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itself further on the wall, for in such case the bearing- 

 shoots emitted from the centre* are sure to decline in 

 strength; whereas, by confining the dimensions of the 

 vine to a single arm on each side of the stem, and 

 each arm to the support and nourishment of two 

 branches only, the very best description of bearing- 

 shoots will never fail to be generated close at home, 

 and these, as the vine advances in age, will become 

 prolific almost beyond conception. I have often ri- 

 pened as many as seven full-sized bunches of grapes, 

 on two shoots which have pushed from a single bud, 

 on vines managed in this manner. Indeed, those who 

 have been accustomed to permit their vines to cover a 

 large space of walling, and to possess a great number 

 of branches, can scarcely imagine how much easier a 

 vine is managed, and with what certainty the fruit is 

 increased in quantity, and improved in quality, when 

 it is kept within a small compass on the surface of the 

 wall. 



Moreover, there cannot be the slightest reason given, 

 why vines should be encouraged to spread over the 

 extent of surface which they usually do, their propaga- 

 tion being so easy, that a wall, however long or high, 

 may be entirely covered with fruit and bearing- wood 

 in the space of six or seven years, provided the vines 

 are planted sufficiently near to each other. The roots 

 of vines do not prejudice each other by running togeth- 

 er, but, on the contrary, rather serve to prevent any 

 redundancy of moisture in the soil, by more fully occu- 

 pying it, and to cause the shoots to be less luxuriant in 

 their growth, than if they enjoyed a more extensive 

 range for food ; and this, without doubt, increases 

 their fertility. 



I have planted vines within eighteen inches of each 

 other, for the purpose of speedily filling a wall ; and 

 they thrive, and produce as fine grapes, as if planted 



