CHAP. II VILLA GARDENING 323 



fest signs of inequality. Some will have acquired more substance, 

 and developed more vigorously than others ; and it would be only 

 wise to take advantage of the capacity for work Avhich the strong 

 vines possess and remove the weaklings. Perhaps the term 

 "extension system" gives as good an idea of the process as any 

 other, but it seems lacking in expressiveness, because the extension 

 is only of a limited kind. When the house is full there cannot be 

 any more extension. I should think, perhaps, that every gardener 

 of large experience has either had charge of places where a single 

 vine was filling a whole house, and which was of considerable age, 

 or could point to places in every county in England where such 

 treatment has at some time or other been carried out. The more 

 growth a plant makes the stronger it becomes. This may sound 

 paradoxical, because size does not always give strength, and much 

 depends upon the way in which the structure has been built up, 

 be it man, beast, or plant. 



Spue v. Rod Pruning. — This matter of pruning is inti- 

 mately connected with the system of training referred to above. 

 When the growth is restricted — i.e. when the branches are con- 

 fined to a particular space— spur pruning is universally adopted, 

 and it answers fairly well when the roots are near the surface. 

 But if the roots run down to the bottom of the border or beyond, 

 the wood fails to ripen well, and the bunches are fewer in number, 

 and have long stalks and straggling habit — in fact, they present 

 the usual symptoms of vines out of condition. The best remedy is 

 to lift the roots ; but if this cannot be done the evil may be 

 mitigated by training up here and there, as opportunity offers, a 

 young rod or two, to introduce new blood and vigour. This is 

 adopting the rod system from necessity. Some people adopt it 

 from choice, carrying it out systematically by leading up a certain 

 number of rods annually, and cutting out the same number of 

 canes which have first borne fruit. In competent hands all systems 

 of pruning and training are successful, and the rod system certainly 

 gives the cultivator a little more control over shy bearers — the 

 Buckland Sweetwater, for instance. Where the spm- system is 

 adopted, if the vines are in good condition there is no necessity for 

 leaving long spurs. One or two eyes at the most will be enough, 

 especially with such free-bearing kinds as the JMuscat, the Ham- 

 bui'g, etc. 



Summer Management. — This will consist in disbudding, 

 stopping, and tying down and removing the laterals. Unless 

 some reason exists to the contrary, this should be done regularly, 

 when they can be rubbed or pinched off. The supply of moisture 

 to the roots must be abundant, especially during the growing 



