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however, the summer is hot and dry, frequent sprin- 

 kling will be necessary : let little and often be the 

 maxim. 



With respect to summer pruning, we say let the 

 young vines ramble freely, training the wood so as to 

 expose every available surface of leaf to the light. 

 The complete elaboration of a few select buds is as 

 nothing compared with the ultimate advantage arising 

 from a border well filled with roots. For, rest assured, 

 the volume of roots will be in direct proportion to 

 that of the top, although unseen. 



The system adopted by Mr. Mearns is as follows : 

 The vines are planted inside the house at two feet 

 and a half apart, nearly close to the front wall, and 

 are headed down to within a foot of the soil. One 

 shoot only is allowed to proceed from each plant, 

 which at the end of the first season is cut down to 

 the second or third eye. Next year two leading 

 shoots are encouraged, the strongest of which is stop- 

 ped when it has grown three or four joints beyond the 

 middle of the roof, and the weaker, after having 

 grown three or four feet, for the purpose of strength- 

 ening the eyes. At the fall of the leaf the leading 

 shoots are reduced, the main one to the length of the 

 middle of the roof, and the lower one to the third 

 eye. In the third season, one leading shoot is trained 

 in from each shoot, and from the leading shoot fruit- 

 bearing side shoots are produced. One bunch is left 

 e2 



