30 FRUIT- BEARING POWERS 



attainment of that object, therefore, I commenced 

 a series of experiments on a great number of vines of 

 various ages and sorts, and training on every variety of 

 aspect, south of, and including the eastern and western 

 points of the horizon. 



Knowing by previous experience, that it was possi- 

 ble to load a vine with such a quantity of fruit as 

 would completely deprive it of life in its endeavours to 

 mature it. and assuming that the circumference of the 

 stem of the plant would form a true index to its vital 

 powers, unless these had been injured by overbearing, 

 several vines remarkably vigorous in growth, and which 

 had been for three years previously closely pruned, 

 were in the first place selected for trial, for the purpose 

 of discovering that quantity. That point having been 

 ascertained, it was intended then to select, in every 

 succeeding year, a fresh set of vines, and to reduce, 

 annually, the weight of fruit to be borne by each of 

 them, until the actual quantity which any vine, in pro- 

 portion to the circumference of its stem, can perfectly 

 mature without injury to its vital powers, was correctly 

 ascertained. 



In accordance wilh this intention, the vines first 

 selected as above mentioned, were pruned in the au- 

 tumn of 1825, and as much bearing wood retained as 

 was supposed would produce sufficient fruit, either to 

 kill them, or cripple them for many years to come. 

 The number of buds retained on each vine, and the cir- 

 cumference of its stem, were carefully registered. The 

 ensuing summer of 18*26 afforded a remarkably fine 

 vintage, and was, therefore, a highly favourable year 

 for the trial. 



To describe the results, which with little variation 

 were the same in all, one vine may be advantageously 

 selected. This was a white muscadine, in the eighth 

 year of its age, and, tike all the rest, in the highest 



