Milford chronicle., 1915-12-31
GRAPE CULTURE

Fall or winter pruning Of grape
vines in the home garden, as well as
on the commercial plantation, may be
done at any time during mild weather
while the vines are in a dormant con-
lition. In general, the period from
November to March gives the most
satisfactory results, but the WORK
should in all cases be done at least a
week or ten days before the vines are
likely to start into growth.
In the colder sections of the country
wherever varieties not hardy enough
| to withstand severe winters are grown
the vines must be artifcially protected.
Under such circumstances the vines
should be pruned as soon as they be-
come dormant. The system OF prun-
ing should be such as to easily admit
of laying down the stalks and canes
for next seasons fruit production.
The next step is to cover these parts
with litter, leaves, or earth in such a
way as to protect them from severe or
repeated freezing and thawing and to
leave them so covered until just be-
fore the season for growth the follow
ing spring.
There are several species of grapes,
each adapted to particular sections of
the country, and each responds best
to a particular method of culture,
pruning, and training.
The vine normally produces its
fruit on shoots of the current seasons
growth, which in turn grow from buds
developed the previous season. All
pruningmust, therefore, be based on
this characteristics of the plant. After
determining the system of pruning
best tsuited to the conditions, species,
and variety the vine should be so han
died, during its early life as to develop
a general framework of the type de-
sired.
The pruning the first winter after
the planting of the vines is determin-
ed by the character of the growth
made by the plants. If the growth has
been short and weak all the wood ex-
cept the strongest shoots should be
removed and this should be cut back
to two or three buds. If a strong
growth has been made and there isone
straight, well-ripened shoot, all other
growth should be removed and this
cane cut back to the height at which
it is intended to head the vine This
will concentrate all the force and
growth of the plant into the cane that
is to become the trunk of the vine.
From this only such shoots should be
allowed to grow as are needed for the
following. its first, fruiting season.
After this frame work has been estab-
lished, the fruitbearing part of the
plant should be so pruned that it will
be renewed from year to year and so
adjusted to the variety and the food
supply as to never to allow the plant
to Over-bear, but at the same time to
induce it to bear to full capacity
Under such treatment the body of the
plant will gradually become stronger
and its fruiting capacity will increase
The manner Of renewing the bearing
wood of a vine depends in a large
on the species to which the
Varietybelongs and the kind Of trellis
used fro training it.
Not only do different countries have
lifferent methods of pruning and train
ng, but methods often vary in the
several districts of the same country.
Those interested in the methods of
and training used in this
country will find them illustrated and
described in Farmers Bulletin No.
III, entitled Grape Propagation,
Pruning and Training" which can be
lad free on application to the depart
nent,