Abstract:
A method for raising vine plants having a fruiting portion and a renewal portion, such as grapevines, for enhanced production and healthier crop. The method vertically separates the fruiting zone from the renewal zone by placing the fruiting canes in an upper zone apart from the renewal canes in the lower zone. The separation of zones improves air circulation and sunlight exposure, allows the two zones to have different cultivation techniques applied as necessary and permits the harvesting of the fruit without harming the renewal canes, making the method particularly applicable for fruit that can be dried-on-the-vine, such as raisins. A vertical canopy trellis apparatus for use with the method facilitates separation of the two zones and the switch from renewal canes to fruiting canes. A double tunnel harvesting apparatus allows the upper fruiting zone to be efficiently and effectively harvested while protecting the lower renewal zone from damage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for raising plants that facilitates increased and healthier production. The method and apparatus are uniquely situated for the commercial production of crops that have certain botanical characteristics of growth, such as vine plants. This method will allow for fully automated harvest, having had minimal manual labor expended on maintenance. 
     B. Description of the Prior Art 
     Botanical characteristics have long plagued the growing process. Many plants inhibit fully automated harvest and continue to be susceptible to attack. These adverse consequences have forced the development of remedies. The remedies associated with the prior art have been minimally successful in accomplishing the long-term goals that were desired. 
     To reduce the cost associated with harvesting grapes, raisins and other vine crops, growers have developed various new methods of growing the crops that reduce labor costs while providing an improved product. The conventional method of raising grapes or raisins is to grow the vines in separate parallel rows utilizing a trellis system that runs along the row producing rows of vines approximately four to six feet high. Typically, the raisin grapes are cut from the vine and placed on paper trays laying along the rows of vines. One improvement in growing raisins and other dried fruit is referred to as the dried-on-the-vine (“DOV”) methods. The DOV methods of growing raisins leave the grape clusters on the vines during the drying process, as opposed to laying them on the paper trays in the dried-on-the-ground method. To dry the fruit on the vine, labor crews go through the vineyard and cut the canes having fruit so that the grapes on those canes will dry to produce raisins. 
     The successful production of grapes and dried-on-the-vine raisins relies upon the patterns of growth of the plants and their training for improved functionality. In its natural state, the grapevine has a random and haphazard growth pattern. The trunk produces cordons, which then produces canes that extend, producing the fruit and foliage of the vine. The foliage surrounds the fruit and the density of the two elements decreases the air circulation necessary to ward off certain problems. The density of the vine also prevents the sun from penetrating to the fruit and allowing for its further development. Although direct sunlight can be harmful, causing burns on the fruit, it is important to the process of dried-on-the-vine raisins for sunlight to reach the fruit. 
     Training the flexible portions of the grapevines in the horizontal method does allow for the density of the plant to be spread over a greater area. This type of separation, typically the north-south division practiced today, does make the fruit more accessible to the sunlight, however the growth of the plant on the trellis system continues to shade the fruit, not allowing sufficient light to it for proper maturation. 
     It is the density of the grapevine that continues to plague the plant with disease, fungi, and molds. These problems flourish in dark, damp environments. The growth pattern of the grapevine creates an immense trapping device and a protection from the sun for these and other problems. These damaging factors can be devastating to crops. Allowing the sunlight to the fruit reduces the moisture that remains on and around the fruit as well as assisting in the process of drying the fruit. In areas that typically receive a late season rain, the current trellising systems do not allow for the invaluable drying effects of the sun to be used efficiently. 
     Vineyards can be sprayed for increased resistance to molds and parasites, however there is an advantage in marketing fruit that has not been subjected to constant spraying of pesticides. Fruit grown without pesticides have a better value. Increased air circulation is one method to improve the effectiveness of spraying done to a vineyard, allowing less spraying to be done. Decreasing the density of the plants allows for the pesticide to be more effective with fewer applications because it moves freely in the plants to cover a greater area. Unfortunately, the typical trellis system creates a dense canopy raised above the fruit, which hangs below, to simplify harvesting. The low air circulation of this method retains trapped moisture that creates the molds, fungi, and parasites which are problematic and must be addressed by spraying. As a result, it is known that increasing air circulation is advantageous to increased production, decreased loss of product and reduced spraying. 
