THE RETARDI^'G HOUSE. lOi 



pruning, it is well not to make a general rule of cutting 

 all at once, or leaving tlie vines until the crop is cleared, 

 but do it so soon as the leaves are turned yellow, or fallen ; 

 and the whole of the fruit is gathered on each separate 

 plant, which will enable the operator to accomplish a good 

 part of this work sooner, and give a portion of the stock 

 a better chance of the same action that we always find of 

 service, by a periodical and judicious pruning in all other 

 instances. This is more strictly applicable where the 

 spur method is adopted, but is nevertheless to be recom- 

 mended for the long rod, as the latter offers greater facili- 

 ties than the former, because there is a less disposition to 

 break or burst the buds, with a young and strong cane in 

 early spring, than with spurs ; and as the whole of the 

 previous bearing shoot is taken away, there is only one 

 cut exposed to the danger of bleeding ; a subject of some 

 importance, if the fruit has been kept on the vine until 

 late. In such case, immediately on removing the branch, 

 the severed surface should be covered over with a coating 

 of grafting wax, white lead, or, what is still better, finely 

 powdered oyster-shells and cheese, worked together into a 

 thick cement, and a portion rubbed well into the exposed 

 pores. This, we repeat, ought to be done immediately 

 after pruning, and all danger of bleeding will be avoided. 

 It is of little use to attempt to stop the sap after it has 

 commenced to flow, for there is a propelling power in the 

 action of a plant at this time that is truly wonderful ; and 

 although there is not so much injury from the loss of a 

 portion of the fluid as some persons would have us belie"ve, 

 still it is better to prevent the waste, for it certainly does 

 check, to some extent, the full burst of nature, as we have 

 often satisfactorily proved. 



It may be thought, from the preceding caution, and 

 seeming uncertainty, that the Retarding House ought to be 



