MANAGEMENT OF FRUITING VINES. 115 



version from a substance of the texture oi a leaf into 

 a mass of pulp. In the instance of vine pruning, 

 the great object is to leave on the laterals just as 

 much force as may be required to secure for the 

 bunches the food that is intended for thein, and at 

 the same time to deprive the laterals of the means of 

 expending tliat food uselessly in the production of 

 leaves instead of fruit." -*- 



In applying the above to the culture of the grape 

 in this country, however, v^^e are inclined to believe 

 that the direct access of the sun to the wood or fruit 

 is not necessary to their perfect ripening. And our 

 readers must also observe that, although in the illus- 

 tration at the close of the paragraph, Dr. Lindley 

 alludes to the " removal " of the leaves, yet from the 

 remarks immediately preceding it, we gather that he 

 is no advocate for " summer pruning," but for '' stop- 

 ping." By summer pruning we mean the removal 

 of large quantities of leaves and shoots — a practice 

 ■which is quite common throughout the country. 

 Often and often have we seen loads of such matter 

 cut away under the pretence of " letting in the sun 

 and air to the grapes." ^Now if these summer prun- 

 ers would only observe that all the finest bunches 

 grow and ripen under the shade of the leaves, they 

 would cease their senseless efforts and rest content 

 with merely breaking off the ends of the shoots. 



