48 



Stopping . When the fruit has formed, the tops of the shoots should 

 be pinched off with the thumb and finger, three or four joints above the 

 upper bunch. It is not advisable to nip the shoots closer, as sufficient 

 foliage must be left to shade the bunches. Cultivators must also bear in 

 mind that each shoot 'should carry enough foliage to supply its share of 

 the plant food obtained from the atmosphere, and assist in promoting 

 healthy root action. When extended shoots are required, as will be the 

 case when u long-rod pruning " is practised, the branches should not be 

 pinched back at all. 



Toppina. In some parts of Europe it is a common practice to cut the 

 tops off the vines just as the fruit is beginning to ripen so as to reduce 

 the amount of foliage and expose the bunches more freely to sun and 

 light. To a limited extent this practice is followed by some cultivators 

 in this part of the world. The advantages to be derived from topping will 

 depend upon local conditions, such as climate, 

 aspect, character of the season, and lateness in ripening 

 of the variety. In the colder regions, Avhere the 

 Grape is late in maturing, the ripening period will 

 be accelerated by the removal of some of the 

 foliage, and exposing the bunches more freely to 

 light and sun. Vines growing on a shaded slope, 

 where the sun has but little power, may also be 

 assisted by the reduction of the foliage. Then, 

 again, the removal of a portion of the foliage may 

 be beneficial in a late cool season, and with kinds 

 that are backward in ripening. Topping is not 

 required in the warmer regions as a rule, though 

 it mav prove serviceable under special conditions. 

 Where the sun is powerful and the heat great, a 

 good shade is required, and a reduction of the 

 foliage is likely to do much harm. When bunches 

 are fully exposed to the sun's power the fruit is 

 liable to get scalded and seriously injured. Foreign 

 cultivators from the colder wine-growing regions of 

 Europe often fall into error through adopting 

 the same practice in topping their vines that they 

 were taught in their native countries. These people too often, in 

 ignorance, lose sight of the fact that, though in cool late regions a 

 reduction of the foliage is an advantage, yet, on the other hand, a full 

 shade is an essential requirement in the warmer districts. 



Thinning. Sometimes more bunches are formed on a shoot than it can 

 bring to perfection, and it will be necessary, if fine fruit is an object, to 

 reduce the number. As a rule, not more than two bunches on a shoot can 

 mature to perfection. Some varieties set their berries very close on the 

 bunches, and it is a common practice with European gardeners to thin 

 them out when about the size of small peas. If specially fine fruit is 

 required this practice may be adopted with advantage with close-berried 

 table varieties. 



STOPPING. Showing 

 where Shoot should be 

 pinched back. 



