MANAGEMENT. 97 



as when the arms of the vine were first formed. It 

 is very advisable, however, that the vine should not 

 be suffered to extend itself further on the wall, for in 

 such case the 'bearing-shoots, emitted from the centre, 

 are sure to decline in strength; whereas, by confining 

 the dimensions of the vine to a single arm on each 

 side of the stem, and each arm to the support and 

 nourishment of two branches only, the very best 

 description of bearing-shoots Avill never fail to be 

 generated close at home ; and these, as the vine ad- 

 vances in age, will become prolific almost beyond 

 conception. I have often ripened as many as seven 

 full-sized bunches of grapes on two shoots which 

 have pushed from a single bud, on vines managed in 

 this manner. Indeed, those who have been accus- 

 tomed to permit their vines to cover a large space of 

 Availing, and to possess a great number of branches, 

 can scarcely imagine, how much easier a vine is man- 

 aged, and with what certainty the fruit is increased in 

 quantity, and improA^ed in quality, when it is kept 

 within a small compass on the surface of the wall. 



Moreover, there cannot be the slightest reason 

 given, why vines should be encouraged to spread over 

 the extent of surface which they usually do, their 

 propagation being so easy, that a Avall, however long 

 or high, may be entirely covered with fruit and bear- 

 ing-wood in the space of six or seven years, provided 

 the vines are planted sufficiently near to each other. 

 The roots of vines do not prejudice each other by 

 running together, but, on the contrary, rather serve to 

 prevent any redundancy of moisture in the soil, by 

 more fully occupying it, and to cause the shoots to 

 be less luxuriant in their growth, than if they enjoyed 

 a more extensive range for food; and this, without 

 doubt, increases their fertility. 



I have planted vines within eighteen inches of each 

 other, for the purpose of speedily filling a wall ; and 

 they thrive, and produce as fine grapes, as if planted 

 as many yards apart. The distance, therefore, at 

 which vines may be planted from each other, need 

 9 



