HASTENING THE MATURITY OF THE GKAPE. 235 



table purposes, however, the grapes seem to be im- 

 proved both in size and appearance. 



Pig. 62. 



The French method is shown in Fig. 62. Here 

 the annular incision is made just below the fruit 

 bunch at the time of flowering. A pair of pincers 

 with a double pair of semicircular jaws, makes both 

 the upper and lower incision at once, when the bark is 

 easily removed by the finger nail. 



The following are the details of an English practi- 

 tioner : 



"The vines are generally cultivated upon the 

 Hoare system, or, as it is called, the long rod system' 

 but they are not so cultivated in every case, for. 

 sometimes an old bearer is spurred back to one or 

 two buds, to carry its crop another year. My vines 

 are very strong, and the rods or branches stand at 



