Chap.XIJ. O F T H E V I N E. 383 



or a month, to nib off all lateral flioots as they are produced : and 

 to faflen the main flioots to the wall, as they are extended in length, 

 which muft not be fhortened before the middle, or latter end of 

 July, when it will be proper to nip off their tops, which will 

 flrengthen the lower eyes : and during the fummer feafon, you muft 

 conftantly keep the ground clear from weeds : nor fhould you per- 

 mit any forts of plants to grow near the vines ; which would not 

 only rob them of nourifhment, but fhade the lower parts of the 

 fhoots, and thereby prevent their ripening j which will not only 

 caufe their wood to be fpongy and luxuriant, but render it lefs 

 fruitful. 



" As foon as the leaves begin to drop in autumn, you fhould prune 

 thefe young vines again, leaving three buds to each of the {hoots, 

 provided they are ftrong; otherwife it is better to ihorten them down 

 to two eyes, if they are good; for it is a very wrong praftice to leave 

 much wood upon young vines, or to leave their fhoots too long, 

 which greatly weakens the roots : then you fliould faften them to 

 the wall, fpreading them out horizontally each way, that there may 

 be room to train the new flioots the following fummer; and in the 

 fpring, dig the borders as before. 



** The third feafon, you muft go over the vines again, as foon as they 

 begin to fhoot, to rub off all danglers as before ; and train the young 

 fhoots in their proper places, v/hich this year may be fuppofed to be 

 two from each fhoot of the laft year's wood : but if they attempt 

 to produce two fhoots from one eye, the weakeft of them muft be 

 rubbed off; for there fliould never be more than one allowed to come 

 out of each eye. If any of them produce fruit, as many times 

 they will the third year, you fhould not ftop them fo foon as is ge- 

 nerally pradlifed upon the bearing fhoots of old vines, but permit 

 them to fhoot forward till a Month after Midfummer, at which time 

 you may pinch off the top of the fhoots : for if this were done too 

 foon, it would fpoil the buds for the next year's wood, which in 

 young vines mufl be more carefully preferved than on older plants, 

 becaufe there are no other fhoots to be laid in for a fupply of wood, 

 as is commonly praftifed on old vines. 



*♦ During the fummer, you muft conftantly go over your vines, and 

 difplace all weak lateral flioots as they are produced, and caiefully 

 keep the ground clear from weeds, as was before direcfled, that the 

 fhoots may ripen well; which is a material thing to be obfcrved in 

 mcft forts of fruit trees, but efpecially in vines, which feldom pro- 

 duce 



