STORES OF STARCH. 3G3 



in price could not be determined ; but as such fruit as the 

 grape always brings a much higher price when it first 

 appears in the market than later, and the berries and the 

 bunches were much increased in size, and as it could be put 

 into the market fully two weeks before that from the ungir- 

 dled vines, it would probably have sold for from three to five 

 cents per pound above the price obtained two weeks later. 



Another advantage which may result from the girdling of 

 the vine "is the maturing of the fruit of many valuable varie- 

 ties, which in the colder parts of our country now fail to 

 ripen. 



To facilitate the work of making the girdles, a small knife 

 was constructed by which the cut was made very quickly. 



It is illustrated in 

 Fig. 2, and is used by 

 taking the cane in the 



left hand, and reaching FlG 2 . 



around the cane in such 



a way that the knife can be turned completely around the 

 cane at one stroke. 



The knife is so made, that the bark is removed by the pro- 

 jecting point at the same time that the cut is made. 



STAECH IN THE GRAPE-VINE. 



Examinations have been made at various times with the 

 microscope to determine the location of the starch stored up 

 for the purpose of giving the vine a vigorous start in the 

 spring, and supporting growth until the development of the 

 leaves. It was found, that, in every part of the vine during 

 the winter, the cells were closely packed with starch-grains, 

 but that in some parts there were more than in others. In 

 the main stem were found more than in the laterals ; while 

 in the root were less than in the mains or arms. 



An experiment, suggested by the fact that starch was 

 found so generally distributed throughout the parts of the 

 vine, was undertaken during the winter of 1877 to deter- 

 mine which of the buds — those nearest the main canes upon 

 new wood, those in the middle of the canes, or those at the 

 extremities — would produce the best bunches of grapes. 

 Three rows of vines were taken side by side, and six vines in 

 each treated. In No. 1 two vines upon each row had all the 



