54 



ia favour of the process ; the one, concentration of 

 the powers of the vine for a period in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of the fruit, thereby increasing its 

 size ; and the other, the prevention of the secondary 

 shoots of the vine from overlapping and smothering 

 the principal leaves. After these points are duly ac- 

 complished, vines, especially young ones, may be 

 allowed to ramble freely, more especially in the period 

 between the first and last swelling, or during what is 

 termed the stoning process. It is by no means un- 

 common to see young vines nearly destroyed by over- 

 bearing, especially the Muscats. These "show" in 

 an extraordinary way, on strong young canes in 

 newly-made borders ; but if the fruit be allowed to 

 remain, and close stopping resorted to, the constitu- 

 tion of the Muscat will be completely broken up. 

 Let such make as much wood as they please. (Gard. 

 Chron. 1846, 359.) 



We prefer stopping at one joint beyond the fruit, 

 as is the general practice, but some stop close to the 

 bunch. In either case the leaf accompanying the 

 bunch must be carefully preserved, otherwise the fruit 

 will not attain perfection. In case of accident to this 

 leaf, it is better to have one at the joint beyond the 

 fruit, to elaborate, as is absolutely necessary, the sap. 

 Mr. Mearns, however, is of a contrary opinion, and 

 says, "Stop the bearing branches at the bunch instead 

 of the next joint above it, which is the usual prac- 



