86 ON THE PRUNING or VINES. 



endeavouring to cover with a new alburnum these nu- 

 merous scars made by the pruning knife, around the 

 edges of which it accumulates in considerable quan- 

 tity. 



Moreover, although by pruning a vine, its fertility 

 is increased, its existence is no doubt thereby shortened. 

 The severing of a healthy branch from any tree, is, 

 without doubt, doing an act of violence to it, the effects 

 of which are only overcome by the superior strength of 

 the vegetative powers of its roots. By annually making 

 many scores of amputations in a vine, therefore, the 

 energies of the roots become paralyzed, and the efforts 

 which nature is compelled to make for self-preservation 

 are such as to affect, to a considerable extent, the 

 vital powers of the plant. 



Thirdly, by adopting the spur system in the pruning 

 of a vine, the old branches must be retained, because it 

 is on these that the spurs are formed. These branches 

 being annually lengthened, and new spurs created at 

 their extremities, while the former spurs become long- 

 er and more naked every year, the vine, in a few years, 

 contains an immense assemblage of old naked limbs, 

 presenting the most unsightly appearance imaginable, 

 and occupying the surface of the wall to the entire ex- 

 clusion of young bearing-shoots. The disadva ntages 

 of retaining old wood having been already pointed out, 

 it is only necessary further to observe, that these dis- 

 advantages are produced to the greatest possible extent 

 by spur pruning. 



For the foregoing reasons,' therefore, this method may 

 be considered the most objectionable that can be adopt- 

 ed in the pruning of vines on open walls. It may, 

 perhaps, be practised with success on vines under glass, 

 and also in warmer climates, because, in such cases, 

 the sap being far more highly elaborated, will produce 

 fruit from the buds seated at the bases of the spurs. 



