134 OPEN AIB GRAPE CULTURE. 



last year's shoots ; the pear bears its fruit upon spurs 

 which have been formed during the previous year, 

 upon old wood, and the fruit of the vine is always 

 borne upon shoots of the current year, these shoots 

 proceeding from either last year's shoots, or wood, 

 which is much older. The last assertion is one which 

 conflicts with the statements of most of our pomolo- 

 gists, and therefore it is incumbent upon us to give 

 some evidence of its truth. Thus, Barry says : 



" It must be observed, that the grape vine pro- 

 duces its fruit on shoots of the current year produced 

 from eyes on the previous year's wood." 



Du Breuil is more positive, and states that shoots 

 which accidentally spring from old wood never pro- 

 duce grapes. His words are : " Dans la vigne, les 

 grappes sont attachees sur des bourgeons naissant sur 

 les sarments formes pendant Pete precedent. Les 

 bourgeons de"veloppe"s accidentellement sur le vieux 

 bois ne portent jamais des grappes." 



We were rather surprised at this assertion, as it 

 appeared to contradict our own observation. But 

 lest it might be that the shoots which we had in view, 

 had been produced by the remains of last year's 

 rubbed out buds, we carefully watched a piece of old 

 wood during one season, so as to assure ourselves 

 that no buds had sprung from it between certain 

 marked points. Next season the head of this old 



