As shown in FIGS. 66 and 70 of the drawings, and in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention, vertical pruner units, devices, or apparatus generally designated  2290  and  2292  each include respective vertical sickles or cutters  2294  and  2296  and cane grabbers  2298  and  2300 . The vertical pruner  2290  of FIG. 66 is similar to the vertical pruner  2210  of FIG. 64 except that the rotary cutter has been replaced with a vertical linear, sickle, hedger, or the like and that both the cane grabber  2298  and vertical cutter  2294  are supported from above rather than from the side. The vertical pruner  2292  of FIG. 70 is similar to the vertical pruner  2290  of FIG. 66, except that the cane grabber  2300  and vertical cutter  2296  are supported from above in a position closer to the ground than that of the cane grabber  2298  and vertical cutter  2294  of vertical pruner  2290 .  
         [0275]    With reference again to FIG. 66 of the drawings, the cane grabber  2298  like cane grabber  2214  of FIG. 64, includes outer housings  2302  and  2304  and a plurality of flexible fingers  2306  extending from a chain  2308  driven in a counter-clockwise direction by a motor  2310  mounted on a plate  2312  attached to housing  2302 . Plate  2312  is attached to a support plate  2314  attached to the lower end of a vertical support member  2316  the upper end of which is attached to a horizontal support member  2318  releasably attached to a horizontal mast member  2320 .  
         [0276]    The vertical linear cutter, sickle, hedger, or the like  2294  includes an elongate cutting bar  2322  and a parallel deflector or guide roller  2324  supported by a vertical support member  2326  the upper end of which is pivotally attached to a horizontal support member  2318 . A spring  2328  having one end attached to a member extending from horizontal support member  2318  and the other end attached to vertical support member  2326  allows the vertical pruner  2294  to trip rearwardly should the deflector roller or sickle contact an immovable or uncuttable object. Vertical pruner  2294  further includes a hydraulic motor  2330 , a drive link  2332 , and a drive bracket  2334  attached to a movable set of cutting teeth. Deflector roller  2324  is supported at its upper and lower ends by brackets or journals  2336  and  2338 .  
         [0277]    Vertical pruner or pruning and grabbing unit  2290  operates in the same fashion as vertical pruner  2210  of FIGS. 64 and 65 and is adapted for dormant pruning as described, for example, in stage chart XII of FIG. 97.  
         [0278]    [0278]FIGS. 67 and 68 of the drawings illustrate a modified Smart-Dyson ballerina trellising system  2350  having the shoot growth from the top canes trained upward and the shoot growth from the bottom canes trained downward. The upward shoot growth is hedged to prevent an umbrella-like canopy from developing. Upward shoot growth is held in place by two pairs of catch wires  2352  and  2354  supported on spaced vertical posts  2356 . The downward growth is not hedged and is allowed to develop an umbrella-like canopy similar to a bilateral cordon. Hence, the upper half (40 inches, 1.02 m) is treated as Vertical Shoot Positioned (VSP) while the lower half (48 inches, 1.2m) is treated as bilateral trellising systems. The Smart-Dyson Ballerina trellis  2350  is modified from that described in an article by Dr. Richard Smart, the Australian Grape Grower and Winemaker, May 1994, pages 27 and 28. The Smart-Dyson Ballerinatrellis has two fruiting zones each approximately within 14 inches above and below the cordon.  
         [0279]    The Smart-Dyson Ballerina trellis system was developed by Dr. Richard Smart of Port Macguaire, Australia, and John Dyson of New York. This system was designed to manage extremely high vigor  vinifera  vines to obtain fruit shoot balance and produce both high yields and quality. The advantage of this modified Smart-Dyson system is the “Ballerina” that has a single cordon with spurs at 48 inches or 1.2 m. The spurs that are on the lower part of the 180° of the cordon forms the lower balerina and the upper spurs form the vertical shoot position part of the system. The lower part of the Smart-Dyson Ballerina system is mechanized in the same manner as shown with respect to the bilateral cordon system. The upper part of the system is trained utilizing the equipment shown for use with vertical shoot position systems.  
         [0280]    With reference to FIG. 69 of the drawings, a leaf removal unit  2360  is shown in operation in connection with the upper half of a Smart-Dyson ballerina system. The leaf removal unit  2360  of FIG. 69 is similar to the leaf removal unit  500  of FIG. 34 and includes a fan unit  2362  substantially identical to the fan unit  552  of FIGS. 36 and 37. Leaf remover or unit  2360  includes the single vertically and angularly adjustable blade and fan unit  2362  adapted for cleaning one side of a standard vertical, movable catch wire trellising system, for example, the upper half of a Smart-Dyson ballerina trellising system. Fan unit  2362  includes a fan blade  2364 , a fan housing  2366 , an intake contacted to a conical cutting blade housing  2368 , and a discharge  2368  at the lower end of the housing  2366 . A cutting blade  2370  is located in the cutting blade housing  2366  behind a plurality of adjustable length bars or rods  2372  which pass across a circular fan intake opening in a cowling or cover plate  2374  having a bent forward surface  2376 . The bars or rods  2372  are spaced a sufficient distance apart to allow leaves or small shoots to enter the fan intake and to be cut by the blade  2370  or by being sheared between the rods and the blade. Fan blade  2364  and cutting blade  2370  are mounted on a drive shaft  2378  which is rotatably driven by a hydraulic motor  2380  and supported by a pair of spaced shaft bearings  2382 .  
         [0281]    The fan unit  2362  of leaf remover  2360  is vertically and pivotally supported by spaced vertical support members  2384  adjustably attached to a horizontal support member  2386  which is releasably attached to a horizontal mast member  2388 . The angle of the fan and blade unit  2362  is selected by adjusting the relative position of first and second angle support members  2390  and  2392  with the upper end of member  2390  being attached to horizontal support member  2386  and the lower end of member  2392  being pivotally attached to the upper end of fan housing  2366 . Like fan unit  500  of FIG. 34, the vertical position and angle of the fan unit  2362  can be quickly and easily altered or adjusted to accommodate different trellising systems and growth habits. Further, the length adjustable bars or rods  2372  like the rods or bars  588  of fan unit  552  and fan unit  554  can be placed at different angles and spaced at selected distance (as shown in FIG. 38) to accommodate differing foliage loads, desired clearance, tractor speed, and the like.  
         [0282]    With reference again to FIG. 70 of the drawings, vertical pruner  2292  is substantially identical to vertical pruner  2290  of FIG. 66 except that the vertical support members  2396  and  2398  of the cane grabber  2300  and vertical sickle  2296 , respectively, have been lengthened in order to prune the lower ballerina section of a Smart-Dyson ballerina trellising system.  
         [0283]    As shown in FIG. 71 of the drawings and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a modified dual sickle horizontal cutter is generally designated  2400  and shown to include a short length, fixed position upper sickle  2402  and an elongate, rearwardly tripping lower sickle  2404 . This cutter  2400  is a highly modified version of a horizontal sickle unit developed and tested by Dr. C. Intrieri of Bologna, Italy. The horizontal dual sickle cutter  2400  is adapted, for example, for trimming all shoots to approximately 15 or 30 inches above the vineyard floor as described in stage charts III, IV, VII, VIII, IX, and XII of FIGS. 88, 89,  92 ,  93 ,  94 , and  97 , respectively.  
         [0284]    The short length, fixed angular position upper sickle  2402  is located above and slightly forwardly of the lower longer horizontal sickle  2404 . Upper horizontal sickle  2402  includes a hydraulic motor  2406  attached to a plate  2408  which is attached to a base member  2410  on the lower end of a vertical support member  2412 . Like the vertical support member  2128  of FIG. 61, the vertical support member  2412  is adjustably received in a bracket or collar  2414  attached to one end of a horizontal support member  2416  which itself is received in an adjustable support bracket or collar  2418  attached to a support platform  2420 . The support platform  2420  is releasably attached to a horizontal mast member  2422  of a mast  2424  attached to a frame member  2426  of a tractor  2428 . The support platform  2420  is releasably attached to horizontal mast member  2422  via a ball hitch and bolt assemblies.  
         [0285]    Upper horizontal sickle  2402  further includes a drive disk  2430  operatively attached to a drive shaft of motor  2406 . A drive link  2432  has one end attached to drive disk  2430  and the other end attached to a drive bracket  2434  which is attached to a movable set of cutting teeth  2436 .  
         [0286]    Lower horizontal sickle  2404  includes an elongate support member  2438  attached to a support plate  2440  pivotally attached to the lower end of base  2410  of vertical support member  2412 . The pivotal connection between support plate  2440  and base  2410  includes a torsion spring which allows support member  2438  of lower horizontal sickle  2404  to trip rearwardly about a vertical axis should the lower horizontal sickle contact an immovable or uncuttable object. More particularly, a single large bumper disk or roller  2442  and plurality of smaller bumper rollers or disks  2444  are rotatably attached to corresponding cantilever support members  2446  and  2448  which are attached to support member  2438 . The rollers or disks  2442  and  2444  are adapted to contact, for example, vine trunks, posts, trellises, and the like and cause the horizontal sickle  2404  to trip rearwardly before such objects can contact cutting teeth  2450  and cause damage to the lower sickle  2404 . The rollers or bumpers  2442  and  2444  are spaced from one another a selected distance to only allow items having a diameter or width of less than about two inches, preferably less than one inch to pass between the rollers and contact the cutting teeth  2450 . Like sickle  2402 , lower sickle  2404  includes a motor and drive linkage for reciprocating the cutting teeth  2450 .  
         [0287]    The unit  2400  includes a plurality of set screws or bolts which make it easy to quickly and easily adjust the vertical height of the upper and lower horizontal sickles  2402  and  2404 . The short fixed, upper horizontal sickle  2402  tends to protect the support structure and drive arrangement of the sickles by cutting any canes or vineyard floor growth which would otherwise wrap around or entangle these items. The lower horizontal sickle  2404  provides the bulk of the trimming of canes and shoots at a selected distance above the vineyard floor, for example 15 or 30 inches, prior to harvest to facilitate mechanical harvesting using, for example, a harvester such as shown in FIGS. 83, 84,  85 , or the like.  
