MANAGEMENT OF FEUITING VINES. 113 



removed which prevent the sun from striking upon 

 the branches to be ripened, the effect of this being to 

 stop the rapid growth of the branches and to consoli- 

 date their tissue, in consequence, partly, of the exces- 

 sive perspiration, and partly of the rapid digestion of 

 the sap, which is thus induced \foT the rate of digestion 

 and perspiration in a liealtliy jplant^ is in proportion 

 to the quantity of light and heat to which it is ex- 

 posed. Hence the removal of those shoots which in 

 summer overshadow that wood of the peach-tree 

 which is intended to be preserved another year, is 

 useful ; there can be no doubt, however, that as few 

 shoots as possible should be thus removed. Another 

 case in which the removal of the leaves is justifiable 

 occurs in the vine. In this plant the fruit is borne 

 near the base of the lateral shoots, which will, if un- 

 checked, go on lengthening and producing leaves to a 

 considerable distance. I^ow all the food of such a 

 lateral shoot is obtained from the main branch, which, 

 however, is only capable of furnishing a certain 

 quantity. If the lateral shoot is allowed to grow un- 

 checked, it will consume its portion of food in the 

 production of many leaves and some grapes ; and the 

 more there is of the former, the less will be the 

 weight of the latter. But if the shoot is stopped after 

 having formed two leaves, all that quantity of food 

 which would have been consumed in the production 



