GRAPES. 117 



many shoots shall be left upon each vine, and the 

 number of eyes to which the branches must be short- 

 ened." This is done to prevent the exhausting of 

 the roots, and rendering them so weak as not to 

 recover their wonted strength for several years. The 

 pruning of the Isabella grape here is generally done 

 in the fall, which should be done at or soon after the 

 gathering of the fruit ; for by this early pruning, the 

 buds are said to push earlier in the following spring. 

 We have generally performed this in March. This 

 season is often objected to, from the fear of their 

 bleeding ; this, however, rarely takes place, pro- 

 vided it is performed early, and the section which 

 is laid bare be presented to the sun's rays, which 

 will almost invariably close up the sap vessels. They 

 should, therefore, be cut from the outside, inward, 

 in an oblique direction. 



In the cultivation of this grape, we have found 

 that the shoots which come out from the main stock, 

 nearest the ground, should be trained up for annual 

 bearers, and that in the summer pruning, the laterals 

 which spring out from the joint upon the strong 

 wood should not be broken out close to the fruit bud 

 for the next season, (as is often done to the loss of 

 fruit,) but cut off above the first joint. The laterals 

 or side shoots containing bunches of fruit, (two 

 bunches, at the most, should be suffered to remain 

 upon one shoot,) should be topped when they are 

 about six inches in length, always leaving one joint 

 beyond the fruit ; the tendrils should also be taken 

 off near the branch, for if left they will often entwine 

 themselves round the adjacent shoots, and cripple 



