MONXnLT CALENDAH. 407 



six joints, except where it is i-equired to cover a vacant space on the wall. 

 When left longer, the vines become crowded, in the followiug summer, with 

 useless shoots, and the fruit is smaller in consequence. This pruning should 

 he performed early in spring, even as early as February, — pruning at a later 

 period, when the sap has begun to ascend, the wound is apt to bleed when 

 the thick branches have been cut off. A second ijruning should be performed 

 about the middle of May, when the grapes are formed and the shoot has 

 attained a length of two or three feet : at this time pinch off the shoot about 

 six inches above the fruit and nail it to the wall in such a way that the fruit 

 may be in contact with it. About midsummer a third pruning should take 

 place, when all the branches should be gone over and the fruitless branches, 

 not required for next year's wood, removed. A vigorous vine will require a 

 fourth and final pruning in August, when the long shoots from the previous 

 stoppings must be shortened back again, and all leaves lying too much over 

 the bunches of fruit removed ; taking care to prune, however, in such a 

 manner that there is always a succession of j'oung branches advancing from 

 the lower part of the stem properly furnished with bearers, as well as a 

 suflBcient supply of young wood to replace the old as it becomes unserviceable. 

 The pruning finished, let the branches be nailed or tied neatly to the wall or 

 trellis, laying them regularly six, eight, or ten inches apart. Vine-pruning may 

 te performed any time during the winter months, when the weather permits ; 

 tut the sooner the woi-k is done the better. The young shoots of last j-ear 

 produce shoots themselves the ensuing summer ; and these are the fi:uit- 

 bearers, which are to be trained horizontally or upright, according to the 

 design of the tree. 



1 196. In May the ■sdnes will shoot vigorously, producing, besides bearing and 

 succession shoots, others which must be cut away, and bearing and other 

 useful branches nailed or tied up close to the wall before they get entangled 

 with each other ; and all weak and straggling shoots, especially those rising 

 from the old wood, should be cleai-ed away. ]\[uch of this summer pruning 

 may be effected by pinching off the young shoots with the finger and thumb 

 while they are young and tender. This should be continued during June and 

 July. Many small shoots rise, one mostly from every eye of the same sum- 

 mer's main shoots laid in a month or two ago : these must be displaced, in 

 order to admit all the air possible to the advancing fruit. All new shoots 

 whatever should now be rubbed off as they appear, except where they are 

 required to cover the wall. In August, even these must be rubbed off, being 

 utterly valueless even for that j^u-pose. Dm-ing this month, the fruit itself 

 requires attention. Where the branches are entangled, or in confusion, let 

 them be regulated so that every branch may hang in its proper position. 

 All the shoots that have fruit hanging on them, or which are ranging 

 out of bounds, may be stopped, and where the grapes are too much 

 shaded during August and September, remove a few of the leaves which, 

 intercept the light and heat. They should now have all possible aids of tho 

 ■eun to enrich their flavour. It will be necessary now to protect them from 