     Methods of raising crops for the prevention of these problems has been faced a number of times. For instance, Sun Maid has developed a system called the South Side or Sun Maid System. The rotation of sides, north to south, has allowed for the increased growth of canes and a maturity to be attained that allows for increased production of fruit and decreased the time in which the raisins are dried. This was all accomplished by increased circulation within the plant and greater exposure of the fruit to the drying sun. The above-referenced South Side System is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,561 to Conley and U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,883 to Walker. This system, which utilizes a modified conventional trellis structure, trains the canes into a divided canopy with the fruiting canes primarily on one side (the south side) of the rows and renewal canes on the opposite side. Another DOV system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,768 to Hiyama, et al. In the Hiyama system, a modified trellis system is utilized to horizontally segregate the canes that will produce fruit in one year from the canes which are to produce fruit in the following year. Control wires are used to move the renewal canes from the current year&#39;s growing row to the next year&#39;s growing row. A non-DOV system is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,585,756 to Johnson, which describes a method of growing grapevines where cordons are bent in a semi-circular portions and attached to an upper wire to grow fruit therefrom (i.e., spur pruning). The bending of the cordons is to facilitate shaking so as to dislodge the fruit. Replacement cordons can be grown on the lower wire to replace the fruiting canes as they become too stiff for effective shaking. 
     There are a number of other methods of growing grapes and raisins that take advantage of the DOV principles. Some of these methods utilize the conventional trellis system while others utilize less commonly employed trellis systems, such as an overhead trellis system. The overhead trellis systems allow the vines to be trained such that the canes grow over the trellis wires disposed between rows of upright posts that are placed along the rows of vines. The posts have one or more cross-arms that are connected to the trellis wires. One method of growing grapes and raisins on an overhead trellis system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,109 to Pitts. In the Pitts method, the vine plants are separated to form four cordons and trained such that two pairs of cordons grow along parallel courses but opposite each other. Canes produced by the cordons grow substantially perpendicular to the cordons toward the canes produced by an adjacent row of vines over an overhead trellis structure. This method utilizes an alternate bearing system wherein during each growing season one row is a fruiting row and the adjacent row is a renewal row. During the following season, the rows are reversed. This method of growing grapes and raisins is referred to as the quadrilateral, alternate bearing method and has been found to substantially increase production of grapes and raisins. In another method developed by Lee Simpson of Madera, Calif., the canes grow from the head of the vine and are placed across the wires such that the crop will grow in a generally vertical downward direction from the canes between the rows. This method also utilizes the alternate bearing system. 
     Prior trellis systems have allowed for the separation of producing and non-producing flexible portions of vine plants. The process has been to separate the producing and non-producing portions, on a trellising apparatus, with the trunk of the vine in the center and the separate portions extending on either side of the trellis over the alley. The separations are determined by which canes will be in production and which will produce on a rotational basis. This method allows for one side to be in use, allowing for the other to mature while providing increased air circulation. Examples of trellis systems for DOV raisins are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,883 to Walker, U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,514 to Hiyama, et al., and in an article entitled “Current Developments in Harvest Mechanization and DOV” by L. Peter Christensen in Raisin Production Manual published by the University of California in 2000. The Walker trellis is configured particularly for use with the South Side System described above. FIG. 5 of the patent shows a vertical separation of the fruiting and renewal canes that places the renewal canes in a U-shaped member above the arm having the fruiting canes. The Hiyama trellis is configured to be used with the Hiyama method described above. This trellis utilizes a pivot member to move a control wire so as to carry the canes to a position overlying the horizontal support member of the trellis structure. The “Current Developments” article describes an Open Cross trellis as a modified version of the Hiyama trellis. The Open Cross trellis that has the fruiting canes tied out to horizontal support members and the renewal shoots are directed upward between vertical pairs of wires or moved upward with moveable wires. 
     Farming is also plagued with the expense of manual labor. Although many conventional trellis systems have adapted grapevines and similar plant life for improved production, they fail to decrease the necessity for large amounts of manual labor. Making the fruit more readily accessible to the laborer decreases the amount of time that is expended in gathering the fruit at harvest, separating the flexible portions and pruning. 
