504 [ THE VINE. 



are pushing on the stem or in places where they are not 

 required, and multiple shoots springing from the same 

 bud are reduced to one. reserving the upper one which 

 is always the strongest. The first stage is sometimes 

 merged into the second, which is performed in the first 

 half of May, and consists in the removal of a second 

 crop of superfluous shoots which follows the first, and in 

 shortening the fruit shoots to two or three leaves above 

 the uppermost bunch of flowers. The third trimming is 

 done early in June and consists in a third removal of 

 superfluous shoots and in shortening those fruit shoots 

 which were not sufficiently developed to be trimmed or 

 stopped in May. This shortening or stopping of the 

 fruit shoots is particularly necessary in the case of the 

 upper two fruit shoots which are formed on the mother- 

 bearer, as they have a tendency to start growing at a 

 very quick rate, and take up all the energy which should 

 go to the formation of the grape. The uppermost shoot 

 is therefore allowed th develop unhindered only when a 

 long cane is required to furnish a good layer for next 

 winter, to replace a missing or sickly vine close by, or 

 to fill up an empty space in the rows of vines, on 

 lands free from Phylloxera. At the second and third 

 stages of trimming the fruiting shoots are secured to 

 the pergola or to their supports, otherwise they may 

 hang down and break off when a breeze is blowing. 

 Vines trained on pergolas should be trimmed with 

 moderation, removing the useless and ill-placed shoots, 

 and shortening only the weaker fruiting shoots, spai ing 

 the more vigorous, if well placed, to be retained as 

 mother-bearers for next year. It is also necessary 

 to exercise circumspection in the trimming of the 

 specialised vineyard planted on good soils, where the 

 vine are growing vigorously. On such vines the bunches 

 will shank considerably if there is any delay in trimming, 

 that is if part of the vigour of the vine is not diverted 

 from the formation of foliage to the formation of fruit ; 



