HASTENING THE MATURITY OF THE GRAPE. 2o3 



table purposes, however, the grapes seem to be im- 

 proved botli in size and appearance. 



Fig. 62. 



Tlie French method is shown in Fig. 62. Here 

 the annular incision is made just below the fruit 

 bunch at the time of flowering. A pair of pincers 

 with a double pair of semicircular jaws, makes both 

 the upper and lovrer incision at once, when the bark is 

 easily removed by the finger nail. 



The following are the details of an English practi- 

 tioner : 



''The vines are generally cultivated upon the 

 Iloare system, or, as it is called, the long rod systen^^ 

 but they ar€ not so cultivated in every case, for 

 sometimes an old bearer is spurred back to one or 

 two buds, to carry its crop another year. My vines 

 are very strong, and tiie rods or brandies stand at 



