333 THE FLORIST. 



pruning the shoot which bore fruit is cut back to one eye at its base ; 

 the other is shortened to two, three, or four eyes, cutting above a bold 

 prominent bud for fruiting, and those below are cut clean out, with the 

 exception of one at the base, which is allowed to grow for succession, 

 but not to bear fruit. There are left then, on the shortened shoot, only 

 one bud at top to bear fruit, and one at the base for a succession shoot. 



" Spur System. — This is becoming the most general. The Vines 

 are usually planted so that one can be trained up each rafter ; but some 

 train them up the middle of the sash, and this we believe to be the 

 preferable mode, because in spur training the shoots are cut back to 

 buds close to the stem, and for the sake of the buds the leaves next the 

 stem should be well exposed to light. Under the rafter the stem is 

 partially shaded, whereas, in the middle of the sash, it is in the best 

 position for the shoots proceeding from it being immediately acted upon 

 by the light. A Vine may therefore be introduced at that point, and 

 trained in an upward direction ; and care should be taken that shoots 

 are encouraged alternately, by removing two buds and leaving one, or, 

 in some cases, by retaining every other bud. 



" When the young shoots push let them be gently brought to a hori- 

 zontal position, by bending them a little at a time, but so as not to 

 break them. Frequently, opposite the fourth leaf, the rudiments of a 

 bunch will be developed. The leaf directly opposite the bunch must 

 always be preserved. Some stop the young shoot at one joint or leaf 

 beyond the fruit, and some at two joints. It seems to be of little 

 importance, as regards the swelling of the bunch, at which it is done, 

 and hence, many good gardeners are not very particular whether they 

 stop at one or two joints. Where there is plenty of room for the 

 foliage to expand fully, we would say stop at two joints ; for the sap 

 elaborated by the additional leaf will go to strengthen the Vine, and 

 increase its roots. On the other hand, if stopping above the second leaf 

 beyond the fruit would render the foliage crowded, then, by all means 

 stop at one leaf. After stopping, laterals will push ; they may be 

 stopped above their first or second joints. 



" Thinning. — This is sometimes necessary as regards the bunches ; 

 and in all cases the berries ought to be properly thinned out and regu- 

 lated. When more bunches are formed than the Vine can bring to 

 perfection, those which are superabundant should be reduced in an 

 early stage of their growth, at all events before they come into bloom. 

 Sorts that produce large bunches should have fewer of them than those 

 which naturally bear comparatively small bunches. The weight of fruit 

 ought to correspond with the amount of good foliage ; we have frequently 

 seen it out of all proportion, in fact, so much so that there have been 

 nearly as many bunches as leaves. Naturally the young shoots push 

 a few leaves, then a bunch or a tendril appears, and this is always 

 opposite a leaf. As the shoot proceeds other bunches may form at 

 greater or less intervals, but still in the natural state the number of 

 leaves far exceeds the number of bunches. 



" The thinning of the berries should also take place as soon as they 

 are well set, which will be soon after blooming. The general form of 

 the bunches of some sorts of Grapes is that of an inverted cone, of 