         [0288]    With reference to FIG. 72 of the drawings and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a more simplified single unit single bar half-row horizontal cutter generally designated  2460  is shown to include an elongate, rearwardly tripping, sickle  2462  substantially identical to the lower horizontal sickle  2404  of dual sickle horizontal cutter  2400  of FIG. 71. The single horizontal sickle unit  2460  of FIG. 72 differs from the dual unit  2400  of FIG. 71 in that it does not include the upper short fixed horizontal sickle  2402  and does include a forwardly extending arced rod or bar  2464  which serves to direct canes, shoots, and the like toward the cutting teeth  2466  of sickle  2462 . The cane guiding bar  2464  is fixed in position relative to support member  2468  of sickle  2462 .  
         [0289]    As shown in phantom lines in FIG. 72 of the drawings, horizontal sickle  2462  may be vertically adjusted to a variety of selected vertical positions, for example, 15 inches or 30 inches from the vineyard floor, depending on what trellising system is being trimmed or pruned. For example, trimming of shoots and canes prior to harvest may require the shoots or canes to be trimmed to approximately 30 inches above the vineyard floor as described in stage chart VII of FIG. 92.  
         [0290]    With reference to FIG. 73 of the drawings, a double or dual unit full-row horizontal cutter is generally designated  2470  and shown to include inner and outer dual sickle horizontal cutter arrangements  2472  and  2474  which are similar in construction to the dual sickle horizontal cutter  2400  of FIG. 71 except that the outer dual sickle arrangement  2474  is a mirror image of the inner unit or arrangement  2472  and trails the inner unit  2472 . Also, the disk or rollers  2442  and  2444  of lower horizontal sickle  2404  of unit  2400  of FIG. 71 have been replaced with forwardly and downwardly angling aprons or bumpers  2476  and  2478  adapted for vineyards where each plant is supported by, for example, metal or wooden stakes. The metal bumpers or guards  2476  and  2478  contact the stakes, posts, vine trunks, or the like and cause the elongate lower horizontal sickles to trip rearwardly without damaging the cutting teeth thereof. The double or dual unit horizontal cutter  2470  of FIG. 73 is particularly adapted for use with the Minimal pruned, high-wire, bi-lateral cordon, Smart-Dyson Ballerina (and other like trellising systems) can serve to trim or prune both sides of a row along a single pass down the row. In contrast, the horizontal cutters  2400  and  2460  of FIGS. 71 and 72 are adapted to trim or prune half of a row with each pass of the tractor down the row.  
         [0291]    The support structure for each of the inner and outer dual sickle horizontal cutters  2472  and  2474  of dual unit cutter  2470  differ from the vertical support structure of units  2400  and  2460  of FIGS. 71 and 72 in that they allow not only for vertical height adjustment, but also for automatic horizontal distance adjustment between the inner and outer units and allow the entire inner and outer cutters  2472  and  2474  to trip rearwardly. More particularly, inner cutter  2472  includes upper and lower horizontal sickles  2480  and  2482  operatively attached to a base  2484  on a vertical member  2486 . Vertical member  2486  is attached to a support assembly  2488  at the lower end of a vertical support member  2490 . The upper end of vertical support member  2490  is adjustably received in a collar or bracket  2492  which is pivotally attached to a horizontal member  2494 . A spring  2496  has one end attached to collar or bracket  2492  and the other end attached to a member extending forwardly from horizontal member  2494 . Hence, spring  2496  allows the collar or bracket  2492 , vertical member  2490 , and entire inner cutter  2472  to trip rearwardly and upwardly should the inner cutter  2472  contact an immovable or uncuttable object. Also, lower horizontal sickle  2482  of inner cutter  2472  can trip rearwardly about a vertical axis should bumper or guard  2476  contact an immovable or uncuttable object.  
         [0292]    Likewise, outer cutter  2474  includes an upper horizontal sickle  2498  and a lower horizontal sickle  2500  operatively attached to a base  2502  on the lower end of a support member  2504 . The member  2504  is attached to a support assembly  2506  which is attached to the lower end of a vertical support member  2508 . The upper end of member  2508  is received in a bracket or collar  2510  pivotally attached to a horizontal member  2512 . A spring  2514  has one end attached to bracket or collar  2510  and the other end attached to a member extending forwardly of horizontal member  2512 . Spring  2514  allows support member  2508  and outer cutter  2474  to trip rearwardly and upwardly. Also, at least lower horizontal sickle  2500  trips rearwardly about a vertical axis should guard or bumper  2478  contact an immovable or uncuttable object.  
         [0293]    Dual unit horizontal cutter  2470  includes a support platform  2516  releasably attached to a horizontal mast member  2518  and supporting first and second horizontal members  2520  and  2522 , hydraulic control and valve structure  2524 , and one end of first and second hydraulic cylinders  2526  and  2528 . Support member  2494  of inner cutter  2472  is telescopically received in and supported by first member  2520  while support member  2512  of outer cutter  2474  is telescopically received in and supported by second member  2522 . Valve structure  2524  includes control valves for selectively applying hydraulic fluid to each of the hydraulic cylinders  2526  and  2528  to selectively extend or retract the pistons and shafts thereof to achieve the desired distance between the support members  2490  and  2508  and inner and outer cutters  2472  and  2474 . Hence, cylinders  2526  and  2528  can be used to spread the inner and outer cutters apart or bring them together as desired. For example, in order to start the dual unit horizontal cutter  2470  at the end of a row, one may extend the shafts of the cylinders  2526  and  2528  to space the inner and outer cutters  2472  and  2474  as far apart as possible to accommodate conventional catch and cordon wire anchoring posts, or the like. Once the cutter  2470  has moved beyond the anchoring posts, the operator can retract the shafts of the cylinders  2526  and  2528  to bring the inner and outer cutters  2472  and  2474  back to the position shown in FIG. 3 for trimming and pruning along the row.  
         [0294]    With reference again to FIGS.  71 - 73  of the drawings and reference to stage chart II of FIG. 87, although the trimmers and pruners  2400 ,  2460 , and  2470  are usually used for trimming or pruning prior to harvest, they can also be used for dormant pruning and to remove excess buds or fruit to reduce fruit load after set and shatter. For example, for grapes having drooping growth habits, shoots or canes extending downwardly from a cross arm may be trimmed to a selected length to provide a particular fruit load by raising the trimmers or pruners to a height just a few inches underneath the cross arm.  
         [0295]    As shown in FIG. 74 of the drawings and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a tilting mast  2540  is shown to include an expanding vertical section  2542  and an extending horizontal section  2544  substantially identical in construction to the masts shown, for example, in FIGS.  64 - 66 , and  69  of the drawings. The tilting mast  2540  of FIG. 74 differs from the other masts in that the vertical section  2542  can tilt relative to the supporting tractor or vehicle. Tilting mast  2540  includes a lower support structure  2546  attached to the forward end of the tractor or vehicle and serving to pivotally support a lower end  2548  of vertical mast section  2542  about a horizontal axis of a bolt or pin  2550 . Support structure  2546  includes a lower horizontal member  2552  which provides for attachment of one end of a cylinder  2554  thereto. A shaft  2556  extending from cylinder  2554  is attached by a bolt or pin  2558  to lower end  2548  of vertical section  2542 . Support structure  2546  also includes an upper member  2560  which supports a yolk  2562  which limits tilting movement of vertical member  2542 . As shown in phantom lines, the mast is tilted to the left by extension of the shaft  2556  from cylinder  2554 . Likewise, the mast may be tilted to the right by retracting shaft  2556  in cylinder  2554 . Although the mast  2540  may be tilted from 0 to 30 degrees in either direction, it is preferred to have mast only tilt through 0 to 12 degrees in either direction from vertical to ensure stability of the equipment and tractor or vehicle. Extension and retraction of shaft  2556  from cylinder  2554  and resultant tilting of mast  2540  is controlled by the vehicle operator by, for example, controlling hydraulic fluid to and from the cylinder  2554 .  
         [0296]    The angularly adjustable mast  2540  of FIG. 74 is adapted for use on hillsides or sloping vineyards and may also be used on a relatively flat vineyard to tilt equipment such as thinning, pruning, or trimming devices, units, or the like to accommodate particular trellising systems or growth habits. As an example, mast  2540  can be used to tilt equipment relative to the angled arms of a GDC or Y-trellis.  
         [0297]    With reference to FIG. 75 of the drawings, a basic Geneva Double Curtain (GDC) training system is shown to include cordon wire supports A, cordon wires B, cordons C, pruning canes D, renewal spurs E, and posts F spaced at 24 feet.  
         [0298]    As shown in FIGS. 76 and 77 of the drawings, and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a modified vertical catch wire trellis or modified Lyre or “U” system adapted for complete or total mechanization of vineyard cultivation, especially in an established vineyard, is generally designated  2590  and shown to include first and second cross arms  2592  and  2594  which pivot respectively about bolts  2596  and  2598  extending through brackets  2600  and  2602  on a collar  2604  adjustably attached to a post  2606 . The cross arms flex or pivot about bolts  2596  and  2598  to allow for harvest mechanization. Tubular cross arm extensions  2608  and  2610  are adjustably received on each of the cross arms  2592  and  2594  using respective pins  2612  and  2614  received in corresponding openings through the extensions and cross arms.  
         [0299]    Further, each of the cross arms  2592  and  2594  support movable and pivoting tubular stakes  2616  and  2618  extending upwardly from U-members or yokes  2620  and  2622  and pivotally attached thereto by respective bolts  2624  and  2626 . Each of the yokes  2620  and  2622  are releasably and pivotally attached to the respective cross arms  2592  and  2594  by pins  2628  and  2630  received in corresponding circular openings through the yokes and cross arms. The use of pins for releasably attaching the cross arm extensions  2608  and  2610  and movable stakes  2616  and  2618  to cross arms  2592  and  2594  increase the versatility and adjustability of the modified trellis  2590 . As shown, each of the cross arms include a plurality of openings which allow for adjustment in the positioning of the cross arm extensions and movable stakes.  
         [0300]    In accordance with a particular example of the present invention, it is preferred to form the tubular members including the cross arm extensions  2608  and  2610  and movable stakes  2616  and  2618  of metal pipe or conduit such as 1½ to 2½ inch outer diameter steel tubing and to form the other metal components of sturdy metal material such as steel or cast aluminum.  
