On the Cultivation of the Vine, 



It is at this first trimming of the vine, that we begui 

 to apply the principle above laid down, and it is here 

 only that there ever can be any difficulty in the appli- 

 cation of it : and this difficulty can only arise from the 

 circumstance of so very feeble a growth in the vine, as 

 not to have produced a clasper in any part of it, which 

 will seldom happen ; but if it should happen, the vine 

 must be cut off at half an inch above the lowest strong 

 full eye ; otherwise it is to be cut off at half an inch 

 above the first clasper, and in both cases all the eyes 

 below are to be carefully rubbed off. 



The eye thus left on will sometimes produce more 

 than one shoot, in which case all but the strongest 

 should be rubbed off, and that supported from fiilling 

 down ; which, except the keeping of the ground free 

 from weeds, is all the care required for this year. In 

 November, this shoot is again to be covered as before 

 directed, and in the following February is to be again 

 Gut off just above the second lowest clasper ; that is, 

 leaving on two eyes to shoot this season, and again 

 rubbing off all the eyes below the lowest clasper. Both 

 these shoots should be permitted to grow to their ut- 

 most length ; which, if the soil be favourable, will be 

 very considerable, and there will be reason to hope for 

 fruit in the next season. 



Here you ought to be apprised that the lowest 

 clasper appears higher up on some kinds of the vine, 

 than on others : on some it appears at the third leaf, on 

 some at the fourth, and on some kinds so high up as the 

 fifth leaf; but the same rule is to be alike applied to all, 

 and every eye below the lowest clasper be rubbed off. 



