440 THE VINEYARD. [JUNE 



young plants, the first thing to be aimed at is a clear stem, about 

 five inches in length, free from suckers. In preparing the cutting, 

 care should be taken to remove all the buds on the portion intended 

 to be inserted in the ground, otherwise many of them would form 

 suckers, injurious to the plants, and troublesome to displace effect- 

 ually. In some cases, cuttings can be obtained long enough to afford 

 at once the proper length of stem ; but when such cannot be had, 

 when the cutting is altogether too short, or proves so after the neces- 

 sary removal of the imperfectly formed wood at top, then three buds 

 above the surface of the ground will be sufficient. These will gene- 

 rally produce three shoots, all of which may be allowed to grow dur- 

 ing the first summer after the cutting has been planted, in order to 

 assist in forming roots. Supposing the plant is intended for the open 

 ground, and that it is to be trained in the usual way, open in the 

 centre ; then in autumn, after the leaves have fallen, two out of the 

 three shoots which the plant has made should be cut off, and the 

 third, selected as the most eligible for a stem, should be shortened, 

 so that the third bud below the cut may be five inches above the 

 ground. Three shoots will generally be produced in the following 

 summer. In autumn the plants will require to be planted out where 

 they are to remain, and at the same time the shoots should be cut 

 back to about four inches, taking care to cut above buds pointing 

 outwards. We have now a stem five inches high, and three branches 

 diverging from it, each of them shortened to about four inches. Two 

 shoots should be encouraged from each of these three, so that in 

 autumn the plant will have six shoots, corresponding with the ulti- 

 mate number of branches necessary. All other shoots must be spur- 

 red to within an inch of their bases. The six shoots selected for 

 leaders should be cut back so as to leave them from four to six inches 

 long; and, like those of the former season, they should be cut to buds 

 pointing outwards. At every future winter pruning the terminal 

 shoots of the six branches should be shortened to between four and 

 six inches long, according to their strength. When the branches 

 nearly attain the intended height, the terminals may be shortened to 

 two or three buds. With regard to the lateral shoots, they must all 

 be cut to within an inch of the old wood at every winter pruning. 



No fruit is more improved than the Currant by good pruning. 

 When left to itself, both bunches and berries are small and worth- 

 less j it is only when carefully thinned, skilfully pruned, and annually 

 divested of old spurs, that the fruit acquires its proper excellence. 



THE VINEYARD. 



During the early part of this month, the vines will be in full 

 bloom, which, in the middle States, generally happens about the first 

 week thereof, a little earlier or later, according to the season ; and 

 although the vines may now require some attendance, it is dangerous 

 to administer it until the bloom is over, lest the blossoms should be 