     Several harvesting machines have been developed to harvest DOV raisins. Examples of these machines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,667 to Scott, U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,696 to Walker and U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,276 to Walker. Generally, these patents describe harvesting machines that are either pulled or driven between the rows of vines with a plurality of rods or paddles extending from the side of the harvester such that the rods or paddles engage the plants to dislodge the grapes or raisins from the vines. The dislodged grapes or raisins are collected on a conveyance system and transported up and over the vines into a truck or bin trailer pulled be a tractor in the adjacent row. U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,402 to Hiyama describes a harvester that allows the grapevines to pass through the frame of the harvester so as to harvest the raisins from the lower section having the fruiting canes. 
     Mechanical harvesters for harvesting grapes or raisins grown on an overhead trellis system are also known. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,166 to Scott is directed to a grape and raisin harvester in the form of a trailer that utilizes a series of spinning rods fashioned into a rotating rolling brush that knocks the grapes or raisins off the plants and into one or more boxes located on the trailer platform. The harvester is pulled along the row by a tractor. The rotating rolling brush, referred to as a shaker head, is raised or lowered by the use of hydraulic cylinders linked to the shaker head. U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,276 to Walker, primarily a device for harvesting DOV raisins grown on modified conventional trellises, suggests that the harvester head can be disposed such that the beater rods extend upward for use in overhead trellis systems. However, no reference is made to how the conveying system is modified to convey the raisins over the vines. 
     Each of the aforementioned patents or other prior art presents a method of growing DOV fruit, a trellis apparatus and/or an apparatus for harvesting DOV fruit. However, nothing in the prior art discloses a method of growing vine plants that places the fruiting portion of the vine above and separate from the portion of the vine that is used for a following year&#39;s crop. In addition, nothing in the prior art discloses a trellis structure or a mechanical harvester that is specially suited for harvesting fruit grown pursuant to such a method. Consequently, a need exists for a method of growing vine plants, with an associated trellis system and harvester, that is easily adapted to new or existing vineyards, provides for improved fruit quality and increased production, and reduces the costs of raising such plants. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The method of raising vine plants, vertical canopy trellis and double tunnel harvesting apparatus of the present invention solves the problems and provides the desired benefits identified above. That is to say, the present invention provides a method of raising vine plants that vertically separates the fruiting canes from the renewal canes by placing the fruiting canes in a separate zone above the renewal canes. In addition, the present invention provides a trellis system and dried fruit harvester specially configured for such method. 
     The conventional trellis systems, with the horizontal canopies, have not been able to increase the planting ability to the degree of the vertical canopy system of the present invention. Increased planting of grapevines is possible in vineyards using the vertical canopy trellis system because it moves the plant growth upward instead of outward. The increased planting, due to the vertical movement, also decreases the width necessary for each row. The decrease in width allows for increased planting and therefore increased production. The alternate method of cultivating, to that of standard practice today, will be achieved best by the over the row cultural practice incorporating the Greg Oire Tractor or equivalent. These types of cultural practices, where the tractor rides on top of the row, allows for denser row planting, thereby increasing production. Over the row tractoring along with the double tunnel mechanical harvesting system, herein described, is an invaluable part of the cultivating and harvesting process of dried-on-the-vine raisins. 
     Any spraying that the farmer does choose to do with the vertical trellis system of the present invention will be more effective because of its method of raising the flexible portions and extending them, while further separating the vulnerable fruit. In addition, the present invention will more clearly differentiate the separation by raising the producing flexible portions and pruning them at harvest to ensure those canes are not used the following season. This upward movement also improves the integrity of the trellis apparatus because it removes the strain placed on the stake in the typical horizontal arrangement. Thus, the balance of the vertical system is unmatched. 
     The double tunnel mechanical harvesting system is a mechanical raisin harvesting system which divides the canopy into two distinct portions, unlike its present counterparts in the wine grape industry, such as the Up Right harvester or equivalent, which employ a single tunnel that the grapevines travel through. The lower tunnel of the double tunnel mechanical harvesting system seals and protects the lower canopy, while the upper canopy is harvested. The picking rods in the upper tunnel mechanically harvests the dried-on-the-vine raisins. Since the upper tunnel is sealed from the lower canopy, virtually all the raisins from the upper canopy are harvested, minimizing crop loss, while eliminating grapes from the head of the vine to contaminate the raisin harvest. The double tunnel mechanical harvesting system will also fill the necessity of the smaller size tractor needed for increased row planting. 
