172 



TJie Grape Culturist. 



dirtbr with yon (.lecidcdly about the 

 value of layers or plauts grown from 

 single eyes or cuttings. You say the 

 latter arc simply ridiculous in compari- 

 son, hut give no reason lor that asser- 

 tion. We have given oar reasons else- 

 where for prefeiring the latter, and we 

 trust we have had as much experience 

 and practice as friend Trabue. But if 

 3*ou grow your plants from cuttings by 

 the sweating process you describe, 

 keeping them shaded until August, it 

 is not surprising that neither roots nor 

 tops can be very good. Their consti- 

 tution is enfeebled. You do not give 

 them time enough to harden ort". How 

 then can you expect them to flourish 

 well, if transplanted next fall or spring? 



Voii advise pruning in April, and say 

 " it will not hurt if the vines bleed.' 

 We contend it will. You ma}' just as 

 well contend that the loss of blood 

 will not hurt you, if you cut off 3-our 

 hand. It will weaken the vine as much 

 to bleed severely as it will a human 

 being. There is so much vitality lost, 

 which can not be replaced so very soon. 

 Better prune somewhat longer in fall ; 

 you can regulate it by summer pruning 

 should too many eyes start. Vines 

 have never sutt'ered with us if pruned 

 in fall ; nor will they with you, if you 

 do it rightly and judiciously. 



But then j-ou come to pruning, and 

 quote from three sources, which you 

 are pleased to call authorities— Phin, 

 Fuller, and Ilusmann. We are glad to 

 be in such good company; but friend 

 Traljue tinds fault with us because wc 

 can not givo liim ;i lixed rule by which 

 to prune. Wore vines all alike, had 

 llu'y just so many canes each, of ex- 

 actly the same strength and length, we 



could give a rule. But, unfortunately,, 

 one vine grows strongly' , the other but 

 weakl}' ; one variety produces better 

 fruit on long canes, the other on spurs, 

 and thus it would be downright folly 

 and madness to prune one like the 

 other. You have hit very close to it 

 when you use the term '^ judgmatical :' 

 therein lies the philosophy of pruning, 

 that the vintner exercises his judgment. 

 He must learn by practice and experi- 

 ment, and a little thinking, ho^o, where 

 and lohen to prune, without rule or 

 compass ; he must know how heavy the 

 load can be which the vine is able tO' 

 bear, and yet produce wood enough, 

 and retain vigor enough for next j^ear. 

 But our friend is a good deal more 

 indistinct in describing his practice. 

 He says " he cuts the thrifty and robust 

 shoots back to five or six eyes," yet he 

 does not tell us how many of these he 

 leaves on his vine. There may be two, 

 or there ma}' be twenty, for all we 

 know. Will he not enlighten us about 

 this in some way ? It is rather mate- 

 rial to those who wish to understand 

 " his practice." 



^^'c shall be glad to hear from him, 

 or any other members of our wide- 

 spread brotherhood, about this. " More 

 light " is what we want. Give us your 

 experience, fellow vintners, and we can 

 all learn from each other.] — Ed. 



« ♦ » 



^IissouRi AVixES. — Some weeks ao-o the 

 BhifKn Wine Company received antl tilled 

 an order of some forty cases, coniprisin"- 

 an assortment of all then- wines, from Presi- 

 dent (4nint, who it seems, has found them 

 veiy palatahle. It shows that the sound 

 jud<i:uient of the Chief Magistrate is not 

 alone contined to the limits of war and 

 politics. May they serve to lif^hten the 

 cares of Ids lii<,di station; may he live long 

 and gloriously as he has begun, and always 

 have a glass of <rood native wine, good 

 enough tor anybody, to drink with his hosts 

 of friends. 



