ON T^p TRAINING OF VINES. 



83 



cases to be cut down to the lowermost bud or two at 

 the next autumnal pruning. With respect, therefore, 

 to all such shoots, no greater supply of sap should be 

 permitted to flow into them, than is necessary to 

 mature their fruit, as all above that quantity will be 

 so much nourishment uselessly expended, and taken, 

 indeed, from the young shoots that are to be produced 

 in the current year for future bearers. For example, 

 if the shoots 1, 2, 3, 4, fig. 3, were trained in straight 



lines, the sap wonld ascend with such force, that 

 many of the lowermost buds would scarcely break at 

 all, the sap passing by them, and accumulating in 

 those at the upper part of the shoots, which would 

 burst with great force, and form very strong shoots; 

 these would rob all the fruit on those below of its 

 due share of nourishment, and also the shoots emitted 

 from the spnrs D; which, to form good bearing- 