     The advantages of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for raising grapevines and similar botanicals is that the present invention is more dependable, durable, efficient and economical than present systems due to the training of the flexible portions of the plant upward along the vertical trellis apparatus to provide for increased circulation within the dense plant and the vertical segregation of the upper and lower canopies into fruiting and renewal portions. The upper canopy raises the fruit and exposes it to the sun in a manner unlike that of prior art growing methods and apparatuses The growing method and trellis apparatus of the present invention results in the production of a healthier crop of superior quality dried fruit because of the increased air circulation and exposure to the sun. In addition, the renewal canes are protected during the cultivating and harvesting procedures due to the vertical separation of those canes from the upper canopy having the fruiting canes. 
     Another advantage of the methods and apparatuses of the present invention is the increased efficiency and effectiveness of manual labor and the automated adaptation to cultivating and harvesting techniques, including over the row tractor cultivation and double tunnel mechanical harvesting. The methods and apparatuses of the present invention require less manual labor and only minimal training is required for that labor to perform the cultural practices necessary to grow and harvest superior quality dried-on-the-vine fruit, such as raisins. Use of the double tunnel harvester improves harvesting efficiency and minimizes product loss. 
     Yet another advantage of the methods and apparatuses of the present invention is the decreased area required for each plant, thus allowing for increased planting. The adaptability of the methods and apparatuses of the present invention to over the row tractor cultivation also allows for increased row planting. 
     Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is provide an improved method and apparatus for raising grapevines and similar botanicals that aids in the production of a healthier crop of superior quality dried-on-the-vine fruit at a reduced cost. 
     Another important object is to provide such methods and apparatuses which are advantageous to commercial farming of the production of grapevines and similar plant culture by controlling the growth of the plants with training provided by the apparatus in a more commercially successful manner with increased effectiveness and efficiency. 
     Yet another important object is to provide such a method and apparatus, which provides benefits to the large-scale farm and small farms alike and which is adaptable to new installations and retrofitting for use in existing vineyards. 
     Yet another important object is to provide such a method and apparatus which is employed to alter the random, haphazard growth patterns of the vine plants by providing an apparatus that trains the flexible portions and allows for the vertical segregation of the plants into growth zones, determined by the flexible portions that are currently producing and those that are not. 
     Another object is to provide such a method and apparatus that allows for the fruiting canes and first year canes to be vertically segregated from second year and renewal canes and allowing the fruit to be harvested without risk of damaging the renewal canes. 
     Another object is to provide such a method and apparatus that enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of manual labor and is adaptable to automated techniques. 
     Another object is to provide such a method and apparatus that substantially decreases the amount of manual labor necessary to maintain the plant culture. 
     Another object is to provide such a method and apparatus which allows for minimal training of the manual laborers with regard to the training process, pruning and harvesting. 
     Another object is to provide such a method and apparatus that decreases susceptibility to adverse circumstances, such as rain, mold, parasites and contaminants. 
     Another object is to provide such a method and apparatus that promotes the efficient harvest of dried-on-the-vine raisins. 
     Another object is to provide a harvesting system that allows vertical separation of canopy levels to be continued through the harvesting process. 
    
    
     The above and other objectives of the present invention will be explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forth herein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of parts presently described and understood by the claims. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings which illustrate the preferred modes presently contemplated for carrying out the methods and apparatuses of the present invention: 
     FIG. 1 is a plan overhead view of a section of a vineyard showing two rows of grapevines with the vines trellised in a divided canopy arrangement; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in dormant season of the upper and lower canopies; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the trained flexible portions of the plant culture which illustrates the grapevine and the vertically segregated portions of the lower and upper canopies at the time nearest harvest having fruit fully exposed; 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the plant culture just prior to harvest showing the foliage of the upper canopy being wilted and falling from the severed canes and the lower canes and cordons remain green and full of foliage for the second season; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the transverse height tension support system for the trellis structure of the present invention having individual support structures at opposing ends of a row of grapevines; 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the double tunnel mechanical harvesting system apparatus of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of a grapevine being harvested by the double tunnel mechanical harvesting apparatus of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader&#39;s understanding of the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed figures and drawings are illustrative of the preferred embodiments and represent a preferred way of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses are illustrated, it should be understood that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein. 
