Sitinmer-Pnuivig of the Grape. 275 



and with the same effect, — that of enlarging the foliage. We thus have a 

 new crop of these valuable evaporating organs, or lungs as they have been 

 fancifully called, and at a season when it may be very desirable to the 

 health of the plant that a supply of fresh foliage should be on hand ; for 

 the older leaves are often injured by storms, by insects, or by accident, and 

 their renewal in this manner will be very opportune. 



This treatment is very different from the practice of many of the Euro- 

 pean vine-dressers, who attempt to manage the free American vine by sub- 

 jecting it to extremely harsh measures. They break off the ends of the 

 shoots at the last bunch after they have made a considerable growth, and 

 thus sacrifice a portion of the energy of the vine. They often defer this 

 trimming until after the blossoming season, because of a prejudice that 

 prevents any work being done among the vines during that delightfully 

 fragrant period when it is a joy to be in the vineyard, almost equal to 

 that experienced at the time of the vintage. Not satisfied with this sacrifice 

 of growth, these tardy but now energetic pruriers tear out all the laterals 

 that may appear; and thus, when provident arrangements have been made 

 for renewing the foliage, they deprive the vine and its fruit of these valua- 

 ble resources ; and it is no wonder, that, with all their efforts to expose their 

 fruit to the burning rays of the sun, they often miserably fail in the desired 

 result of well-ripened fruit. 



This pinching cannot all be done at once. As already observed, its best 

 effects can only be obtained by commencing very early, when only a por- 

 tion of the shoots will be sufficiently developed : these should be pinched. 

 The backward shoots will rapidly advance, and in a few days these must be 

 subjected to the same treatment ; and very soon the laterals on the first 

 will require pinching. In the course of the summer, other laterals will 

 form, which will need shortening for the same purpose of developing the 

 foliage ; but, toward the close of the season, they may be let alone. 



Thus it will be seen that the vine-pincher has no sinecure office, but that 

 his attentions will be pretty constantly required during the season of growth. 



Cleves, o. yoJm A. Warder. 



(To be continued.) 



