the shoot as would be the case were the stem trained up the 

 trellis." 



The Rev. Mr. Griffith writes : — " At the end of the first season 

 the grower will have to decide how he will train his vine, whether 

 on the usual flat arbour, trellis, or as a standard. The first is, 

 perhaps, all things considered, the best — the second is the method 

 I personally prefer, and the third is only possible with vines of 

 robust growth. Under the usual flat arbour system, vines seldom 

 receive any attention beyond watering until the time comes for 

 annual pruning when sometimes a cartload of worthless growth, 

 which never should have been allowed, has to be cut away. This 

 is generally a disagreeable task. By the second method it is easy 

 to see and get rid of any useless growth as it appears, and thus 

 the whole work of the vine is concentrated on the maturation of 

 the growing crop and the canes necessary for the production of 

 the following crop. Very little is done in the way of producing a 

 good cane until after the crop is entirely removed ; then all 

 laterals should be shortened back, and any new sappy growth 

 removed entirely, in order that food may be stored up in the new 

 bud, and this process is constant during what, to the outward 

 observer, seems to be the dormant season. 



" As a rule the question of next year's crop is settled a year 

 ahead. Pruning does not give fruit, it only settles its method of 

 distribution over the vine when the cane has already been well 

 grown ; it does, however, when skilfully performed, help very 

 much in securing good canes well placed for the following year. 



"Two systems of pruning commonly prevail. Each has its 

 advocates and both have their uses. The older and more generally 

 followed method is what is known as close or spur pruning. This 

 gives good results generally, and in the case of some varieties 

 gives the best results, but some kinds, notably Gros Maroc, 

 Barbarossa, and a few others, are practically barren when so 

 treated. 



"The other, and in certain cases the better method, is to leave 

 from two to three buds on the cane when pruning in the spring. 

 By this plan, larger and looser clusters are secured and the labour 

 of thinning lessened greatly, and in my opinion, a better and 

 heavier bearing is secured. 



" The proper time for pruning in Jamaica is any time between 

 the end of January on to the middle of March. If the season is 

 dry and warm the commencement of pruning may usefully be 

 delayed longer. But if the year opens with showers followed by 

 warm sunshine, to delay the work of pruning would result in 

 severe bleeding which, however, abates as soon as the buds swell. 

 There is very little to be gained by early pruning before the sap 

 is stirring. A month's difference in the date of pruning vines of 

 the same variety seldom makes more than a week's difference 

 in the time of ripening of the fruit. The later pruned vines 

 certainly yield the larger and better crops. 



" As far as possible a vine should be pruned each year at or near 