     Referring more particularly to the drawings, the methods and apparatuses of the present invention include a method for raising plants for dried-on-the-vine (“DOV”) fruit production, designated generally as  10 , a trellis apparatus  12  for use with the method  10  and a double tunnel harvesting apparatus  14  for harvesting DOV fruit from plants grown according to the method  10 . The method  10  and trellis structure  12  can be employed in growing a wide variety of botanical plants that are used for producing DOV fruit, such as raisins. For convenience of illustration the plants are shown to be grapevines  16  herein. As is commonly known, the grapevine  16  grows upward from the soil  18 . The soil  18  is generally level, with the vines  16  planted on a slightly raised berm  20 . The berms  20  are the general area in which the grapevines  16  are to be grown. The area between the berms  20 , referred to as the alley  22 , allows for general watering practices, machinery to pass and/or laborers to walk through the vineyard  24 . 
     It will be understood that the planting of grapevines  16  is done in substantially parallel rows  26  with each plant  16  in a row  26  a typical distance of 4 feet to 6 feet from each other. FIG. 1 provides an overhead view of the planting method. FIG. 2 provides a fragmentary perspective of the planting method of the industry as incorporating the predetermined method and apparatus of the present invention. For purposes of illustrative convenience, two grapevines  16  are shown in FIG.  2 . It is to be understood, however, that the grapevines  16  are planted and trained in a manner consistent with the method and apparatus of the present invention hereinafter to be described. 
     The trellis structure  12  of the present invention comprises individual trellis members  28  comprising a stake  30 , an upper cross-member  32  and a lower cross-member  34 . As described below and shown in the figures, a pair of fixed upper canopy support wires  36 , a main transverse wire  38  and a pair of moveable support wires  40  complete the trellis structure  12 . Upper cross-member  32  can be a standard T-bar frame whereas lower cross-member  34  is an open-ear T-bar frame. The individual trellis members  28  will be interconnected with other trellis structures  28  for the length of each row  26 . The interconnection of each member  28  to form trellis structure  12  is completed with the high-tension upper canopy support wires  36  that extend from each trellis member  28  to the next, as best shown in FIG.  5 . The upper canopy support wires  36  are joined at the end of each row  26  of grapevines  16  at a support member  42  that is mounted in the earth at an angle sufficient to support the tension created by the weight of the vines  16  and fruit, as set forth below. 
     The support member  42  will be mounted in the berm  20 , preferably canted at an angle as shown in FIG.  5 . There will be a like member  42  at the opposing end that will be mounted so as to be canted in the opposite direction for the same purpose. Additional support may be deemed worthy and can be easily gained by adding a concrete foundation to the individual tension support member  42 . The purpose of mounting individual members  42  at the end of each berm  20  is to provide the support required for the growing method  10  and trellis apparatus  12  of the present invention, hereinafter to be described. Each pair of tension support members  42  at the end of each row  26  of grapevines  16  will be interconnected by the three high-tension support wires  36  and  38  extending therebetween at the predetermined height and in tensioned relation. The preferred height of the main transverse wire  38  may be seen in FIG.  2 . Although the actual height of the main transverse  38  can be adjusted to the individual use, in the present invention it is 6 feet to 6 feet 6 inches above the ground  18 . The lower cross-member  34  can be positioned approximately 3 feet above the ground  18 . 
     The upper canopy support wires  36  are used to support the trellis structure  12  in evenly spaced, parallel relation to each other. Each of the trellis structures has a vertical portion, stake  30 , which can be constructed of wood, steel or any other suitable material. Typically, the trellis members  28  are mounted in the earth  18  at an 18 inch minimum depth in a predetermined position on the berm  20 , extending in vertical relation, upward from the earth&#39;s surface  18 . The trellis member  28  is centered on the respective berm  20  and row  26 . The stake  30  extends from its position in the berm  20 , mounted in the earth  18  to the upper, opposing end that extends to a predetermined elevation. 
     As set forth above, the trellis apparatus  12  has individual trellis members  28  that extend the entire length of the row  26  and, in the preferred embodiment, is comprised of sub-assemblies. The sub-assemblies are comprised of a standard t-bar frame or upper cross-member  32 . The upper cross-member  32  attaches to the trellis member  28  mounted in the berm  20  and supported by the upper canopy support wires  36  attached to the high-tension support member  40  at opposing ends of the rows  26 . The trellis structure  12  of the present invention allows for an existing vineyard, having the typical shorter existing stake  44 , to be retrofitted with the upper trellis portion  46  to form trellis member  28 . The ability to retrofit an existing vineyard is cost efficient and labor efficient. The upper portion  46  of the trellis member  28  can be mounted to the existing stakes  44  in any fashion the individual deems effective. 
