58 AMERICAN GRAPE CULTURE. 



be a necessity for it here ; we propose, there 

 fore, to adopt these new words, in the hope 

 that their directness and conciseness will give 

 them general favor.* 



We will now proceed with the subject of 

 training with all the brevity that is consistent 

 with clearness. There are still not a few per 

 sons who doubt the necessity or utility of 

 training the vine. Some will point with a 

 scarcely concealed look of triumph to the wild 

 vine clinging to some primeval denizen of the 

 forest, and wreathing it with festoons. We are 

 not insensible to the picturesque beauty of the 

 vine as it lovingly clings to some noble old 



* The following are the words, with their definitions, which we 

 give in order that the reader may understand precisely how 

 they are used : Thallon, n. (Greek, tfaJUof .) A sprig or little 

 shoot, especially one proceeding from the base or leaf, as in the 

 grape-vine. Athallage, n. (a priv. and #a/l/lof.) The act or opera 

 tion of removing or pinching off sprigs or little shoots, either 

 partly or wholly. Atfiallize, v. t. To remove or pinch off sprigs or 

 little shoots, either partly or wholly. Athcdlizing, ppr. Removing 

 or pinching off sprigs or little shoots, either partly or wholly. 

 Athattized, pp. Having the sprigs or little shoots removed or 

 pinched off, either partly or wholly. Thus thattons, for our pur 

 pose, will mean the little shoots growing from the base of the 

 leaf on the green cane ; and athallage, the act or operation of 

 pinching off the shoots at one leaf from the base, etc. Each 

 time the thallon is athallized, an additional leaf will be left. In 

 Fig. 21, p. 62, the thallons may be distinctly seen proceeding from 

 the base of the leaves ; and it may be further seen that they have 

 been athallized a third time, the plant being a strong one. We 

 venture to hope that we have made the application clear. 



