Mt. Pleasant Pyramid | 1913-02-14 | Page 6 | Prune the Dormant Grapes

PRUNE THE DORMANT GRAPES At Any Other Time Upward Flow of Sap Is So Strong That It Will Cause "Bleeding." Grape vines, unlike many other vines, trees and shrubs, can be pruned without Injury only when they are in a deep dormant condition. At any other time the upward flow of sap i3 so strong that it will flow out of the wound and cause what Is called bleeding, which impairs the vitality of the plant. The time tc prune the grape vines is soon after they have dropped their leaves, and the whole plant becomes dormant, preferably with a falling temperature beZore midwinter. If pruning Is done while the leaves remain re-main on some of the branches, and the weather is mild, sap is liable to Bow the remaining branches and cause swelling of buds, which will be caught by the frost. The work must not be delayed till late winter or early Bpring. since the very first worm spell will cause the sap to flow and the wounds to bleed. In the northern and central latitudes lati-tudes from the middle of November till the last part of January is the best time for the work.