APRIL. 113 



HINTS ON GRAPE GROWING.— No. VIII. 



BY A GABDENER IN THE COUNTRY. 



At page 75 in your last number, I detailed the planting and training 

 of the Vines, till they had reached the top of the house. As however, 

 some difference of opinion exists on the advantages or disadvantages of 

 allowing newly planted Vines to make what growth they please the 

 first and second seasons, I will more at length enter into this, for the 

 benefit of those of your readers not practically acquainted with the 

 laws of vegetable physiology. The argument used is this : that as the 

 roots of the Vine (or any other tree), increase in proportion to the 

 amount of foliage produced, the more the laterals (or secondary shoots) 

 are left to ramble unstopped, and produce leaves, the larger will be the 

 accession to the roots. This, however, is not exactly correct; leaves 

 have the power of secreting organisable matter, in proportion as they 

 are healthy and are exposed to light ; the leaves on the primary shoots 

 of the year are usually much larger than those formed on the secondary 

 ones, or lateral shoots, and have proportionably larger vessels, and 

 altogether form a far more powerful apparatus for assimilating true sap 

 than the weak action of the small leaves produced on the lateral shoots. 

 Now, as one effect of allowing laterals to grow unchecked is to weaken 

 the power of the larger leaves, by withdrawing a portion of the sap 

 from them which is taken up to assist in forming the new growth ; 

 and further, as the active power of leaves for secreting true sap is 

 only perfected after the leaf has become fully grown, it follows that a 

 month or six weeks is lost in the very best part of the season, to enable 

 these lateral leaves to become matured for the purpose ; and even then 

 their power of secretion will not be adequate to the time lost in making 

 this growth, during which, they have prevented in great measure the 

 activity of the first formed leaves. In Vines trained the first year, 

 when plenty of room between them exists, from two to four or five 

 leaves may be allowed, or until the foliage meets between Vine and 

 Vine ; the second year, when the primary leaves will be much larger, 

 one or at most two lateral joints with leaves, and those only on the 

 upper half of the shoot, should be permitted to remain ; all further 

 attempts at growth in both cases should be pinched in the bud. I 

 wish to see each leaf fully exposed to the light, all will then be done 

 that is possible, for promoting the largest secretion of organic matter. 

 1 believe this practice to be both theoretically and practically right ; 

 and therefore never allow the lateral shoots to ramble unchecked 

 throughout the summer, with the leaves shading each other as they 

 must; these do no good to the roots. A dozen large healthy leaves, well 

 taken care of, will secrete more true sap (or organisable matter), than 

 one hundred of the former, and consequently add more to the stock, 

 roots, branch, and fruit-buds included. With this digression I must 

 resume my subject. Now that active growth has ceased for the season, 

 it only remains to take every possible care of the leaves ; this you 

 will be prepared to do, after reading what I have stated above. Air 

 must be admitted freely at all times, and a good wash over the leaves 



NEV^ SERIES, VOL. V., NO. LII. I 



