278 Mussnian on Summer ^rtati?ig t7ie V/'ne. 



each bunch of grapes. These serve as elevators of sap, and also an excellent protec- 

 tion and shade to the fruit. Remember our aim is not to rob the plant of its foliage, 

 but to make two leaves grow where there was but one before, and at a place where 

 they are of more benefit to the fruit. By our method, our rows of vines have the 

 appearance of leafy walls, each bunch of the fruit properly shaded, and yet each part 

 of the vine is properly ventilated. We come now to another one of those accidental 

 discoveries, which has proved of great use to us in the management of the Concord, 

 Herbemont, Taylor, etc. In the summer of 18(52, when a piece of Concord, planted 

 in 1861, was growing rapidly, a severe hailstorm cut up the young shoots, completely 

 defoliating them, and breaking the tender and succulent t>hoots at a height of about 

 two feet. The vinos were growing rapidly, and the dormant buds in the axils of the 

 leaves immediately pushed out laterals, which made fair-sized c;ines. In the follow- 

 ing fall when we commenced to prune we found from three to five of these strong 

 laterals on each cane, and accordingly shortened them in from three to five and six 

 buds each. On these laterals we raised as fine a crop of grapes as we ever saw — cer- 

 tainly much finer than we had ever before raised on the strong canes ; and we have 

 since learned to imitate hailstorms by pinching the leaders of young shoots when they 

 have grown, say two feet, forcing out the laterals and growing out fruit on the hitter, 

 thus meeting with another illustration of the old proverb, " It is an ill wind that 

 blows nobody any good." 



After the sound pinching of the fruit-bearing branches, as described above, the 

 laterals will generally start once n)ore, and we pinch the young growth again to one 

 leaf, thus giving each lateral two well developed leaves. The whole course should be 

 completed about the middle of June here, and whatever grows hereafter may be left. 

 In closing, let us glance at the objects we have in view : 



1. To keep the vine within proper bounds, so that it is at all times under the con- 

 trol of the vintner, without weakening its constitution by robbing it of a great 

 amount of foliage. 



2. Judicious thinning of the fruit at a time when no vigor has been expended in 

 its development. 



3. Developing strong, healthy foliage, by forcing the growth of the laterals and 

 having two young, healthy leaves opposite each bunch, which will shade the fruit and 

 serve as conductors of the sap to the fruit. 



4. Growing vigorous canes for next year's fruiting and no more, thereby making 

 them stronger ; as every part of the vine is accessible to light and air, the wood will 

 ripen better and more uniformly. 



5. Destruction of noxious insects. As the vintner has to look over each shoot of 

 the vine, this is done more thoroughly and systematically than by any other process. 



Soil for Pears. — E. Manning, of Harrisburg, Ohio, writes to the Gardeners^ 

 MoTit hly ow this subject: Beurre Clairgeau was unthrifty on a rich soil ; on high, 

 thin soil it was thrifty and excellent. Anjou succeeded well on rich soil, and failed 

 on thin soil. Doyenne du Comice did best on thin soil; Golden Beurre of Bilboa 

 just the reverse. These results were all on his own ground ; in other regions they 

 might have been diiferent. 



