GRAPE-VINE. 87 



duced to a scale its bearing capacities at certain stages of 

 its growth. The greatest quantity of grapes which any 

 vine can mature, in proportion to the circumference of its 

 stem or base measured three inches above the ground, is as 

 follows : — 



When 3 inches in circumference 5 lbs. 



3 1-2" " 10 " 



4 " " 15 " 



5 " " 20 " 



6 " " 36 " 



7 " " 45 " 



8 " " 55 " 



9 " " 65 " 

 " " 75 " 



The Autumnal Pruning or Training should take place 

 immediately after the falling of the leaves, and the wood 

 of the year just finished should never be trimmed back to 

 but one eye, instead of which a long spur of three eyes 

 must be left, since one or more may be defective. The 

 surplus eyes can be rubbed off after securing the setting of 

 the fruit during the earliest stage of its growth the ensuing 

 season. 



In Summer Pruning, every shoot must be stopped two 

 leaves above the bunch, after which new lateral shoots will 

 soon be produced. These again must be stopped by pinch- 

 ing off about every fortnight, to preserve the strength of 

 the plant for the perfection of the fruit. 



High training is generally pursued from observing that 

 the most vigorous shoots and best fruit are usually found 

 at the extremities of the branches, especially those situated 

 highest. It has been observed that native vines seldom or 

 never throw out bearing shoots before reaching the tops of 

 trees on- which they seek support, when the branches gener- 

 ally assume a horizontal direction. 



