OF THE VINE. 33 



would have died from the effects of their own fertility, 

 if they had not previously been in an exceedingly vig- 

 orous state. 



In the following year, 1827, another set of vines 

 was selected for a similar trial of strength, and only 

 half as much fruit retained on each as on those of 

 the preceding year. This quantity, however, proved 

 far too great, as the grapes only partially ripened, and 

 the vines were completely crippled for several years 

 afterwards. 



In the three following years, 1828, 1829, and 1830, 

 fresh vines were annually selected for similar exper- 

 iments, and the weight of fruit reduced every succes- 

 sive year, until, in 1830, the object in view seemed to 

 be attained, the grapes having all been perfectly ma- 

 tured, and the vital powers of the vines (which has 

 subsequently been proved,) not in the least encroached 

 upon. 



Other vines of different ages were also annually se- 

 lected, during the above-mentioned period, from 1826 

 to 1830, and as much fruit assigned to each of th m 

 to ripen as was then thought equal to their powers of 

 maturation. The weight so assigned has since proved 

 to have been pretty near the correct proportion. 



The results of all these experiments were carefully 

 registered from year to year, and at the close of 1830, 

 the whole being accurately examined, it appeared 

 clearly that the capability of the vines to mature fruit 

 was in direct proportion to the circumference of their 

 respective sterns. 



Simultaneously, also, with these experiments, sev- 

 eral young vines were annually set apart for the pur- 

 pose of discovering the effects of early bearing on 

 their subsequent growth, and of ascertaining the size 

 which the stem of a young vine must attain, before it 

 is capable of maturing any fruit without injury to its 



