Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-31
RonFFf nrcHANAN's NonE.


At yOur rsauest, I viii give you a brief
account Of "Summer Pruning" in our vine
yards, as practised by myself and others
You are aware that vineyard culture ofthe
grape, for Wine-making, Is system Of dwarf
ing the vine; the object being to obtain, in
the most simple form, and at tho least cost,
wine grape, rich in saceharine matter. We
therefore plant close, generally three by six,
or four by seven or eightfeet apart, and train
on low trellises, or to a single stake-.he lat
ter preferred.
In Spring pruning, We leave o eene or
branch Of the last years growth, Of ten to
fourteen joints, to be bent round ID the form
Of bow, and fastened to the stake with
willow te. This is to bear the crop, and will
usually set from twenty 70 thirty bunches,
which the rot or other casualties may reduce
to hfteen or twenty, and that will be enough.
A spur u two joints is also left to bear new
wood for the next years crop, aud also few
bunchesOf grapes. It viii thus be seen, that
the whole strength Of the vine being thrown
into few bunohes, the fruit must, Of neees-
sity, be rich in sugar, the great essential in
making a good wine, that will keep and i'm
prove BY age.
By long pruning, I can produce doubIe the
quantity Of grapes on the same vine, but
/ they will not be wine grapes, nor win the
vine be as lasting. Wide planting viii ad-
NIT Of longer pruning, and heavier crop to
each vine because the vine--which is a sell
fish plant-Will have more nourishment, and
! light and air.
a The first process in summer pruning, is to
/ rub of the suckers that spring out from the
stalk, near the ground. It is well, however,
to leave one to grow, if the stalk or stem is
getting too high, that in two or three years
/ the'rld wood may bo cut down to this. The
head Of the stalks should be kept down to
within one or two feet Of the ground, OF the
bearing wood will get too high. The next is
to pinch in the ends Of the bearing branches,
two or three joints beyond tho last bunch Of
grapes, soon after the bloom is over and the
berries we'll formed, Leave two Of the
strongest branches untouehed, to make bear
ing wood for next year.
As the vines now grow rapidly, the branch
Is Of the young wood should be tied up to th'
stake or trcllis with rye straw, or other ties
or they will be broken oE by the wind. Take
three rye straWs, cut Of the heads, bind the
young shoot to the stake, and fastea BY
twisting the ends under, as in binding
shenf Of wheat. tits very simple.
The lateral shoots, that spring from thu
ends Of the leaf, will have to be cut of from
the bearing canes intended for next year. a
high as the top Of the stake then let then
alone. The laterals from the fruit-bearinJ
brsnshes viii, in many instances, have to b
removed, to give light and air to the fruit
At the same time, the fruit must have shad
enough to protect it from the seorching sun
II the rot appears, stop eultiTahng AM
pruning until It ceases merely lie up th
, vines.
Never break OF the ends Of the bearinl
wood for next year it might cause the pre-
mature starting Of the fruit bads. Never re
move the leaves from the bearing branches
they are the lungs Of the plant, and neeessa
y 70 mature the fruit Our eultivators here
% net new GsYVr close sumner pruning