         [0301]    With reference to FIGS. 78 and 79 of the drawings and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a modified vertical catch wire system or a modified Lyre or “U” trellis having fixed cross arms is generally designated  2650  and shown to include elongate tubular cross arms  2652  and  2654  each including horizontal sections, upwardly angling sections, and vertical sections. Each of the horizontal sections of the cross arms  2652  and  2654  include a plurality of circular openings adapted to receive respective bolts  2656  and  2658  and pins  2660  and  2662 . One end of each of the cross arms  2652  and  2654  is supported in a tubular member  2664  attached to a collar releasably attached to a post  2668 . The modified trellis  2650  includes tubular movable stakes  2670  and  2672  pivotally attached to respective yokes  2674  and  2676  by respective bolts  2678  and  2680 . The movable stakes  2670  and  2672  allow for rapid adjustment of catch wires following mechanical fruit thinning and allow for the stakes to be laid down to facilitate mechanical harvesting.  
         [0302]    The modified trellis  2650  of FIGS. 78 and 79 as well as the traditional Lyre or “U” system is not flexible and requires a modified harvesting system such as an adaptation of a harvester built by G. DeGolier with twin harvesting heads and a catching system to mechanically harvest both sides of the Lyre or “U” in one pass. Such a modified harvesting machine contains two sets of beaters mounted side by side as shown in FIG. 83.  
         [0303]    With reference to FIG. 80 of the drawings and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a modified Lyre or “U” trellis adapted for total or complete mechanization is generally designated  2700  and shown to include a modified U tubular member  2702  attached to the upper end of a vertical tubular member  2704  by a support bracket  2706 . Cordons  2708  and  2710  are shown to be located approximately 10 inches above a cross bar  2712  of the U member  2702 . This allows sufficient space for the operation of all mechanization equipment including shoot and fruit thinner, leaf remover, harvester, and the like. Vertically extending arms  2714  and  2716  of U member  2702  extend upwardly an additional 12 to 36 inches, preferably 24 inches, above a conventional Lyre or “U” trellis.  
         [0304]    As shown in FIGS. 81 and 82 of the drawings, and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a modified vertical catch wire anchoring and trellis system is shown to include a modified guide wire anchoring support unit  2730  adapted to be used at each end of a row having a plurality of modified vertical catch wire system or modified Lyre or “U” trellises  2732 . The modified guide wire anchoring support unit  2730  and modified vertical catch wire trellises  2732  allow mechanization equipment to enter the end of the row and facilitate total or partial mechanization of the vineyard. The trellis  2732  is similar in construction to the trellis  2700  of FIG. 80 and includes a modified tubular U member attached to the upper end of a post  2736  by a bracket or support  2738 .  
         [0305]    The guide wire anchoring support unit  2730  includes a tubular U member having vertical members  2742  and  2744  extending upwardly from a horizontal cross member  2746 . Cross member  2746  is attached to the top of a first vertical tubular member  2748  attached to a second vertical tubular member  2750  by upper and lower cross braces  2752  and  2754 . The ends of cross bar  2746  are additionally supported by brace members  2756  and  2758 , each having one end attached to the cross bar  2746  and the other end attached to vertical member  2750 . An elongate U-shaped channel member  2760  is attached to the lower end of each of vertical members  2748  and  2750  and adapted to be buried 12-24 inches below the vineyard floor. Respective cordon wire attachment studs  2762  and  2764  extend from vertical members  2742  and  2744 . Also, a plurality of chain hooks or catches  2766  extend outwardly from vertical members  2742  and  2744  in spaced pairs to serve as anchors for chains  2778  on the end of the respective catch wires. Also, chain racks  2768  and  2770  are attached to cross bar  2746  for storage of chains, cables, or the like. Ends of respective support wires  2772  and  2774  are tied around the corners of the U member  2740  and under respective cross braces  2756  and  2758  to prevent upward movement thereof. Similarly, central guide wire  2776  is tied around the upper end of vertical member  2748  just below cross bar  2746  and above cross member  2752 .  
         [0306]    By burying cross member  2760  below ground and forming the entire anchoring support unit of sturdy rigid materials such as 3 inch outer diameter, ¼ to ½ inch thick steel pipe and welding all connections, guide wire support unit  2730  provides sufficient support for anchoring the cordon, guide, and catch wires at each end of a row. The studs  2762  and chains  2778  allow the cordon wires and guide wires or catch wires to either be released or loosened prior to mechanical harvesting and thereby reduce possible damage to the wires, trellises, anchors, harvesting equipment, and the like.  
         [0307]    With reference again to FIGS.  76 - 81  of the drawings, and in accordance with a particular example of the present invention, it is contemplated that the trellises developed for a total or complete or improved mechanization of the vineyard have a cross bar at approximately 42 inches from the vineyard floor, a cordon located about 10 inches above the cross bar, a first guide or support wire catch located about 14 inches above the cordon, and a second higher support or guide wire catch located 14 inches above the first catch. Thus, each of the trellises  2590 ,  2650 ,  2700 , and  2732  has an overall height of at least about 80 inches or more. Note that the trellises  2700  and  2732  of FIGS. 80 and 81 have a third support or guide wire catch located an additional 14 inches above the second support or guide wire catch and thus have an overall height of at least about 94 inches.  
         [0308]    In accordance with another example of the present invention, the trellis  2700  of FIG. 80 is made from 1½ inch outer diameter by {fraction (3/16)} inch circular metal tubing, has an overall height of about 84 inches, an overall width of about 60 inches, a lower central post extending about 32 inches above the vineyard floor, about 14 inches from the top of the post to the cordon, about another 10 inches from the cordon to the first catch wire clip, about 12 additional inches from the first catch wire clip to the second catch wire clip, and about 14 inches from the second catch wire clip to the third or top wire clip. This system provides at least 32 inches of clearance between the vineyard floor and the cross bar, about 14 inches of fruit zone below the cordon, and about 38 inches from the cordon up to the top wire.  
         [0309]    With reference to FIG. 83 of the drawings, a modified full-row grape harvesting machine or harvester adapted for use with the modified Lyre or “U” trellis of FIGS. 80 and 81 is generally designated  2800  and shown to include two picking heads  2802  and  2804 , a conveyor belt  2806  and  2808  under each picking head, and cross conveyors  2810  and  2812  in back of the harvester which receive the grapes from conveyors  2806  and  2808 . Each of the picking heads or harvester units  2802  and  2804  are supported from a harvester chassis or over-the-row tractor  2814 .  
         [0310]    The harvester  2800  is adapted for over-the-row or full row harvesting and further includes respective aprons  2816  and  2818  and fish scales or pivoting catch plates  2820  and  2822  which run the length of the conveyors  2806  and  2808  and facilitate the movement of grapes and grape bunches from the picking heads to the conveyors. Although the aprons  2816  and  2818  are fixed, the fish scales  2820  and  2822  are spring-biased and pivot rearwardly to allow the harvester  2800  to pass by a trellis  2700 .  
         [0311]    The picking heads may be similar to the harvesting heads of the G. DeGolier harvester or similar in construction to the thinning heads of FIGS. 53 and 54 of the drawings. Further, each of the picking heads includes opposing sets of beaters, strikers, bow heads, rods, or the like  2824  which are shown angled downwardly and offset relative one to the other. Also, the beaters, strikers, bow heads, rods, or the like adjacent the cordon may be eliminated or shortened to prevent damage to the cordon.  
         [0312]    In accordance with the present invention, it is contemplated that the picking heads  2802  and  2804  of the harvester  2800  may be tilted with respect to the vertical and as such accommodate a Y or GDC system. Also in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, it is contemplated that the picking heads  2802  and  2804  of harvester  2800  in FIG. 83 and picking heads  3002  and  3004  of harvester  3000  in FIG. 85 may be supported in a fashion allowing for hydraulic head adjustment to raise, lower, and/or tilt the picking heads to accommodate, for example, angled uprights, or a wide range of trellising systems.  
         [0313]    Also, in accordance with the present invention it is to be understood that the harvester  2800  may include forward and rearward sets of picking heads on each side thereof for harvesting grape varieties which are difficult to harvest. Also, the harvester  2800  may include differing types of picking heads (FIG. 85) and may have the inner beaters, strikers, and the like removed to accommodate the harvesting of grapes on particular training or trellising systems.  
         [0314]    With reference to FIGS. 84, 84A, and  84 B of the drawings and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a modified half-row, floating, at least vertically shaking, rotating head picker mechanical harvester  2840  is adapted for use with a Lyre or “U” trellis  2842  modified to include movable cordon wire support, roller, or slide assemblies  2844  for each cordon wire. The harvester  2840  includes a harvesting unit  2846  mounted on one side of a tractor  2848  and is a modified version of the early Cornell concept for harvesting a modified GDC trellis with a single, reciprocating, vertical spiked-wheel. The Geneva Double Curtain (GDC) was a trellising system designed specifically for mechanical harvest employing over-the-row machines fitted with vertical-shaking head pickers as described, for example, in Shaulis, N., E. S. Shepardson, and J. C. Moyer. Grape Harvesting Research at Cornell, N.Y. State Hortic. Soc. Proc., Proc. 105th Meeting, January (1960) and Shaulis, N., E. S. Shepardson, and T. D. Kordan. The Geneva Double Curtain. Bull. 811 N.Y. State Agric. Exp. Sta., Geneva, Cornell Univ. (1967). An early over-the-row harvester equipped with vertical-shaking heads was manufactured in the U.S. by Chisholm-Ryder, and an Italian version was built and extensively tested. One difficulty with the Cornell/Chisholm-Ryder system was keeping the spike-wheel picking heads concurrently aligned along the cordons. The end result was that the early Cornell and Chisholm-Ryder machines never saw extensive commercial production.  
         [0315]    The half-row harvester  2840  of FIGS. 84, 84A, and  84 B is shown in use with a modified trellis  2842  which incorporates the movable cordon wire support assemblies  2844  which address the problem of picking head alignment along the cordons. The harvester  2840  and, more particularly, the harvester unit  2846  includes a rigid support structure  2850  which is attached to the tractor  2848 , at least one spiked-wheel picking head  2852  including a center tumbler  2854 , and a plurality of radially extending spikes  2856  attached thereto. The head  2852  floats or rests upon a vertical shaft and idles or rotates should the spikes contact an object, vine, trellis, or the like. The picking head  2852  is supported and driven from underneath by a member  2858  extending upwardly from a support structure  2860 . The harvester unit  2846  includes a collecting conveyor  2862 , a cross conveyor  2864 , aprons  2866  and  2868 , and fish scales or pivoting catch plates  2870  supported from a frame  2872 .  
