90 THE HOME ACRE. 



upward, and thus there may be a thick growth of 

 incipient vines that will crowd and enfeeble each 

 other. The probabilities are that only two or three 

 new vines are wanted ; therefore all the others 

 should be rubbed off at the start, so that the 

 strength of the parent plant and of the new roots 

 that are forming may go into those few shoots de- 

 signed to become eventually a part of our vine- 

 yard. If we wish only one vine, then but one bud 

 should grow from the layer ; if two vines, then two 

 buds. The fewer buds that are permitted to grow, 

 the stronger vines they make. 



It must be remembered that this layer, for the 

 greater part of the growing season, is drawing its 

 sustenance from the parent plant, to which it is still 

 attached. Therefore the other branches of this 

 vine thus called upon for unusual effort should be 

 permitted to fruit but sparingly. We should not 

 injure and enfeeble the original vine in order to get 

 others like it. For this reason we advise that no 

 more buds be permitted to grow from the layer 

 than we actually need ourselves. To injure a good 

 vine and deprive ourselves of fruit that we may 

 have plants to give away, is to love one's neighbor 

 better than one's self a thing permitted, but not 

 required. When our vines are pruned, we can 

 make as many cuttings as we choose, either to 

 sell or give away. 



