102 OPEN AIR GRAPE CULTURE. 



attention in order that they may finally be of equal 

 strength and well ripened. Every second shoot 

 should be stopped when it has made a growth of 

 about two feet, and if any of the others should so far 

 outstrip their compeers as to reach the top of the 

 trellis much before them, they should be stopped 

 also, though except in the case of excessive growth 

 all the shoots had best be allowed to grow on until 

 the first of September, when they may all be stopped 

 at once, unless it be deemed best to allow the weak- 

 est a few days' longer growth, in which case it is sur- 

 prising how soon they will overtake their companions. 



Stopping, or pinching, consists in breaking off the 

 end of a shoot, and its immediate effect is to arrest 

 the further growth of the cane, or at least its further 

 lineal development, for the time being. But although 

 no more leaves are immediately formed, those already 

 in existence perform their usual functions and the 

 whole energies of the plant are directed to the ripen- 

 ing of the wood already produced. After a time, 

 one of the buds near the extremity of the shoot will 

 probably break and become the leader, when it 

 should be stopped in turn, this process being repeated 

 as often as any symptoms of vigorous growth are 

 exhibited. The result of all this checking is to lessen 

 the ultimate amount of wood produced and to 

 improve its quality both as to ripeness and density. 



Stopping furnishes us with an effectual means of 



