For the Graipe Culturist. 



51 



In 3^oung vines this is particiilarly 

 the case. 



Such vigorous and hardy constitu- 

 ted varieties as the Concord, may 

 stand it to a considerable extent ; but 

 even they will eventually suffer. 



This fault is not only to be found 

 in the vineyards of the novice, but 

 can be seen almost everywhere in 

 charge of those who know better. 



This then being admitted, the next 

 question is, how shall it best be re- 

 medied ? 



Shall we prune so much shorter, so • 

 as not to leave more wood than the 

 vine can carry safely through, or 

 leave more wood, and then thin out 

 the bunches ? 



The latter, in ni}' opinion, will be 

 the best; for by the first plan, we get 

 our fruit too much crowded, and throAv 

 too much force into the young canes 

 for the following j-ears bearing. 



My impression is, that when a vine 

 is pruned to what would seem about 

 right, the pinching out of every third 

 bunch, at the fii'st operation pinching 

 back, would be the best method. 



I would leave but two bunches on 

 each bearing shoot ; and in some in- 

 stances but one. 



We all knoM' that the forming of 

 the seed of any frait, is the heaviest 

 tax on the plant. 



This being the case, do we not give 

 considerable relief when we diminish 

 this tax one third? 



I think we would be safe in coun- 

 ting on having the same weight of 

 fruit in the two bunches, as if three 

 are left. 



Some years ago we grew Concord 

 bunches in this way, which the Com- 

 mittee, who were to test them, would 

 not admit to be that variet}- until 

 they tasted them. 



For marketing table grapes, this is 

 particularly practicable. For instance 

 — let one man take Concords that 

 will average three fourths of a pound 

 to the bunch, and another have them 

 as usually grown, my word for it, the 

 large bunches will command nearly 

 double price, not only among the 

 wealthy, but the masses. 



What is your idea about this ? My 

 object in writing this is to elicit ex- 

 perience from others, and your own 

 opinion in particular. 



Jan. 30. J869 



Yours &c. 



S. Miller. 



(Our friend is right, in attaching a great 

 deal of importance to the thinning out of the 

 fruit. The overloading of the vines has ruined 

 many a promising vineyard already. The 

 best course, in our opinion, is, not to j^rune 

 too short, as many buds will not even start; 

 but do the first pinching early ; just as soon 

 as the young shoots are long enough to dis- 

 cern where the embryo fruit bunches will be, 

 then rub ofl" all weak shoots, and reduce the 

 number of bunches, as he suggests. In a fu- 

 ture number, we will describe it fully, and 

 hope to be able to convince our readers, that 

 this is the proper course to grow the best of 

 grapes. Editor- 



