VINES. 



539 



VINES. 



out also all naked old wood. The last 

 summer's shoots thus left win in spring 

 project from every eye or bud young shoots, 

 which produce the grapes the same summer 

 The general rule is to shorten the shoots to 

 three, four, five, or six eyes or joints in 

 length, according to their strength, and 

 cutting them back from half an inch to 

 about a quarter of an inch at every eye, the 

 strongest branches being limited to five or 

 six joints, except where it is required to 

 cover a vacant space on the wall. When 

 left longer, the vines become crowded, in 

 the following summer, with useless shoots, 

 and the fruit is smaller in consequence. 

 This pruning should be performed early in 

 spring, even as early as Februaiy : in 

 pruning at a later period, when the sap has 

 begun to ascend, the wound is apt to bleed 

 when the thick branches have been cut off. 

 A second pruning should be performed 

 about the middle of May, when the grapes 

 are formed and the shoot has attained a 

 length of 2 or 3 feet ; at this time pinch off" 

 the shoot about 6 inches above the fruit and 

 nail it to the wall in such a way that the 

 fruit may be in contact with it. About 

 midsummer a third pruning should take 

 place, when all the branches should be 

 gone over and the fruitless ones, not re- 

 quired for next year's wood, removed. A 

 vigorous vine will require a fourth and final 

 pruning in August, when the long shoots 

 from the previous stoppings must be 

 shortened back again, and all leaves lying 

 too much over the bunches of fruit re- 

 moved ; taking care to prune, however, in 

 such a manner that there is always a succes- 

 sion of young branches advancing from the 

 lower part of the stem properly furnished 

 with bearers, as well as a sufficient supply 

 of young wood to renlace the old as it be- 

 comes unserviceable. The pruning finished, 

 let the branches be nailed or tied neatly to 

 the wall or trellis, laying them regularly 6 

 $. or 10 inches apart. Vine-pruning may 



be performed any time during the winter 

 months, when the weather permits ; but the 

 sooner the work is done the better. The 

 young shoots of last year produce shoots 

 themselves the ensuing summer ; and these 

 are the fruit-bearers, which are to be trained 

 horizontally or upright, according to the 

 design of the tree. 



Summer Pruning. In May the vines 

 will shoot vigorously, producing, besides 

 bearing and succession shoots, others which 

 must be cut away, and bearing and other 

 useful branches nailed or tied up close to 

 the wall before they get entangled with 

 each other ; and all weak and straggling 

 shoots, especially those rising from the old 

 wood, should be cleared away. Much of 

 this summer pruning may be effected by 

 pinching off the young shoots with the 

 finger and thumb while they are young and 

 tender. This should be continued during 

 June and July. Many small shoots rise, 

 one mostly from every eye of the same 

 summer's main shoots laid in a month or 

 two ago : these must be displaced, in order 

 to admit all the air possible to the advanc- 

 ing fruit. All new shoots whatever should 

 now be rubbed off as they appear, except 

 where they are required to cover the wall. 

 In August, even these must be rubbed off, 

 being utterly valueless even for that pur- 

 pose. 



Management of Fruit. During August 

 the fruit itself requires attention. Where 

 the branches are entangled, or in confusion, 

 let them be regulated so that every branch 

 may hang in its proper position. All the 

 shoots that have fruit hanging on them, or 

 which are ranging out of bounds, may be 

 stopped, and where the grapes are too much 

 shaded during August and September, 

 remove a few of the leaves which intercept 

 the light and heat. They should now have 

 all possible aid of the sun to enrich their 

 lavour. It will be necessary now to pro- 

 tect them from birds, wasps, &c., by bag- 



