124 MY VINEYAKD. 



bearing which it does not have in its wild state; but an- 

 other eifect, and an undesired one, is the engendering of 

 disease. This last effect is of least frequent occurrence in 

 those systems of training which requires the least pruning. 

 Hence, excessive pruning should be guarded against ; but 

 it does not follow that no pruning at all would be a desir- 

 able system of culture. What we desire of the vine is 

 that it shall subserve our wants. This it will not generally 

 do in its natural state, or when left to its natural tenden- 

 cies ; artificial means are therefore employed to bring 

 about the desired end. 



Vines without Pruning. — Nevertheless, I have seen 

 vines succeed admirably when left to themselves. Being- 

 planted at the side of large trees, they climbed to the top, 

 and bore rich treasures of fruit among the branches. And 

 these vines were free from disease. But it must be re- 

 membered that with all varieties, and in all localities, these 

 results will not obtain. The opposite is the rule ; this the 

 exception. Still, to all who can do so without inconven- 

 ience, I would recommend a trial of this method with a 

 few plants. 



Training near the Ground. — They tell me that in 

 Minnesota, though I have never seen it, they have a way 

 of training their vines upon trellises only a few inches 

 above the ground, much as they would train melons. The 

 claim is, that the grapes are ripened by the rndiated heat 

 of the soil, when they would not be on an upright trellis. 