     Each cross member  32  and  34  and hairpin clip  48  is mounted on a stake  30  or, if retrofitted, section  46 . The cross members  32  and  34  and hairpin clip  48  may be secured to the stakes  30  by any means reasonable to that stake  30 , (i.e., clamping on a metal stake or nailing on a wooden stake). The lower cross-member  34  will be of a smaller size than the upper cross-member  32 . Each of cross-member  34  may be mounted at a suitable location thereon so that the support wires  36  and  40  of the sections are substantially equally spaced throughout the length of the row  26 . The hairpin  48  is the portion of the method  10  and apparatus  12  that secures the movable wires  40 , thereby pulling the canes of the fruiting flexible portions of the plant inward, allowing for definitive canopy separation. The fruit  50  and foliage  52  of the upper canopy  54  is supported by the upper cross-member  32  allowing for increased airflow and sunlight. The increased exposure of the fruit  50  in the present method  10  and trellis apparatus  12  assists in machine harvesting, as described below. The upward movement and lack of outward movement will allow for increased number of plants to be placed in contrast to the current trellis method due to the decreased space taken by each plant. The upper cross-member  32  will be supported by the high-tension support members  42  at opposing ends of the rows. Additional support of a main wire will not be necessary here because the distance of the plants is able to be decreased from the present standard of 8 feet, to the new distance of 4 feet to 6 feet. This will decrease the need for additional support and allow the individual to increase his planting and productivity levels of each vineyard  24 . 
     A stake  30  is placed in the center of the berm  20 , in close proximity to the base of the plant  16  shown in FIG. 2, extending straight up to a height of 6 feet to 6½ feet above the soil  18 . The grapevine trunk  56  grows along the metal (typically) support stake  30 . The lower cross-member  34  typically needs to be placed only on every fourth to sixth stake or as the individual chooses, in a manner consistent with the apparatus. The lower cross-member  34  purpose is to support the movable support wires  40  during the cleaning process of the vineyard, post harvest, when the severed canes are cleaned from the rows  26 . The movable support wires  40  move in a manner consistent with the method and apparatus of the present invention, acting to control foliage on the renewal canes. The canes are supported, at this final separation, by the 16 inches to 18 inch long upper cross-member  32  and moveable support wires  40  which are held in the upper position by a hairpin, JR clip, or equivalent, shown as  48 . The hairpin clips  48  and/or the upper cross-member  32  provides the support for the movable support wires  40 . The upper canopy support wires  36  and the moveable support wires  40  provide the support of the fruit  50  and foliage  52  of the upper canopy  54 . 
     In accordance with the method of raising plants for DOV fruit production  10  of the present invention, the grapevines  16  in the vineyard  24  can either be new or existing plants of any suitable variety. The grapevines  16  must be trained in a transitional phase, in accordance with the growing method  10  of the present invention, until the grapevines  16  reach a form for continued practice of the method  10  from growing season to growing season thereafter. This training process typically requires two growing seasons to complete and three growing seasons to extend from the beginning of such training through one full cycle of the practiced method  10 . 
     It will be understood as described that a grapevine  16  is planted on the side of each stake  30  within their respective row  26 . The trunk  56  of each grapevine is extended upwardly along the face of its respective stake, using suitable ties if necessary. The canes of a grapevine  16  grow from the cordon in random fashion and it is the canes that produce the crop, or bunches of grapes  50 , and foliage  52 . It is known that the canes produced in a single growing season do not produce a crop typically until the following season. The canes produced in one year must therefore be left in place until the next season for a crop to be produced. The canes that have produced a crop should be removed by pruning so that the next crop is able to be produced without infringement of the following years renewal canes. FIGS. 3 and 4 best show the growth, separation, and required practice for the present invention  10 . The canes of each grapevine  16  are trained along the upper canopy support wire  36  in a direction away from its respective stake  30 . 