         [0316]    Still further, the harvester unit  2846  includes an upper awning and a vertically-depending flexible curtain  2876  which directs any grapes or grape bunches downwardly toward collecting conveyor  2862  along with fish scales  2870  and aprons  2866  and  2868 . The vertically-shaking picking head  2852  shakes the cordon  2878  and cordon wire  2880  at least vertically and thereby causes grapes or grape bunches to fall from the vine and onto the conveyor  2862  where they are fed to cross conveyor  2864  into a single collection system. The fish scales  2870  pivot at least rearwardly and the curtain  2876  is flexible, for example, having elongate vertical cuts or slits therein allowing portions to flex up and over the vine or trellis and allow the harvester to travel along the row while directing as many of the grapes as possible toward the collection conveyor  2862 .  
         [0317]    By incorporating the movable cordon wire support assemblies  2844  and by relaxing the catch wires, loosening the cordon wires, and taking tension out of the cordons and trunks before harvesting, the spikes  2856  of the picking head  2852  remain in proper position underneath the cordon and the cordon wire stays in position to shake the cordon and harvest the grapes while preventing damage to the catch wires, cordon wire, cordon, and trunk of the vine. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the trunk leading to the cordon has a bend and flexibility of at least 10 inches.  
         [0318]    With particular reference to FIGS. 84A and 84B of the drawings, the movable cordon wire support, roller, or slide assembly  2844  is attached to the interior or exterior of each vertical member  2882  extending upwardly from a cross bar  2884  of the trellis  2842 . Typically, conventional Lyre or “U” trellis systems have the cordon wire located inside the trellis, and as such the movable cordon wire support assembly  2844  is mounted as shown in solid lines in FIG. 84A. In new vineyards, it would be preferred to add the movable cordon wire support assembly  2844  on the exterior of the trellis to facilitate mechanization of the vineyard.  
         [0319]    Each movable cordon wire support assembly  2844  includes upper and lower horizontal plates  2886  and  2888  attached to the ends of a vertical channel member  2890  and having respective circular openings near their free end for receiving an elongate bolt  2892  having a head  2894  and a threaded lower end  2896  adapted to receive a nut  2898 . The shaft of the bolt  2892  and one edge of the channel member  2890  form an elongate channel adapted to receive a grooved roller, wheel, slide, or the like  2900  having a central circular through hole  2902  adapted to receive the cordon wire  2880  therethrough. The roller or wheel  2900  may also include an elongate radial slot  2904  which extends to opening  2902  to allow an existing cordon wire to be inserted through the slot and into the opening  2902 . The slot  2904  is thereafter filled with a plug  2906  which is welded in place to prevent the cordon wire  2880  from coming out of opening  2902  in roller  2900 .  
         [0320]    It is preferred that the plates, channel member, and bolt be formed of sturdy rigid metal materials while the roller or wheel  2900  be formed of a synthetic resin or plastic material which can be either self-lubricating or lubricated to easily slide up and down along channel member  2890  and bolt  2892 . Additionally, end stops  2908  and  2910  can be added to the interior of plates  2886  and  2888  to limit movement of roller or wheel  2900 . It is preferred that the channel member  2890  be attached to vertical trellis member  2882  by welding, but it is understood that other means of attachment such as screws or rivets may be used. If roller  2900  becomes overly worn or broken, it may be replaced by removing bolt  2892  and inserting a new roller.  
         [0321]    With respect to FIG. 84C of the drawings, and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a modified guide wire anchoring support unit  2920  and modified trellis  2922  including movable cordon wire support assemblies  2940  has substantial structural similarity to that of guide wire anchoring support unit  2730  and trellis  2732  of FIG. 81 except that the trellis  2922  and anchoring unit  2920  are adapted to easily relax, loosen, or release tension on the guide wires and cordon wires to facilitate mechanical harvesting using, for example, the mechanical harvester of FIG. 84 or  85 . More particularly, a vertical support member  2924  has been extended and includes a chain catch or hook  2926  and chain catch or hooks  2928  and  2930  have been added to the back side of each of vertical trellis members  2932  and  2934  to provide for the use of chains on the end of respective cordon wires  2936  and guide wires  2938 .  
         [0322]    Trellis  2922  has been modified to include a more rectangular U member, movable cordon wire support assemblies  2940 , and a guide wire bracket  2942  atop a post  2944 . The guide wire anchoring support unit  2920  facilitates the use of mechanization equipment while the chain hooks or catches thereon facilitate the loosening, relaxing, and releasing the tension from the catch wires, cordon wire, trunk, and cordons to provide, for example, at least 10 inches of flexibility in the bend of the trunk as it leads to the cordon.  
         [0323]    Although the vine and cordons shown in FIGS. 84B and 84C are shown in a Y-type of cordon configuration, it is to be understood that a cordon which runs in only a single direction along a cordon wire may be used in combination with the movable cordon wire support assembly  2844 .  
         [0324]    With reference to FIG. 84D of the drawings and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the half-row harvester  2840  of FIG. 84 or the full-row harvester of FIG. 85 may include one or more floating, shaking, rotating picking heads  2950  which not only shake vertically under the influence of a motor  2952  and drive arrangement  2954 , but also shake or articulate in a horizontal direction under the influence of a motor  2956  and drive arrangement  2958 . Picking head  2950  includes a central tumbler  2960  which supports a plurality of spikes  2962  and has a central opening  2964  which accommodates a small diameter upper support shaft  2966  and a large diameter lower support shaft  2968  which telescopically receives the lower end of upper shaft  2966 . Picking head  2950  is free to rotate about shafts  2966  and  2968  under the influence of spikes  2962  contacting objects as the picking head is moved along the cordon.  
         [0325]    Lower shaft  2968  is pivotally connected to a support yoke  2970  by a bolt or pin  2972 . The upper end of shaft  2966  is attached to a pivoting link  2974  by a bolt  2976  which passes through link  2978 , link  2974 , and shaft  2966 . Link  2974  is pivotally attached to an upper arm  2980  of yoke  2970  by a pin  2982 . Yoke  2970  is attached to a sleeve  2984  which rides up and down on a fixed vertical member  2986  attached to the support structure  2988 . Motor  2952  is attached to upper end of vertical member  2986  and has a projecting drive shaft to which is attached a drive disk  2990  having attached thereto a drive link  2992 . The other end of the drive link  2992  is attached to a plate  2994  on sleeve  2984 . Activation of the motor  2952  and rotation of its drive shaft causes resulted rotation of disk  2990 , reciprocation of link  2992 , reciprocation of sleeve  2984 , reciprocation of yoke  2970 , and vertical reciprocation of pick head  2950 .  
         [0326]    Similarly, motor  2956  has a drive shaft to which is attached a drive disk or member  2996 . Rotation or activation of the motor  2956  causes rotation of disk  2996 , reciprocation of link  2978 , reciprocation of link  2974 , and resultant translational movement of at least the upper end of pick head  2950 . Hence, pick head  2950  not only shakes vertically but also horizontally and, as such, increases the amount of grapes removed from the vine during harvesting or facilitates grape removal, thereby allowing the harvester to operate at a greater land speed. Also, it is contemplated that a plurality of such picking heads may be used for harvesting grape varieties which are difficult to harvest.  
         [0327]    With reference again to FIG. 85 of the drawings, and in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an over-the-row, full-row modified spike-wheel picking head harvester  3000  is shown to include at least first and second picking heads  3002  and  3004  supported within a harvester chassis, over-the-row tractor or modified high clearance-type four-wheel tractor  3006 . The harvester  3000  is adapted for harvesting a modified Lyre or “U” trellis  3008  having movable cordon wire support assemblies  3010  and  3012  which allow the cordons and cordon wires to move vertically under the influence of the shaking picking heads  3002  and  3004 .  
         [0328]    Further, the harvester  3000  includes respective catch conveyors  3014  and  3016 , aprons  3018  and  3020 , fish scales or catch plates  3022  and  3024 , and cross conveyors  3026  and  3028 . Fish scales  3022  and  3024  are spring-biased and, as such, pivot backwardly and out of the way of the trellis  3008  as the harvester runs down along the row. The fish scales and aprons tend to direct all the grapes or grape bunches that are removed to the catch conveyors  3014  and  3016 . As described above with respect to FIG. 84, the picking heads  3002  and  3004  are free-floating or idling, at least vertically shaking, rotating picking heads having a plurality of spikes emanating from a central tumbler.  
         [0329]    It is contemplated that the picking heads  3002  and  3004  of harvester  3000  may be the picking heads  2950  of FIG. 84D which shake not only vertically but also horizontally. Also, the harvester  3000  may include four or more picking heads, front and rear sets, for harvesting difficult varieties. Also, prior to harvest, the catch wires should be relaxed, the vertical wires should be loosened, and if necessary the tension should be slightly relaxed out of the cordon wires to allow the trunk bend to flex at least about 10 inches during harvest. Movable cordon wire support assemblies  3010  and  3012  are identical in construction to that of the movable cordon wire support assembly  2844 .  
         [0330]    With respect to FIGS.  86 - 97  of the drawings and seasonal charts I-XII which provide exemplary embodiments of vineyard mechanization systems or methods, it is to be understood that when reference is made to a particular figure number in the charts, it is to be understood that reference is being made to an exemplary machine, device, implement, harvester, thinner, pruner, trimmer, comber, unit, or the like, and that other devices which provide a similar result may be used. Also, it is contemplated that partial mechanization system and methods can be gleaned from the charts I-XII and Examples I-XII to follow by merely eliminating one or more steps from the system or method.  
