I should
also employ the same man in spring to tie up the vines and train
them.
If one is not ambitious to secure the best results attainable, he
can soon learn to perform both the tasks well enough to obtain
fairly good fruit in abundance. It should be our constant aim not
to permit long, naked reaches of wood, in one part of the vine,
and great smothering bunches of fruit and foliage in another part.
Of course the roots, stem, and leading arms should be kept free
from useless shoots and sprouts; but having reached the trellis,
the vine should be made to distribute bearing fruit-spurs evenly
over it. Much can be learned about pruning from books and by
watching an expert gardener while giving the annual pruning; but
the true science of trimming a vine is best acquired by watching
buds develop, by noting what they will do, where they go, and how
much space they will take up in a single summer. In this way one
will eventually realize how much is wrapped up in the
insignificant little buds, and now great the folly of leaving too
many on the vine.
In my next chapter I shall treat briefly of the propagation of the
grape, its insect enemies, diseases, etc.; and also of some other
fruits.
CHAPTER IV
THE VINEYARD AND ORCHARD
He who proposes to plant grape-vines will scarcely fail to take
the sensible course of inspecting the varieties already producing
fruit in his locality.
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