2o6 Grape-Culture. 



GRAPE-CULTURE. 



(Continued.) 



A GRAPE-VINE, if left to itsclf after planting, will usually put forth a shoot 

 from every well-developed bud. The uppermost buds being strongest, one 

 or more of the upper shoots will take the lead, especially if the plant is 

 near any object to which it can cling for support, and make an upward 

 growth proportionate to the strength of the parent plant. This growth 

 will be much stronger if the shoots are continually supported, and kept 

 looking upward during the whole period of growth, than if they are left to 

 trail upon the ground, or run horizontally. As the plant progresses in 

 growth, laterals or side-shoots spring from the axils of the leaves ; and its 

 strength is so diffused among their numerous branches, that it often assumes 

 more the character of a bush than a vine. In following years, if the vine 

 be still left to its natural tendencies, this process is repeated and amplified : 

 the upper and stronger shoots still spreading, and tending upward ; the 

 lower growth becoming weaker and more feeble, until we have only bare 

 stems below, and the annual growth farther from the root with each suc- 

 ceeding year. The strength of the plant being so widely diffused among 

 numerous branches and laterals, but little of its wood is strong enough to 

 produce fruit-buds ; and it is long before it comes into bearing. As a gen- 

 eral rule, while vines thus left to themselves are vigorous in growth, and of 

 healthy constitution, they yield inferior and very little fruit in proportion 

 to their growth and foliage. 



In strong contrast to this vine, in a state of nature, is the artificial con- 

 dition of the cultivated vine in the hands of a skilful vine-dresser ; and 

 the art of so conducting the process as to check the diffusive tendencies 

 of the natural growth, and to induce earlier and greater fruitfulness, without 

 injurious interference with the natural habits of the vine, constitutes the 

 science of grape-culture. 



Suppose, after planting a young vine, instead of leaving it to its natural 

 tendencies and allowing all its buds to grow, we prune it back to two or 

 three eyes, and, as soon as they begin to push, rub off all except the 

 strongest one. Then, as the single cane from this bud progresses, keep it 

 carefully tied up to a stake or trellis. As laterals appear, pinch them off 



