PRUNING GKAPE VINES. 129 



with in its progress through the vessels of the albur- 

 num ; the wood at the top of the tall trees, therefore, 

 becomes short-jointed and full of blossom buds, and 

 the fruit there situated attains its greatest perfection. 

 Hence, we find pine and fir-trees loaded with the 

 finest cones on the top boughs, the largest acorns 

 grow on the terminal branches of the oak, and the 

 finest mast on the high boughs of the beech and 

 chestnut; so, likewise, apples, pears, cherries, etc., 

 are always best flavored from the top of the tree. 

 But I suppose there are certain limits, beyond which 

 the sap would be so loaded with nutriment, that it 

 could not freely circulate." 



The sap being determined so powerfully to the 

 extremities of the branches, the most unremitting 

 attention is required upon the part of the vine 

 dresser, so that the bearing shoots may be equally 

 distributed along the entire plant and an equal 

 amount of nutriment directed to each. 



But if through negligent management the bearing 

 shoots or spurs are allowed to die out on the lower 

 part of the vine, it will be dimcult, if not impossible, 

 to replace them. 



By judicious pruning, the entire head of the vine 

 may be so reduced that there will be abundant nutri- 

 ment for all the buds, and by promptly and carefully 

 stopping the more vigorous shoots, the sap may foe 

 *6 



