90 American Hnvi'icnlturol Societi/. 



twenty owners of a few vines understands the subject well enough to do his 

 own pruning. I once heard the president of a prominent farmers' club say 

 that he had read all tho standard and current pu])lications on this subject, 

 and yet had not the knowledge or confidence in his ability to prune his own 

 vines, always hiring it done. 



I find also that the .so-called professional gardeners, and those who make a 

 business of pruning vines in their respective neighborhoods, often exhibit a 

 remarkable l:ick of intelligence in their work, their aim apparently being to 

 cover the trellis and get a shade as (piickly as possible. These vines are then 

 allowed to care for themselves until the next annual pruning. Pruning for 

 shade is one thing; pruning for fruit another. As a rule, too much wood is 

 left. It is common to err in this direction. Excessive growth of wood in 

 tree or vine is not conducive to fruitfulness; yet the latter is dependent on 

 vigor and health and their attendant conditions. 



An expenditure of all energies in one direction for the attainment of a 

 single object in life is to neglect others of equal importance. 



The formation and development of fruit buds may be likened to the halt- 

 ing of a railroad train for wood and water; and the development and ma- 

 turity of the crop of fruit to the delivery at the terminus of its load of pas- 

 sengers accumulated along its journey. If the load be excessive, beyond its 

 ability to carry, relief by unloading or some other method must be had, or 

 the train will come to a full stop between stations. 



A proper balance of the vital forces, a due consideration of the ability and 

 capacity of the vine, is of great importance. 



The development of fruit is where the strain comes, and the impatience 

 and haste to get fruit quickly and plenty of it (national traits of the American 

 people) are the prime causes of many a failure. Vines are allowed to over- 

 bear, especially young ones. The demands of the fruit exceed the ability of 

 the vine to supply them. The new wood near the base of the vines is rob- 

 bed by the excessive demands of its more vigorous neighbor beyond, and 

 failing to ripen, death is the incviUible constMinonce ; and in a few years, if 

 not renewed, the fruit bearing wood is at the top of the trellis or at the ex- 

 tremity of the vines. The novice, before attempting to prune a vine, should 

 bear in mind a few facts and principles: 



First. That, as a general rule, the fruit bearing canes of this year are grown 

 from buds on last year's cjmes; in other words, the wood of this year con- 

 tains the buds wiiich produce the fruitful canes of next year. 



Second. That the I'ruit Inids (Hller from wood buds only because of better 

 development. 



Third. That a cluster is a fruitful tendril, and that the ordinary capacity 

 of a fruitful bud is to develop, on an average, two or three of these fruitful 

 f^ndrils, or as commonly expressed, clusters of fruit. 



There are, however, exceptions to this rule : notably, five or six clusters 

 on a cane of the Elvira being quite common. 



Fourth. That the tendency of the sap is to the extremity of the vine ; that 