                                                           TABLE 1                           WORLD GRAPE PRODUCTION, BY COUNTRY, AVERAGES OF 1989-91       (FAO PRODUCTION YEARBOOK, UN. VOL. 45).                COUNTRY   AREA   PRODUCTION               (1000 HA)   (1000 MT)   (MT Per Hectar)   PRODUCTION                        Afghanistan   52   365   7.0           Argentina       268   2523   9.0       Australia       57   896   15.7       Austria       54   398   7.4       Brazil   58   707   12.2       Chili   115   1113   9.7       Czechoslovakia   35   195   5.6       France   943   7476   7.9       Germany   96   1365   14.2       Greece   155   1304   8.4       Hungary   139   769   5.5       Iran   220   1391   6.3       Italy   999   9039   9.0       Japan   27   283   10.5       Mexico   44   462   10.2       Morocco   48   218   4.5       Purtugal   375   1397   3.7       Romania   221   893   4.0       South Africa   150   1463   9.7       Spain   1460   5531   3.8       Syria   114   435   3.8       Turkey   592   3510   5.9       USA   300   5153   17.2       USSR   885   5328   6.0       Yugoslavia   225   1077   4.8                  
 
         [0331]    Metric Tons (MT) per hectar divided by 2.72=Tons per Acre. Other countries that are notable producers of grapes are: Cyprus, India, China, Tunisia, Lebanon, Uruguay, Switzerland, Israel, Canada, Korea (Rep). Albania, Yemen, Saudia Arabia, and Peru.  
                                                                                                         TABLE 2                           EFFECT OF TRAINING SYSTEM AND MECHANICAL PRUNING TREATMENTS       AFTER SIX CONSECUTIVE YEARS ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF CONCORD GRAPES.                Yield   Soluble       Acidity as                (MT/ha)   solids   Green   pH       Color       Treatment   (%)   (%)   fruit   (%)   tartaric   (abs. at 520 nm)                    GDC                                       30 + 10       15.7a   15.2a       3.0ab z     3.79d   0.72d   0.343ab       Mech./adj. best 60 nodes   15.9a   15.1   2.3a   3.68cd   0.78bcd   0.291bc       Mech./adj. best 90 nodes       8.1b   13.8b       9.1abc   3.61cd   0.82abcd   0.281cd       Mech./no touch-up       8.6b   13.3bc       12.6b   3.45abc   0.86abc   0.199ef       SC       30 + 10       10.1ab   15.0a       4.0ab   3.60bcd   0.80abcd   0.320abc       Mech./adj. best 69 nodes       12.4a   15.7a       4.1ab   3.48abc   0.76cd   0.364a       Mech./adj. best 90 nodes       9.9ab   13.6b       8.8abc   3.41ab   0.90a   0.230de       Mech./no touch-up       6.5b   12.0c   11.4bc   3.35a   0.88ab   0.167f                                  
 
         [0332]    [0332]                                 TABLE 3                           EFFECT OF TRAINING SYSTEM AND MECHANICAL PRUNING       TREATMENTS ON SENSORY QUALITY OF CONCORD JUICE ON       THE SIXTH AND FINAL YEAR OF THE STUDY.            Color z     Intensity   Acceptability   Flavor               GDC                   30 + 10   7.5a   6.0ab   5.6cd Mech/adj.       best 60 nodes   7.1ab   7.0a   6.6bc       Mech./adj. best 90 nodes   6.9ab   6.3ab   4.8de       Mech./no touch-up   4.4c   4.9b   4.0e       SC       30 + 10   7.7a   7.9a   7.6ab       Mech./adj. best 60 nodes   7.3ab   6.9ab   8.3a       Mech./adj. best 90 nodes   5.7bc   5.9ab   5.5cd       Mech./no touch-up   2.7d   2.8c   4.0e                                    
         [0333]    [0333]                                                                   TABLE 4                           THE MAIN EFFECTS OF SHOOT POSITIONING AND       PRUNING TREATMENTS ON THE FIFTH       YEAR (A COOL WET YEAR w ) YIELD AND QUALITY       OF ‘CONCORD’ GRAPES (1986).            Soluble   Tartaric               Absorb-       Main   Yield   solids       acid   ance       Effects   (MT/ha)   %   pH   %   520 nm                    Shoot Positioning                           Hand   42.1a x     16.1a   3.64c   0.83a   0.28ab       Machine   43.7a   16.1a   3.65c   0.85a   0.333ab       Centers broken only   37.7b   16.4a   3.72b   0.83a   0.350a       None   33.3c   16.1a   3.78a   0.81a   0.319ab       Pruning Treatment       30 + 10   35.0d   16.6ab   3.78a   0.81a   0.333ab       50 + 10   40.0c   16.5ab   3.68b   0.83a   0.337ab       Mech./adj. best 60 nodes   30.6d   17.1a   3.77a   0.84a   0.391a       Mech./adj. best 80 nodes   34.7d   16.3ab   3.76a   0.84a   0.332ab       Mech./ + fruit removal y     41.7bc   15.9b   3.64bc   0.82a   0.305bc       Mech./30 + 20 alt. years z     45.1ab   16.0b   3.70ab   0.81a   0.302bc       Mech./no touch-up   47.3a   15.0c   3.60c   0.83a   0.256c                                                    
         [0334]    [0334]                                                                   TABLE 5                           EFFECTS OF SHOOT POSITIONING AND PRUNING       TREATMENTS ON THE TENTH YEAR       (A HOT DRY YEAR w ) OF THE STUDY ON QUALITY       OF CONCORD GRAPES (1991).                Soluble           Acidity           Main   Yield   solids       (%   Color       Effects   (MT/ha)   %   pH   tartaric)   520 nm                    Shoot Positioning                           Hand   38.6abx   14.0bc   3.34b   0.85a   0.106b       Machine   39.8a   13.6c   3.38ab   0.85a   0.101b       Centers broken only   36.3bc   14.5ab   3.43a   0.84a   0.135a       None   34.9c   14.6a   3.39ab   0.84a   0.139a       Pruning Treatment       30 + 10   36.2ab   14.4a   3.34b   0.85a   0.112ab       50 + 10   37.7ab   14.2a   3.34b   0.84a   0.117ab       Mech./adj. best 60 nodes   34.3d   14.2a   3.40ab   0.84a   0.128a       Mech./adj. best 80 nodes   35.9ab   14.6a   3.46a   0.82a   0.146a       Mech./+ fruit removals   37.6ab   14.4a   3.39ab   0.86a   0.127a       Mech./30 + 10 alt. years z     39.9a   14.0ab   3.34b   0.85a   0.121ab       Mech./no touch-up   40.0a   13.4b   3.37b   0.83a   0.090b                                                    
       Mechanical Shoot Thinning Test (Striker Unit)  
     Place: Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Ariz. 72703.  
       [0335]    [0335]                                                           TABLE 6                           Shoot removal data from three cultivars*                Cultivar   Shoots   Shoots   Percent           Vine #   Removed   Left   Removed                            Cayuga White                       1   17   62   21           2   24   37   39           3   23   29   44           4   8   44   15           5   8   27   23           6   20   65   24           Seyval blanc           1   24   51   32           2   31   44   41           3   36   62   37           4   25   71   26           5   22   48   31           Vignoles           1   57   78   42           2   63   61   51           3   70   58   55                                    
         [0336]    [0336]                                                                                                                 TABLE 7                           Machine calibration data for Table 6.                Plate Speed       Ground       Brush*               Revolutions/       Speed       Strokes/                Cultivar   Sec   Min   MPH   RPM   Ft.   M                            Cuyuga White   0.57   34.2   1.4   2.25   2.2   7.2           Seyval blanc   0.71   42.6   1.4   2.25   2.8   9.2           Vignoles   1.85   111.0   1.4   2.25   8.0   26.2                                    
       Literature Cited  
       [0337]    1. Cargnello, G. and L. Lisa. 1980. Mechanical winter pruning of GDC training vineyards. In:#UCS Grape and Wine Centennial Symposium. Proc. Univ Calif, Davis. P. 270-73.  
         [0338]    2. Cawthon, D. L. and J. R. Morris. 1977. Yield and quality of ‘Concord’ grapes as affected by pruning severity, nodes per bearing unit, training system, shoot positioning, and sampling date in Arkansas. J. Amer. Soc. Hortic. Sci. 102:760-67.  
         [0339]    3. Christensen, L. P., A. N. Kasimatis, J. J. Kissler, F. Jensen, and D. A. Luisi. 1973. Mechanical harvesting of grapes for the winery. Calif. Agr. Ext. Bul. AXT-403.  
         [0340]    4. Clingeleffer, P. R. 1989. Update: Minimal pruning of cordon trained vines (MCPT. Aust. Grapegrower and Winemaker. 304:78-83.  
         [0341]    5. Clingeleffer, P. R. and J. V. Pcssingham. 1988. The role of minimal pruning of cordon-trained vines (MPCT) in canopy management and its adoption in Australian viticulture. Aust. Grapegrower and Winemaker. 280:7-11.  
         [0342]    6. Davidson, D. 1991. Pride and tradition in hand pruning, but mechanization here to stay. Aust. Grapegrower and Winemaker. 330:32-34.  
         [0343]    7. Di Collalto, G. and P. L. Pisani. 1983. The present situation and prospects for the integral mechanization of espalier grapevines. Vignevini. 10:0, 19-24.  
         [0344]    8. Elia, P. 1986. Mechanization in vineyards. Part 3.3. Winter pruning and the handling of prunings. Quaderni della Scuola di Specializzazione in Viticoltura ed Enologia. 10:41-54.  
         [0345]    9. Elia, P. 1986. Mechanization in vineyards. Part 3.4. Mechanical treatment of vines during the growing season. Quaderni della Scuola di Specializzazione in Viticoltura ed Enologia. 10:55-66.  
         [0346]    10. Elia, P., R. Meinardi. 1989. The study and design of an automatic non-straddling shoot positioner. Informatore Agrario. 45(14):97-104.  
         [0347]    11. Freeman, B. M. 1980. Experiments on vine hedging for mechanical pruning, p. 261-263. In: UCD Grape and Wine Centennial Symposium Proc., Univ. Calif., Davis.  
         [0348]    12. Freeman, B. M. and B. R. Cullis. 1981. Effect of hedge shape for mechanical pruning of  vinifera  vines. Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. 32:21-25.  
         [0349]    13. Gil Sierra, J. and J. Ortiz-Cañavate. 1988. Mechanization experience with pruning and harvesting in trained vineyards. Zangosa, Spain; Asociacion Nacional de Ingnenieros Agrónomos. P. 293-298.  
