FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 313 



above a door, &c., then cut off the vine at that height, observing 

 that there must be but one stem from the ground to tlie point 

 from whence the arms diverge ; and any shoots which come out 

 at the base of the vine, must always be rubbed out, lest they 

 run away with the strength of the vine and rob the upper 

 shoots of the necessary sap. 



The second year you will allow two shoots to grow from the 

 top of the vine ; lay them in diagonally on the espalier, pinch- 

 ing them occasionally as before, and if the buds on the main 

 stem push, pinch them at the second leaf as before. I forgot 

 to say that at the fall pruning, all the laterals should be cut 

 clean out. If dry weather ensue, water occasionally at the 

 root, and syringe the foliage occasionally if you have leisure. 

 At the end of the season cut away all the laterals, and lay in 

 the two shoots right and left on the espalier, horizontally, cut- 

 ting each of them back to a strong bud. Be sure to cut back 

 to a strong bud, for these arms are to be permanent, and it is 

 necessary the wood should be strong and well ripened. 



The third year you may take a few bunches, if your vine is 

 strong, but it is better to wait until the fourth year, as the bear- 

 ing even a few bunches checks the extension of wood. Your 

 side arms will push every eye. Train upright shoots from 

 these horizontal arms at about eighteen inches distance ; this 

 will usually be every alternate bud ; rub out the bud in the 

 interval, all buds, if there be more than one between these upright 

 shoots ; pinch all laterals at the second leaf as before, whether 

 on old wood or new, and pinch the upright shoots when they 

 get to the top of the espalier ; sooner, if they run away weakly. 



In the autumn, cut every alternate upright shoot back to one 

 eye, to make new shoots next year for subsequent bearing, and 

 leave the others at full length for bearing, unless they are not 

 strong ; in that case cut them back to a strong bud. It may 

 happen that the side shoots will take several years to fill up 

 the espalier with strong wood ; but do not fail to cut them back 

 at every fall pruning to a strong bud, making sure of getting 

 strong wood, though you get it little by little ; cut away all 

 laterals as before. 



You have now got a number of upright shoots for bearing ; 

 every eye will push and probably set fruit, and now, unless you 

 have the firmness to cut out two-thirds of the fruit, you are in 



