31 A Method of hastening the Maturation of Grapes, 



not to let the reniovvd circle of bark be too wide : from one 

 to i wo eighths of an inch will be a space of sufficient width ; 

 the exnoscd alburnum will then be covered again with new 

 bark hi' fore the folk) wing winter, so that there will be no 

 danger of injuring the future health of the tree. 



It is not of much consequence in what part of the tree 

 the incision is made, but in case the trunk is very large, I 

 should then recommend, that the circles be made in the 

 smaller branches. 



It is to be observed that all shoots which come out from 

 the root of the vine, or from the front of the trunk situated 

 below the incision, must be removed as often as they appear, 

 unless bearing wood is particularly wanted to fill up the 

 lower part of the wall, in which case one or two shoots may 

 be left. 



Vines growing in forcing houses are equally improved in 

 point of size and flavour, as well as made to ripen earlier by 

 taking away circles of bark : the time for doing this, is when 

 the fruit is se| f and the berries- are about the size of small 

 shot. The removed circles may here be made wider than 

 ^on vines growing in the open air, as the bark is sooner re- 

 newed in forcing houses, owing to the warmth and moisture 

 in those places. Half an inch will not be too great a width 

 to take off in a circle from a vigorous growing vine, but I 

 do not recommend the operation to be performed at all in 

 weak trees. _ 



I tlunk that this practice may.be extended to other fruits, 

 so as to l}«\sj.e.n their maturity,, especially^.?, in which there 

 is a most abundant flow of, 'returning sap; and it demon- 

 strates 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 arc 

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

 the course of time, produces effects similar to what I have 

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

 come old,., tfy.e returning vessels do not convey the sap into 

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

 Jly removing circles of bark, we only anticipate 



the 