         [0350]    14. Hollick, R. R. 1980. Mechanical pruning of vines in Australia, p. 264-265. In: UCD Grape and Wine Centennial Symposium Proc., Univ. Calif., Davis.  
         [0351]    15. Intrieri, C. and B. Marangoni. 1980. The alternate “up-down” mechanical pruning system: Experiments on vines GDC trained (V vinifera cv. Montuni), P. 266-269. In: UCD Grape and Wine Centennial Symposium Proc., Univ. Calif., Davis.  
         [0352]    16. Intrieri, C., O. Silvestroni, S. Poni, and I. Filipetti. 1990. Productivity and profitability in vineyards with various levels of mechanization and at different planting densities. Vignevini. 17:10, 53-58.  
         [0353]    17. Jordan, T. D., R. M. Pool, T. J. Zabadal, and J. P. Tomkins. 1981. Cultural practices for commercial vineyards. New York State College of Agr. and Life Sci., Cornell Univ., Ithaca, Misc. Bul. 111.  
         [0354]    18. Lakso, A. N. 1993. Viticultural and physiological parameters limiting yield. Proc. 2 nd N.J. Shaulis Grape Symposium. Fredonia State University, Fredonia, N.Y. P. 9-14.  
         [0355]    19. Ludvigsen, R. K. 1990. Vine training a key to future economic success of a vineyard. Aust. Grapegrower and Winemaker. 318:15-24.  
         [0356]    20. Luvisi, D. A. and P. R. Clingeleffer. 1988. Australian test of mechanical pruning. Wines and Vines. Feb: 30-31.  
         [0357]    21. Magriso, Yu. and A. Pavlov. 1988. Possibilities of mechanical pruning of ripe grapevine wood. Rasteniev “dniNauki. 25(7):81-85.  
         [0358]    22. Morris, J. R. 1985. Approaches to more efficient vineyard management. Hort. Sci. 20(6):1008-13.  
         [0359]    23. Morris, J. R. and D. L. Cawthon. 1980. Mechanical trimming and node adjustment of cordon-trained ‘Concord’ grapevines. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 105(3):310-313.  
         [0360]    24. Morris, J. R. and D. L. Cawthon. 1980. Yield and quality response of ‘Concord’ grapes to training systems and pruning severity in Arkansas. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 105(3):307-310.  
         [0361]    25. Morris, J. R. and D. L. Cawthon. 1981. Yield and quality response of ‘Concord’ grapes (Vitis labrusca L.) to mechanized vine pruring. Amer. J. Enol. Vitic. 32:280-282.  
         [0362]    26. Morris, J. R., D. L. Cawthon, and J. W. Fleming. 1975. Effect of mechanical pruning on yield and quality of ‘Concord’ grapes. Ark. Farm Res. 24(3):12.  
         [0363]    27. Morris, J. R., D. L. Cawthon, and C. A. Sims. 1984. Long-term effects of pruning severity, nodes per bearing unit, training system and shoot positioning on yield and quality of ‘Concord’ grapes. J. Amer. Soc. of Hort. Sci. 109(5):676-683.  
         [0364]    28. Nikiforova, L. T., N. L. SemelyanskiI., F. T. Pavoloil, and I. I., Gridasov. 1990. Mechanized pruning and the productivity of high-stem grapevines. Sadovodstvo i Vinogradarstvo. 2:37-39.  
         [0365]    29. Pavlov, A. 1987. Mechanizedpruning of maturewood in grapevines. Rasteniev “dniNauki. 4(12):103-06.  
         [0366]    30. Peikov, V., D. Karapetkov, and A. Georgiev. 1987. Mechanized pruning of the green parts of the grapevines. Selskostopanska Tehnika. 24(2):21-29.  
         [0367]    31. Petrucci, V. E., C. D. Clary, and M. O&#39;Brien. 1983. Grape harvesting systems, p. 525-574. In: M. O&#39;Brien, B. F. Cargill, and R. B. Fridley (eds.). Principles and practices for harvesting and handling fruits and nuts. AVI Pub., Westport, Conn.  
         [0368]    32. Pollock, J. G., E. S. Shepardson, N. J. Shaulis, and D. E. Crowe. 1977. Mechanical pruning of American hybrid grapevines. Trans. Amer. Soc. Agr. Eng. 20:817-821.  
         [0369]    33. Poni, S. and P. Argnani. 19881. Mechanical pruners for vineyards. Vignevini. 15(10): 33-40.  
         [0370]    34. Pool, R. M. 1987. Thin grapes mechanically. Amer. Fruitgrower. 107(10):17-19.  
         [0371]    35. Pool, R. M., D. Crowe, and R. Dunst. 1988. The use of combined mechanical and minimal pruning and mechanical thinning in New York production systems. Presented at 2 nd Int. Seminar on Mechanical Pruning of Vineyards. Treviso, Italy. February 1988.  
         [0372]    36. Pool, R. M., R. E. Dunst, D. C. Crowe, H. Hubbard, G. E. Howard, and G. DeGolier. 1993. Predicting and controlling crop on machine or minimal pruned grapevines. Proceedings of the 2 nd N. J. Shaulis Grape Symposium. Fredonia State University. Fredonia, N.Y. Jul. 13-14, 1993.  
         [0373]    37. Sevila, F. 1985. Vine growing: From mechanizationto automation. Bulletin d-Information du CEMAGREF. 329:67-77.  
         [0374]    38. Shaulis, N. J., H. Amberg, and D. Crowe. 1966. Response of ‘Concord’ grapes to light, exposure and Geneva Double Curtain training. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 89:268-280.  
         [0375]    39. Shaulis, N. J., J. Pollock, D. Crowe, and E. S. Shephardson. 1973. Mechanical pruning of grapevines; progress 1968-1972. Proc. New York State Hort Sci. 118:61-69.  
         [0376]    40. Smart, R. E. 1991. Shoot positioning—the way of the future. Aust. Grapegrower and Winemaker. 331:30-32.  
         [0377]    41. Spezia, G. 1989. Automatic secatuers for winter pruning in vineyard. Vignevini. 16:27-29.  
         [0378]    42. Tasssie, L. 1989. Canopy management and development in NZ-Part II Developments in NZ. Aust. Grapegrower and Winemaker. 309:13-16.  
         [0379]    43. Vannucci, D. 1983. Viticulture: Mechanization in 1983. Vignevini. 10:7, 8, 15-23.  
         [0380]    44. Vormandt, G. 1989. Pruning is no game. Viti. 128:54-62.  
         [0381]    45. Winkler, A. J., J. A. Cook, W. M. Kliewer, and L. A. Lider. 1974. General Viticulture. Univ. Calif. Press. Berkeley, 710 pp.  
         [0382]    The following are examples of the Morris-Oldridge vineyard mechanization systems or processes in accordance with the present invention.  
       EXAMPLE I  
       [0383]    Mechanization activities of  Vitis labruscana  grapes (and other grapes with drooping growth habits) trained on single curtain trellis systems:  
         [0384]    Step 1. Dormant Pruning  
         [0385]    Mechanical prune during the dormant season using the mechanical pruner shown in FIGS.  44 - 47 .  
         [0386]    Step 2. Shoot Adjustment  
         [0387]    Use modified mechanical pruner (remove brushes) shown in FIGS.  42 - 47  for touch up pruning and shoot thinner shown in FIGS.  53 - 55 , if needed, to thin shoots when they are 2 to 3″ (5-7.5 cm).  
         [0388]    Step 3. Shoot Positioning and Fruit Adjustment  
         [0389]    At 10 % bloom, use mechanical shoot positioner shown in FIG. 41. In accordance with the research conducted by Dr. Robert Pool of Cornell University, approximately 25-30 days post bloom, excess fruit may be removed with the thinning unit shown in FIGS.  53 - 55  (amount and timing is dependent on cultivar, fruit set, crop load, vine size and vigor). To determine the amount of fruit load to retain, it is critical to maintain adequate soil moisture, to optimize fertilization, to control pests and to optimize other critical production factors. Also, in regions with short growing seasons, the number of days after harvest and before frost become a consideration for determining fruit load.  
         [0390]    Step 4. Harvesting  
         [0391]    Use an approved commercial harvester such as a harvester equipped with Quad-rods or bow-rods to remove difficult-to-harvest fruit. This harvesting approach allows for excellent fruit removal and does minimal damage to foliage. A harvester should allow for vines to maintain maximum foliage that is capable of carrying out needed photosynthesis and storage of carbohydrates in the vines until frost and/or leaf drop.  
       EXAMPLE II  
       [0392]    Mechanization activities of  Vitis labruscana grapes (and other grapes with drooping growth habits) trained on GDC trellis and GDC-like canopy systems.  
         [0393]    Step 1. Dormant Pruning  
         [0394]    Use mechanical pruner in FIG. 43. Two of these units can be mounted under an over-the-row tractor (harvester)(FIG. 43A).  
         [0395]    Step 2. Shoot Positioning  
         [0396]    At 10 % bloom, use mechanical shoot positioner in FIG. 42 to position shoots. Two of these units can be mounted under an over-the-row harvester, FIG. 42A.  
         [0397]    Step 3. Fruit Adjustment  
         [0398]    After berry set, remove excess fruit using units in FIGS. 71 and 72 (with modifications for half rows). In accordance with the research conducted by Dr. Robert Pool of Cornell University, approximately 25-30 days post bloom, excess fruit may be removed using modifications to thinning unit shown in FIGS.  53 - 55  (amount and timing is dependent on cultivar, fruit set, crop load, vine size and vigor). To determine the amount of fruit load to retain, it is critical to maintain adequate soil moisture, to optimize fertilization, to control pests and to optimize other critical production factors. Also, in regions with short growing seasons, the number of days after harvest and before frost become a consideration for determining fruit load.  
         [0399]    Step 4. Breaking Centers  
         [0400]    Break GDC centers as needed to allow air flow and sunlight into canopy centers using units in FIGS.  48 - 51 .  
         [0401]    Step 5. Harvesting  
         [0402]    Use an approved commercial harvester such as a harvester equipped with Quad-rods or bow-rods to remove difficult-to-harvest fruit. This harvesting approach allows for excellent fruit removal and does minimal damage to foliage. A harvester should allow for vines to maintain maximum foliage that is capable of carrying out needed photosynthesis and storage of carbohydrates in the vines until frost and/or leaf drop.  
