The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-01-03
PERIOD IN WHICH TO
PRUNE GRAPE VINES
Are in Dormant Condition from No
vember to March-Interesting
Facts About Grape Culture.

Fab 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 Il dormant CON
dltion. In general, the period from
November to March gives the most sat
lsfactory results, but the work should
in all cases be done at least 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 become dormant The system of
pruning should be such as to easily ad
NIT of laying down the stalk and
canes for next season s fruit produe-
tlen. The next step is to cover these
parts with litter, leaves, or earth in
such way as to protect them from
severe or repeated freezing and thaw-
ing and to leave them so covered un-
til just before the season for growth
the following spring.
There are several species of grapes,
each adapted to particular sections of
SA'S eSdlAtAEs F0SA 1CSpOIdS UNSs
to a particular method of culture,
pruning, and training.
The vine normally produces its fruit
on shoots of the current season s
growth, which in turn grow from buds
developed the previous season. All
pruning must, therefore, be based on
this characteristic of the plant. After
determining the system of pruning
best suited to the conditions, species,
and variety the vine should be so
handled, during its early life, as to de-
velop a general framework of the
type desired.
The pruning the first winter after
| the planting of the vines is determined
by the character of the growth made
by the plants. If the growth has been
short and weak all the wood except the
strongest shoot should be removed and
this should be cut back TO two or
/ three buds. If a strong growth has
4 been made and there is one straight,
well-ripened shoot all other growth
should be removed and this cane cut
/ back TO the height at which it is in
/ tended to head the vine. This will CON
centrate all the force and growth of
! the plant into the cane which is to
become the trunk of the vine. From
this only such shoots should be allow
cd 70 grow as are needed for shaping
the vine for the following, its first,
fruiting season. After this framework
has been established, the fruitbearing
part Of the plant should be so pruned
that it viii be renewed from year ia
year and so adjusted to the variety
and the food supply as never to allow
the plant to overbear, but at the same
time to induce it to bear its full capac-
ity. Under such treatment the body OF
the plant will gradually become stronger
and its fruiting capacity will increase
correspondence.
The manner of renewing the bearing
wood Of a vine depends in a large
measure on the species TO which the
variety belongs and the kind Of
trellis used for training it.
Not only do different countries have
different methods of pruning and train
ing, but methods often vary in the
several districts of the same country
Those interested in the methods OF
pruning and training used in this
country will find them illustrated and
described in Farmers Bulletin No
All, entitled ''Grape Propagation
Pruning, and Training which can b
had free on application to the de
partment.