268 GARDENING. 



space." " I have," he adds, " within a few years 

 past, gradually trained bearing branches of a small 

 black cluster grape to the distance of near fifty feet 

 from the root, and I find the bunches every year 

 grow larger and ripen earlier, as the shoots con- 

 tinue to advance ; for, according to Knight's theory 

 of the circulation of the sap, the juices become 

 richer the farther they pass through the alburnum : 

 whence it follows that trees and vines give blos- 

 som-buds in greater quantity and perfection in pro- 

 portion as the branches are long, and that even the 

 extremities of these are best furnished with flow- 

 ers and fruit." 



As pruning is essential to all these forms, though 

 not in the same degree, it may be proper to make a 

 few remarks on this subject. And, first, the knife, 

 in its application to the grape-vine, is not used till 

 the second year, when the plant has pushed three 

 or four shoots. Two of these (generally the low- 

 est) are selected for bearers, and shortened down 

 to the fourth, fifth, or sixth eye from the root, while 

 all others are entirely removed. This is done in 

 the autumn after vegetation is over, and forms the 

 whole of the first year's pruning. In the subse- 

 quent spring, and so soon as the buds have pushed, 

 follows what the French call enbourgeonement, and 

 the English disbudding, and which consists " in rub- 

 bing off all fore-right and lateral shoots, which, if 

 retained, might crowd or cross the bearing branch- 

 es, or otherwise obstruct the form intended to be 

 given to the vine." Suckers are also to be care- 

 fully removed, and with them axillary buds and 

 curls, and such of the roots as may run within eight 

 inches of the surface. The third year's pruning 

 will be the result of a careful examination* 1st, of 

 the two leading branches, and the young wood they 

 have respectively produced ; and, 2d, of the surface 

 (whether of wall or of trellis) which it is your in- 

 tention to cover. If these be in just proportion to 



