ON EARLY RIPENING OF GRAPES. 1 J£ 



strate* to us, why old trees are more disposed to bear fruit 

 than young ones. Miller informs us, that the vineyards 

 in Italy are thought to improve every year by age, till they 

 are 50 years old. It therefore appears to me, that nature, 

 in the course of time, produces effects similar to what 1 hay* 

 above recommended to be done by art. For, as trees be- 

 come old, the returning vessels do not convey the sap into 

 the roots, with the same facility they did when young: thus 

 by occasionally removing circles of bark, we only antici- 

 pate the process of nature* ; in both eases a stagnation of 

 the true sap is obtained in the fruiting branches, and the 

 redundant nutriment then passes into the fruit. 



I have sometimes found, that, after the circle of bark has jj portion of 

 been removed, a small portion of the inner bark has adhered tne > nner **** 

 to the alburnum: it is of the utmost importance to remove J^ r^^J* 

 this, though ever so small, otherwise in a very short space 

 of time the communication is again established with the 

 root, and little or no effect produced. Therefore in about 

 ton days after the first operation has been performed, 1 

 generally look at the part from whence the bark was re- 

 moved, and separate any small portion, which may havft 

 escaped the kniiV the first time. 



I am, Sir, 

 Your obedient humble servant, 



JOHN WILLIAMS. 



Pit mast on, Worcestershire^ 

 20/ A April , 1808. 



* Hence wo may infer, that trees thus mated wi£ ha** their Adtbj 

 accelerated, and their natural duration shortened, C> 



!&> 



