164 TREATISE ON THE 



this means, the stake will not have more than the 

 proper number of branches attached to it, and 

 these should not exceed four. 



Sometimes the wood is too heavy and the 

 branch too long, in which case it should be 

 pinched off in the slender part, near the end, so 

 as to range with the general height of the vine. 

 This plan possesses the advantage of bringing all 

 the fruit on the outer side of the plant, giving a 

 more favourable exposure to the action of the 

 sun. There is not the same confusion or danger 

 of injury in the weeding, nor is it so liable to be 

 attacked by the numerous insects. 



Under this system of cultivation, the appear- 

 ance assumed of the heading, is that of the cone, 

 the interior being a void. In the tying up, care 

 should be observed, that the leaves be entirely 

 free, and not tied with the branch; and still 

 more important is it, that the fruit should be 

 free, as I have seen the fair bunches ruined by 

 carelessly mixing them in with the branches 

 when attached to the stake. The oars thus se- 

 cured should be firmly and solidly fixed to the 

 support, and above all, should not be too near the 

 ground. 



