OF THE VINE. 31 



The vine was pruned immediately, and cut almost 

 to a stump, to give it every chance of recovering 

 from the blow it had received. But, in the following 

 spring, not a single bud unfolded till nearly a month 

 after the usual time, and at the close of the season, 

 the largest shoot was only twenty-six inches in 

 length, and no larger than a packing needle, although, 

 in the previous year, the vine had emitted very vigor- 

 ous shoots twenty-live feet in length. It has been 

 pruned very closely every year since, and has in con- 

 sequence gradually acquired strength ; but although 

 eight years have elapsed since the experiment was 

 made, it has not yet recovered its former vigor. The 

 effects produced on the other vines have ultimately 

 proved equally injurious, not one of them having yet 

 acquired anything like the same degree of health 

 which it then possessed. 



The result of these experiments was decisive as to 

 the proportion of fruit having very greatly exceeded 

 the strength of the vines, some of which, no doubt, 

 would have died from the effects of their own fertili- 

 ty, if they had not previously been in an exceedingly 

 vigorous state. 



In the following year, 1827, another set of vines 

 was selected for a similar trial of strength, and only 

 half as much fruit retained on each, as on those of 

 the preceding year. This quantity, however, proved 

 far too great, as the grapes only partially ripened, and 

 the vines were completely crippled for several years 

 afterwards. 



In the three following years, 1828, 1829, and 1830, 

 fresh vines were annually selected for similar experi- 

 ments, and the weight of fruit reduced every succes- 

 sive year, until, in 1830, the object in view seemed 

 to be attained, the grapes having all been perfectly 

 matured, and the vital powers of the vines (which 

 has subsequently been proved) not in the least en- 

 croached upon. 



Other vines of different ages were also annually 