       EXAMPLE III  
       [0403]    Mechanization of minimal pruned  Vitis labruscana  grapes (and other grapes with drooping growth habits) trained on single curtain trellis systems:  
         [0404]    Step 1. Shoot Thinning-1  
         [0405]    Eliminate all new shoots, 2 to 3″ (5-7.5 cm), on canes and the cordons that are located on the top of the canopy. This can be accomplished with modification of the unit shown in FIG. 50.  
         [0406]    Step 2. Shoot Thinning-2  
         [0407]    Use shoot thinners (if needed) to eliminate some of the excessive buds when shoots are 2-3″ (5-7.5 cm) with units shown in FIGS.  53 - 55 .  
         [0408]    Step 3. Fruit Thinning  
         [0409]    In accordance with the research conducted by Dr. Robert Pool of Cornell University, approximately 25-30 days post bloom, excess fruit may be removed using thinning unit shown in FIGS.  53 - 55 , (amount and timing is dependent on cultivar, fruit set, crop load, vine size and vigor). To determine the amount of fruit load to retain, it is critical to maintain adequate soil moisture, to optimize fertilization, to control pests and to optimize other critical production factors. Also, in regions with short growing seasons, the number of days after harvest and before frost become a consideration in determining fruit load.  
         [0410]    Step 4. Canopy Removal  
         [0411]    In vigorous, older vineyards, remove the center top 12″ (30 cm) more or less, of the canopy foliage to allow for movement of air and light into the center portion of the canopy.  
         [0412]    Step 5. Minimal Pruning  
         [0413]    Before harvest, trim all shoots to approximately 15″ (38 cm) above the vineyard floor using units shown in FIGS. 71 and 72.  
         [0414]    Step 6. Harvesting  
         [0415]    Use an approved commercial harvester such as a harvester equipped with Quad-rods or bow-rods to remove difficult-to-harvest fruit. This harvesting approach allows for excellent fruit removal and does minimal damage to foliage. A harvester should allow for vines to maintain maximum foliage that is capable of carrying out needed photosynthesis and storage of carbohydrates in the vines until frost and/or leaf drop.  
       EXAMPLE IV  
       [0416]    Mechanization activities of minimal pruned  Vitis labruscana grapes (and other grapes with drooping growth habits) trained on GDC trellis systems  
         [0417]    Step 1. Shoot Thinning  
         [0418]    Use shoot thinners (if needed) to eliminate some of the excessive buds when shoots are 2-3″ (5-7.5 cm) with units shown in FIG. 18, and with modifications to units shown in FIGS.  53 - 55 .  
         [0419]    Step 2. Fruit Adjustment  
         [0420]    In accordance with the research conducted by Dr. Robert Pool of Cornell University, approximately 25-30 days post bloom, excess fruit may be removed using modifications for half rows on the thinning unit shown in FIGS.  53 - 55  (amount and timing is dependent on cultivar, fruit set, crop load, vine size and vigor). To determine the amount of fruit load to retain, it is critical to maintain adequate soil moisture, to optimize fertilization, to control pests and to optimize other critical production factors. Also, in regions with short growing seasons, the number of days after harvest and before frost becomes a consideration for determining fruit load.  
         [0421]    Step 3. Minimal Pruning  
         [0422]    At shatter, open centers with units in FIGS. 50 and 51. Before harvest, keep centers clean as needed with above units and including units shown in FIGS. 48 and 49 and trim all shoots to approximately 15″ (38 cm) above the vineyard floor using units shown in FIGS. 71 and 72.  
         [0423]    Step 4. Harvesting  
         [0424]    Use an approved commercial harvester such as a harvester equipped with Quad-rods or bow-rods to remove difficult-to-harvest fruit. This harvesting approach allows for excellent fruit removal and does minimal damage to foliage. A harvester should allow for vines to maintain maximum foliage that is capable of carrying out needed photosynthesis and storage of carbohydrates in the vines until frost and/or leaf drop.  
       EXAMPLE V  
       [0425]    Mechanization of  Vitis vinifera and French-American Hybrid grapes produced on high wire bilateral cordon (single cordon)  
         [0426]    Step 1. Dormant Pruning  
         [0427]    Mechanical prune during the dormant season using the mechanical pruner shown in FIGS.  64 - 66  with modifications and the unit in FIGS. 56 and 57, using a cutter bar above the cordon.  
         [0428]    Step 2. Shoot Thinning  
         [0429]    Use shoot thinners shown in FIGS.  2 - 7 ,  10 - 14 , and  32  to thin shoots if needed when shoots are 4″ to 5″ (10-13 cm).  
         [0430]    Step 3. Fruit Adjustment  
         [0431]    Approximately 25-30 days post bloom, excess fruit may be removed with machines shown in FIGS.  2 - 7 ,  10 - 14 ,  32 , and  53 - 55  (amount and timing is dependent on cultivar, fruit set, crop load, vine size and vigor). To determine the amount of fruit load to retain, it is critical to maintain adequate soil moisture, to optimize fertilization, to control pests and to optimize other critical production factors. Also, in regions with short growing seasons, the number of days after harvest and before frost become a consideration for determining fruit load.  
         [0432]    Step 4. Leaf Removal  
         [0433]    Approximately 25-30 days post bloom, use machines shown in FIGS. 39 and 40 to remove excessive leaves in fruiting zone to expose 50 to 80 % of fruit to sunlight. This will improve fruit quality and aid in disease control through increasing light and air flow in the fruiting zone.  
         [0434]    Step 5. Harvesting  
         [0435]    Use an approved commercial harvester such as a harvester equipped with Quad-rods or bow-rods to remove difficult-to-harvest fruit. This harvesting approach allows for excellent fruit removal and does minimal damage to foliage. A harvester should allow for vines to maintain maximum foliage that is capable of carrying out needed photosynthesis and storage of carbohydrates in the vines until frost and/or leaf drop.  
       EXAMPLE VI  
       [0436]    Mechanization of  Vitis vinifera and French-American Hybrid Grapes Produced on GDC and Other Divided Canopy Trellises  
         [0437]    Step 1. Dormant Pruning  
         [0438]    Mechanical prune during the dormant season using the mechanical pruner shown in FIGS. 56 and 57.  
         [0439]    Step 2. Touch-Up Pruning and Shoot Thinning  
         [0440]    Use mechanical pruner shown in FIG. 57 with modifications including the removal of the inside cutter bar and in FIG. 60 to touch-up prune the vines. To thin shoots, if needed, use shoot thinner in FIGS. 17, 18,  19 ,  25 ,  26 , and  27  when shoots are 4″ to 5″ (10-13 cm).  
         [0441]    Step 3. Fruit Adjustment  
         [0442]    Approximately 25-30 days post bloom, excess fruit may be removed with units in FIGS.  53 - 55  using one half row unit modified for thinning GDC (etc.) (amount and timing is dependent on cultivar, fruit set, crop load, vine size and vigor). To determine the amount of fruit load to retain, it is critical to maintain adequate soil moisture, to optimize fertilization, to control pests and to optimize other critical production factors. Also, in regions with short growing seasons, the number of days after harvest and before frost become a consideration for determining fruit load.  
         [0443]    Step 4. Leaf Removal  
         [0444]    Approximately 25-30 days post bloom, use machine shown in FIG. 34 to remove excessive basal leaves in fruiting zone on the outside of the canopy to expose 50 to 80 % of fruit to sunlight. This will improve fruit quality and aid in disease control through increasing light and air flow in the fruiting zone.  
         [0445]    Step 5. Break Centers  
         [0446]    Open centers with the units shown in FIGS.  48 - 51 .  
         [0447]    Step 6. Harvesting  
         [0448]    Use an approved commercial harvester such as a harvester equipped with Quad-rods or bow-rods to remove difficult-to-harvest fruit. This harvesting approach allows for excellent fruit removal and does minimal damage to foliage. A harvester should allow for vines to maintain maximum foliage that is capable of carrying out needed photosynthesis and storage of carbohydrates in the vines until frost and/or leaf drop.  
       EXAMPLE VII  
       [0449]    Mechanization of Minimal Pruned  Vitis vinifera  and French-American Hybrid Grapes Trained to a High Wire Single Cordon Trellising System  
         [0450]    Step 1. Shoot Thinning.  
         [0451]    Use shoot thinners shown in FIGS.  10 - 14 ,  30 ,  32 , and  53 - 55  to thin shoots when they are 4-5″ (10-13 cm).  
         [0452]    Step 2. Fruit Adjustment  
         [0453]    Approximately 25-30 days post bloom, excess fruit may be removed with machines shown in FIGS.  53 - 55  (amount and liming is dependent on cultivar, fruit set, crop load, vine size and vigor). To determine the amount of fruit load to retain, it is critical to maintain adequate soil moisture, to optimize fertilization, to control pests and to optimize other critical production factors. Also, in regions with short growing seasons, the number of days after harvest and before frost becomes a consideration for determining fruit load.  
         [0454]    Step 3. Canopy Removal  
         [0455]    In vigorous, mature vineyards in cool and/or humid regions, remove the center top 12″ (30 cm) more or less with modified unit shown in FIG. 50.  
         [0456]    Step 4. Minimal Pruning  
         [0457]    Before harvest, trim all shoots to approximately 15″ (38 cm) above the vineyard floor using units shown in FIGS. 71 and 72.  
         [0458]    Step 5. Harvesting  
         [0459]    Use an approved commercial harvester such as a harvester equipped with Quad-rods or bow-rods to remove difficult-to-harvest fruit. This harvesting approach allows for excellent fruit removal and does minimal damage to foliage. A harvester should allow for vines to maintain maximum foliage that is capable of carrying out needed photosynthesis and storage of carbohydrates in the vines until frost and/or leaf drop.  
       EXAMPLE VIII  
       [0460]    Mechanization Activities of Minimal Pruned  Vitis vinifera and French-American Hybrid Grapes Trained on GDC Trellis Systems  
         [0461]    Step 1. Shoot Thinning.  
         [0462]    Use shoot thinners (if needed) to eliminate some of the excessive buds on the inside of each double curtain cordon when shoots are 2-3″ (5-7.5 cm) with units shown in FIG. 18, and with modifications to units shown in FIGS. 22 and 53- 55  for half row.  
