70 THE GRAPE. 



It will now be plainly seen which are the best set and 

 handsomest bunches, and as there are more than it is ad- 

 visable to ripen off, on account of the youth of the vines, 

 and the consequent danger of overbearing, thereby injuring 

 meir permanent prosperity, it will be better to reduce the 

 number according to the strength of the plant, or weight 

 of the bunch. A cane of three-fourths inch diameter may 

 be allowed to carry from six to seven, and one of half an 

 inch, five to six pounds ; but when they are smaller than 

 this, only one, or at most two bunches ought to remain. 

 Some kinds form much larger bunches than others, which 

 may be ascertained in some measure while young, and 

 the number may be calculated accordingly. A well 

 shouldered Hamburgh will weigh from one and a half to 

 two and a half pounds; if very large, from three and a half 

 to four pounds ; while the Malvesia is a large bunch of its 

 kind at ten ounces. Better to be guided by comparative 

 weight than number of bunches, as greater equality is 

 gained, and the vines are rendered more uniform in vigor 

 afterwards. Be it remembered, that it is much more diffi- 

 cult to bring back energy where a part is injured, than 

 when the whole is so, for the well-doing will take tho 

 lion's share of nutriment from the borders. In removing 

 the superfluous clusters take out the worst formed and most 

 weakly, and let the greater part be near the top of the 

 plant, leaving the bottom spurs as free as possible ; for a 

 vine while young is prone to push its strongest growth 

 upwards. By bearing the upper part the heaviest, the 

 circulation is equipoised, and the lower laterals are re- 

 lieved, and if the flow is encouraged to take a lateral 

 course at first, it is much easier to retain the same after- 

 wards. There is no occasion to crowd all the crop at tho 

 top, only let the greater part be there and the object is 

 accomplished. 



