BRIGHT ON GRAPE CULTURE. 53 



the grape root, for one year, upon the fruit, and aid this 

 if you please, by special manure directed to that object. 

 The next year we cut down the entire vine, and give it 

 time to rest and form new wood, stimulating it, if need 

 b-;, by proper means, to accomplish that object. This 

 we think is far the best method. 



The halving of vines we consider quite unnecessary. 

 We agree with Dr. C. W. Grant, the eminent grape 

 grower of lona, New York, who says that ^' the disposi- 

 tion of the vine is strongly upward, and under ordinary 

 circumstances will not continue to make bearing-wood, 

 for a succession of seasons, through a greater perpendi- 

 cular height than four feet, and even within these limits 

 the upper portions will show the greatest vigor of 

 growth, and the lower the best flavor, but not the largest 

 or the most beautiful bunches. '^ 



The Lowing plan is adopted at Cincinnati to prevent 

 the too free growth of the top of the vine, and to equalize 

 the flow of sap to all parts of the cane. 



We accomplish the same object, as will be seen by 

 reference to our directions for the management of vines 

 in the vineyard and in pot culture, by slinging the vines 

 in the spring, in a horizontal or bowing form, for a short 

 time, till the lower buds break and form shoots two or 

 three inches long, when the vines may be raised up and 

 trained perpendicularly without any injurious eff'oct 

 upon the lower shoots. Once the lower eyes get a good 

 start they will obtain suflficient sap to form good fruit, 

 ajid the natural tendency tc excessive growth in the top 



