128 



SUCCESSFUL FRUIT CULTURE 



flow of the elaborated sap to the parts of the vine back 

 of the girdle, and as a result the foliage beyond the 

 girdle is much increased in vigor and the fruit in size, 

 and it matures a week or ten days earlier than the un- 

 girdled cane. The fruit thus grown has a more watery 

 consistency, does not taste as sweet, but many analyses 

 of girdled fruit show it to contain several per cents more 

 sugar. The lack of sweet taste is due to the acid being 

 more quickly soluble than the sugar. Only the part of 



SPr«ct«r 



Fig. 69— Implements for Ringing Grapevines 



the vine that is bearing the fruit should be treated, 

 i. e., that bearing the fruit, for if the whole vine is 

 girdled, there being no elaborated sap to go below the 

 cut, no new roots will be formed, and the vine will 

 consequently make a very weak growth the next season 

 if it is not killed outright. To obtain the best results, 

 several strong and vigorous canes should be grown below 

 the girdle, when no injury will result from this practice. 

 By this operation the growers in Northern sections can 