     The canes of the grapevine  16  are divided into fruiting canes  58 , those which will produce fruit in a given year, and renewal canes  60 , those which will not produce fruit until the following year. The fruiting canes  58  are in the upper canopy  54  and the renewal canes  60  are in the lower canopy  62 , shown in FIG.  3 . The lower renewal canes  60  are not producing fruit, whereas the raised, fruiting canes  58  are producing fruit. At harvest, the upper fruiting canes  58  are severed, thereby allowing the grapes  50  to dry into raisins on the vine. When the production of the fruit  50  is complete the severed canes  58  are removed and replaced by the renewal canes  60  that were previously in the lower canopy  62 , and thus the cycle begins for the vineyard  24 . 
     A. Operation—Spring Growing Season 
     During the growing season, the grapevines  16  will sprout green shoots, fruit  50  and foliage  52 , shown in FIG.  3 . The trellis structure of the present invention supports the fruiting canes  58  and fruit  50  in a vertical manner. The upper canopy  54  contains four or six fruiting canes, shoots, fruit  50  and foliage  52 . The lower canopy  62  contains renewal canes  60 , foliage  52  and green shoots that are encouraged to grow down becoming next years renewal canes  60 . 
     During the period of upper canopy growth, shoots form over the entire length of the cane  58 . Referring more particularly to FIG. 3, in accordance with the method  10  of the present invention, the grapevine  16  in the of the growing season produces a plurality of new shoots. In the lower canopy  62 , new shoots  63  project from the distal end of trunk  56  (shown in FIG.  2 ). The new shoots continue to grow throughout the and into the summer when they become renewal canes  60 . The young shoots  63  are permitted to grow and are trained in overlaying relation to the upper canopy support  36  trellis wires. In approximately mid-April, laborers remove 1 to 2 shoots per fruiting cane  58 . This removal leaves cut-off young shoots, shown as  64 , located approximately 18 inches to 24 inches below the top of the upper canopy  54 . This creates a distinct window or zone of separation, shown as  66  on FIG. 4, between the upper  54  and lower  62  canopies. The removal of shoots between canopy levels is beneficial to the enhancement of separation and increased exposure to sun and air circulation. 
     At this time, the transfer of the movable support wires  40  from the lower cross-member  34  to the hairpin  48  position is done to further support the maturing canes  58  in the aforementioned window of separation. This process pulls the shoots  64  up and in, thereby enhancing the window of separation, which is necessary later in the harvest season. 
     B. Operation—Summer Growing Season 
     The Summer growing season requires little maintenance by the grower. The standard cultural practices (i.e., watering, fertilization, spraying and dusting of the vineyard  24 ) are done. The continued growth of the grapevines  16  furthers the segregation of the upper  54  and lower  62  canopies for the impending harvest. 
     The upper canopy  54  will require some maintenance during the summer months. This work will be minimal but will work to increase sugar levels and light to the fruit  50 . A minor trimming of green shoots will take place that catches any outward growth that will conceal the fruit  50  from the air circulation and sun. Although the fruit  50  does not need full exposure it does need some exposure to be of the superior quality achieved by the vertical trellis system of the present method  10 . The trimming will begin pre-bloom, early May, and continue monthly through the growing season. This trimming of the upper canopy  54  has a dual purpose. First, the trimming allows sunlight onto the lower canopy  62 , reducing shading and thereby promoting a healthy maturation of next years replacement canes  60 . Second, trimming will increase the effectiveness of the spraying and dusting that occur later in the season and with less frequency as the fruit  50  reaches maturity. 
     C. Operation—Harvest 
     The method  10  and trellis structure  12  of the present invention have particular utility in the vine drying of grapes  50  to form raisins. This process presently calls for the fruiting canes  58  bearing the bunches of grapes  50  to be severed (shown as  68  on FIG. 4) at a particular time prior to harvest so that dehydration occurs while the grapes  50  are still on the support trellis  12 . Severing is easily accomplished by pruning the fruiting canes  58  in at the window of separation  66  at  68 . The present invention method  10  and trellis apparatus  12  allows for harvest to be performed using fully automated harvesting techniques. Incorporation of the double tunnel harvesting apparatus  14 , as set forth below, will allow for 2 to 3 acres per hour to be harvested with optimum efficiency. 
     D. Winter Pruning 
     When the fruiting canes  58  have produced their crop  50  and that crop  50  has been harvested, the fruiting canes  58  are removed. It is when the harvested fruiting canes  58  are removed that the movable support wires  40  may be returned to its lower position in the lower cross-member  34 . The movable wires  40  remain in this position until the following season when they are once again raised to support the upper canopy  54 . 