         [0463]    Step 2. Fruit Adjustment  
         [0464]    Approximately 25-30 days post bloom, excess fruit may be removed using modifications of half row unit shown in FIGS.  53 - 55  (amount and timing is dependent on cultivar, fruit set, crop load, vine size and vigor). To determine the amount of fruit load to retain, it is critical to maintain adequate soil moisture, to optimize fertilization, to control pests and to optimize other critical production factors. Also, in regions with short growing seasons, the number of days after harvest and before frost becomes a consideration in determining fruit load.  
         [0465]    Step 3. Minimal Pruning  
         [0466]    At shatter, open centers with units in FIGS. 50 and 51. Before harvest, keep centers clean as needed with above units and trim all shoots to approximately 15″ (38 cm) above the vineyard floor using units shown in FIGS. 71 and 72.  
         [0467]    Step 4. Harvesting  
         [0468]    Use an approved commercial harvester such as a harvester equipped with Quad-rods or bow-rods to remove difficult-to-harvest fruit. This harvesting approach allows for excellent fruit removal and does minimal damage to foliage. A harvester should allow for vines to maintain maximum foliage that is capable of carrying out needed photosynthesis and storage of carbohydrates in the vines until frost and/or leaf drop.  
       EXAMPLE IX  
       [0469]    Mechanization of  Vitis vinifera and French-American Hybrid Grapes Produced on Standard California T-Trellis  
         [0470]    Step 1. Dormant Pruning  
         [0471]    Mechanical prune during the dormant season using the mechanical pruner shown in FIGS.  61 - 63  and modified  71 ,  72  and  73 .  
         [0472]    Step 2. Shoot Thinning  
         [0473]    If needed, use shoot thinner shown in FIGS. 9, 24,  28  and  31  to thin shoots when they are 4″ to 5″ (10-13 cm).  
         [0474]    Step 3. Fruit Adjustment  
         [0475]    Approximately 25-30 days post bloom, excess fruit may be removed with modifications to machines shown in FIGS. 53, 54 and  55  (amount and timing is dependent on cultivar, fruit set, crop load, vine size and vigor). To determine the amount of fruit load to retain, it is critical to maintain adequate soil moisture, to optimize fertilization, to control pests and to optimize other critical production factors. Also, in regions with short growing seasons, the number of days after harvest and before frost become a consideration for determining fruit load.  
         [0476]    Step 4. Leaf Removal  
         [0477]    Early leaf removal should expose 50-80 % of fruit to sunlight and acclimate grape skins to sunlight exposure. Use machines shown in FIGS. 39 and 40 with modifications.  
         [0478]    Step 5. Harvesting  
         [0479]    Use an approved commercial harvester such as a harvester equipped with Quad-rods or bow-rods to remove difficult-to-harvest fruit. This harvesting approach allows for excellent fruit removal and does minimal damage to foliage. A harvester should allow for vines to maintain maximum foliage that is capable of carrying out needed photosynthesis and storage of carbohydrates in the vines until frost and/or leaf drop.  
       EXAMPLE X  
       [0480]    Mechanization of  Vitis vinifera and French-American Hybrid Grapes Produced on Vertical Moveable Catch Wires  
         [0481]    Step 1. Dormant Pruning  
         [0482]    Mechanical prune during the dormant season using the mechanical pruner shown in FIGS.  61 - 63 .  
         [0483]    Step 2. Shoot Thinning  
         [0484]    Use shoot thinner shown in FIGS. 8 and 30 to thin shoots, if needed, when shoots are 4″ to 5″ (10-13 cm.)  
         [0485]    Step 3. Fruit Adjustment  
         [0486]    Approximately 25-30 days post bloom, excess fruit may be removed with machines shown in FIGS. 30 and 53- 55  with modification (amount and timing is dependent on cultivar, fruit set, crop load, vine size and vigor). To determine the amount of fruit load to retain, it is critical to maintain adequate soil moisture, to optimize fertilization, to control pests and to optimize other critical production factors. Also, in regions with short growing seasons, the number of days after harvest and before frost become a consideration for determining fruit load.  
         [0487]    Step 4. Leaf Removal  
         [0488]    Approximately 25-30 days post bloom, use machines shown in FIGS.  34 - 38  to remove excessive basal leaves in fruiting zone to expose 50 to 80 % of fruit to sunlight. This will improve fruit quality and aid in disease control through increasing light and air flow in the fruiting zone.  
         [0489]    Step 5. Summer Pruning  
         [0490]    Pruning in the summer time can be accomplished with the unit in FIGS. 56 and 57.  
         [0491]    Step 6. Harvesting  
         [0492]    Use an approved commercial harvester such as a harvester equipped with Quad-rods or bow-rods to remove difficult-to-harvest fruit. This harvesting approach allows for excellent fruit removal and does minimal dam age to foliage. A harvester should allow for vines to maintain maximum foliage that is capable of carrying out needed photosynthesis and storage of carbohydrates in the vines until frost and/or leaf drop.  
       EXAMPLE XI  
       [0493]    Mechanization of  Vitis vinifera and French-American Hybrid Grapes Produced on Lyre or “U” and Other Divided Canopy Trellises  
         [0494]    Step 1. Dormant Pruning  
         [0495]    Mechanical prune during the dormant season using modifications of the mechanical pruner shown in FIGS.  56 - 63 .  
         [0496]    Step 2. Fruit adjustment and shoot thinning  
         [0497]    When shoots are 4″ to 5″ (10-13 cm), they may be removed with machines shown in FIGS. 15, 16,  20 - 23 ,  29 , and  33 . Approximately 25-30 days post bloom, excess fruit may be removed with machines shown in FIGS. 29, 30,  33 ,  53 ,  54 , and  55 , modified for one half of curtain (amount and timing is dependent on cultivar, fruit set, crop load, vine size and vigor). To determine the amount of fruit load to retain, it is critical to maintain adequate soil moisture, to optimize fertilization, to control pests and to optimize other critical production factors. Also, in regions with short growing seasons, the number of days after harvest and before frost become a consideration for determining fruit load.  
         [0498]    Step 3. Leaf Removal  
         [0499]    Approximately 25-30 days post bloom, use machines shown in FIGS.  35 - 38  to remove excessive leaves in fruiting zone to expose 50 to 80 % of fruit to sunlight. This will improve fruit quality and aid in disease control through increasing light and air flow in the fruiting zone. Leaf removal is only recommended for reducing rot problems in susceptible cultivars and under high vigor conditions.  
         [0500]    Step 4. Summer Pruning  
         [0501]    Use machine in FIGS.  56 - 60  to cut sides and tops for summer pruning. These vines must have their centers broken open. Using modifications with long slappers on the machine unit shown in FIG. 52.  
         [0502]    Step 5. Harvesting  
         [0503]    Use the harvester shown in FIG. 83 that has been adapted to harvest a modified Lyre or “U” trellis system. The standard Lyre or “U” trellis system can be modified with the movable cordon wire assembly shown in FIGS. 84A, 84B, and  84 D then harvested with the single or half-row harvester shown in FIG. 84 or the over-the-row harvester shown in FIG. 85.  
       EXAMPLE XII  
       [0504]    Mechanization of  Vitis vinifera and French-American Hybrid Grapes Produced on Smart-Dyson Ballerina (and similar) Trellising System  
         [0505]    Step 1. Dormant Pruning  
         [0506]    Mechanical prune during the dormant season using the mechanical pruner shown in FIGS.  61 - 63  (with modifications) on the upper part of the ballerina and the units in FIGS.  64 - 66  and that of FIG. 70 (with modifications) on the lower part of the ballerina.  
         [0507]    Step 2. Shoot Thinning  
         [0508]    When shoots are 4-5″ (10-13 cm) use shoot thinners shown in FIGS. 8 and 30, and those in FIGS.  53 - 55 , with modifications, on the upper part of the ballerina. Use shoot thinners shown in FIGS.  53 - 55  (modified) on the lower part of the ballerina if needed.  
         [0509]    Step 3. Fruit Adjustment  
         [0510]    Approximately 25-30 days post bloom, excess fruit may be removed from the upper part of the ballerina with machines shown in FIGS.  53 - 55  (amount and timing is dependent on cultivar, fruit set, crop load, vine size and vigor). Excess fruit on the lower part of the ballerina may be removed with units shown in FIGS.  53 - 55 . The top and bottom obviously need different settings or adjustments to accomplish fruit thinning. To determine the amount of fruit load to retain, it is critical to maintain adequate soil moisture, to optimize fertilization, to control pests and to optimize other critical production factors. Also, in regions with short growing seasons, the number of days after harvest and before frost become a consideration for determining fruit load.  
         [0511]    Step 4. Leaf Removal  
         [0512]    Approximately 25-30 days post bloom, use machines shown in FIGS.  34 - 38  (with modifications) on the upper part of the ballerina trellis and use units shown in FIGS. 39 and 40 on the lower portion of the trellis to remove basal leaves. This may be needed to improve light and air flow in the fruiting zone.  
         [0513]    Step 5. Summer Pruning  
         [0514]    Summer prune upper part of ballerina with unit in FIGS. 56 and 57. Trim all shoots on lower part of ballerina to approximately 15″ (38 cm) above the vineyard floor before harvest with units shown on FIGS. 71 and 72.  
         [0515]    Step 6. Harvesting  
         [0516]    Use an approved commercial harvester such as a harvester equipped with Quad-rods or bow-rods to remove difficult-to-harvest fruit. This harvesting approach allows for excellent fruit removal and does minimal damage to foliage. A harvester should allow for vines to maintain maximum foliage that is capable of carrying out needed photosynthesis and storage of carbohydrates in the vines until frost and/or leaf drop.  
         [0517]    Thus, it will be appreciated that as a result of the present invention, a highly effective, improved vineyard apparatus, system, and/or method for vineyard mechanization is provided by which the principal objective, among others, is completely fulfilled. It is contemplated, and will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the preceding description and accompanying drawings, that modifications and/or changes may be made in the illustrated embodiments without departure from the present invention. Accordingly it is expressly intended that the foregoing description and accompanying drawings are illustrative of preferred embodiments only, not limiting, and that the true spirit and scope of the present invention be determined by reference to the appended claims.