THE CANADIAN HOirriCULTllIST. 83 



■of its being returned to the roots in sufficient quantities to keep them 

 in a vigorous condition. May it not therefore act on the general health 

 •of the vine in the same way that imperfectly oxygenized blood does 

 on the human system? 



When vines are planted so close together that the branches have 

 not sufficient room to extend themselves, and are therefore pruned 

 to keep them within bounds, the consequence is that innumerable 

 shoots are thrown out from every joint of those branches that have 

 escaped; and these if left to -themselves will be covered with an 

 abundance of leaves and a mass of foliage that the cultivator thinks 

 too great for a large crop of fruit; therefore summer pruning is thought 

 necessary, and the knife is again called into requisition, to the injury, 

 as the writer believes, of both the vine and the fruit. Eight feet apart 

 each way is the usual distance recommended for planting vines; whether 

 or not such recommendation proceeds from parties having vines to 

 dispose of, I shall not stop to enquire, l3ut will merely state that in 

 a paper read before the Michigan Pomological Society, the writer stated 

 that in 1863 he planted one hundred and twenty Concord vines, six 

 feet apart in the rows. They had good care and attention, but bore 

 little fruit. The spring of the seventh year from planting he removed 

 every other vine, and extended the arms to six feet instead of three ; 

 the result was a fine crop of fruit. To further test the matter, every 

 -other vine was removed from a Catawba vineyard of one thousand vines, 

 that liad been planted eight feet apart in the rows, and the arms of 

 the remaining vines extended to eight feet instead of four; this largely 

 increased the quantity of grapes. He also stated that he had Concord 

 vines covering from twenty-four to forty-eight feet of trellis, that carry 

 every year more grapes by actual test than any adjoining vines planted 

 twelve feet apart and covering the same number of feet of trellis. Vines 

 allowed to run at pleasure require no summer pruning, because their 

 •gi'owth is not so rampant ; they can also be laid down for winter 

 protection without difficulty, which with short arms is impracticable. 



Every practical gardener knows that if the stalks and leaves of the 

 Rhubarb or pie-plant be too closely pulled, the roots will cease to grow, 

 and tlie stalks will dwindle away till not fit for use. Yea, even 

 Canadian Tliistles can be completely destroyed by cutting off' the tops 

 persistently. Can it therefore be expected that the grape vine can be 

 subjected to such ruthless pruning as is generally recommended without 