     The renewal canes  60  are selected and wrapped or tied to the main transverse wire  38 . This positions the new fruiting canes  58  (formerly renewal canes  60 ) to produce a crop  50  during the subsequent growing season. Renewal spurs are pruned at the cordons where next years replacement canes  60  sprout. No changes to the trellis structure  12  of the present invention will be necessary due to the flexible nature of the random, flexible portions of the grapevine  16 . The grapevine  16  will function around and on the method  10  and apparatus  12  herein described. 
     The double tunnel mechanical harvesting apparatus  14 , shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, will be advantageous with the increased planting of the method  10  described above. The double tunnel mechanical harvester  14  is separated, just as the grapevine  16  is separated, into a lower canopy tunnel  70  and upper canopy tunnel  72 . The dividing mechanism  74  is at the bottom of the upper tunnel housing  76  and the top of the lower tunnel housing  78 . The dividing mechanism  74  makes a complete seal at the window of separation  66  between the upper  54  and lower  62  canopies of the grapevine  16 . As shown in FIG. 7, the lower tunnel housing  78  protects the lower canopy  62  from damage during harvest. The picking rods  80  within the upper canopy tunnel  72 , provide the movement necessary to shake, or knock, the dried-on-the-vine raisins  50  from the severed fruiting canes  58 , as shown in FIG.  7 . The raisins  50  fall onto the lower canopy tunnel housing  78  and then onto the picking belt conveyor  82  at the bottom of the upper canopy tunnel housing  76 . A vacuum fan (not shown) located in the leaf removal tunnel  84  pulls out any plant or other debris that falls on the picking belt conveyor  82  before the raisins  50  are deposited into the raisin bin  86 . The picking belt conveyor  82  moves the raisins  50  from within the harvesting system to the raisin bin  86  placed at the bottom of the harvester  14 . Once the raisin bin  86  is full, the bins  86  are deposited on the ground  18  intermittently and replaced on the harvester  14  by empty raisin bins  86  to be filled with more raisins. 
     From the description above, a number of advantages of the vertical trellis system harvested by the double tunnel mechanical harvesting system become evident. For instance, the upward movement of the vine  16  prior to its minimal outward movement requires less space by each plant, allowing for more grapevines  16  to be planted in the same size plot. The vertical movement and incorporation of the trellis structure  12  allows the fruit  50  more exposure to the sun for increased maturation on the vine  16 . The vertical movement also allows for increased air circulation, which decreases infestation of parasites, fungi, and molds that develop and thrive in dark, damp, dense plants, such as grapevines  16 . The increased air circulation and exposure of the fruit also allows for pesticides or other chemicals to be more effective because they are more likely to reach more of the plant. The segregation of the canopies  54  and  62  simplifies training laborers by simplifying the pruning, tying and training of the flexible portions, which minimizes manual labor and decreases costs to the grower. The double tunnel mechanical harvesting system that harvests the DOV raisins of the vertical trellising system  10  protects the lower canopy  62 , while fully harvesting the product  50  from the upper canopy  54 . Use of the double tunnel harvesting apparatus  14  at harvest reduces the need for laborers (in a season where traditionally laborers are in short supply). 
     Accordingly, the vertical trellis system of the present method and apparatus provides benefits by segregating the canopies of the botanical plant. It provides the advantages associated with the segregated canopies such as increased air circulation, increased efficiency in spraying of chemicals on the plants, production of a healthier crop of superior quality, a decrease in the amount of manual labor, and a decrease from threat of chemicals. Further advantages of the vertical trellis system become prevalent with the use of the double tunnel mechanical harvesting system which integrates the upper and lower canopy separation, protecting the replacement canes of the next season and efficiently harvesting the dried-on-the-vine raisins. 
     Therefore the method and apparatus for plant culture of the present invention provide an extremely efficient and dependable means by which crops can be grown and harvested while decreasing the amount of manual labor required. The use of manual labor will require little, if any, training of the field workers. The superior quality and quantity of the crop will be of such a fashion as to lend itself to full mechanized farming of such plants, and having particular utility in application to the commercial farming grapevines. 
     While there is shown and described herein certain specific alternative forms of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to the dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape and use.