82 APPENDIX. 



strongly tied to prevent the effects of wind. About the first 

 of September, and not much before, the extremities are 

 pinched off to arrest their further elongation and growth — 

 whereby the wood and buds become more perfectly matured — 

 this finishes the w^ork of the vines for the third season. 



We are now arrived at the fourth spring. The vines are 

 old enough to bear a full crop — and we have two good thrifty 

 canes ready for the knife — the old strings by which they were 

 secured to the stakes are cut — and the tendrils trimmed oflf. 

 The cane that comes oflP highest from the root is chosen to 

 bear the whole crop, and is cut off about four feet from the 

 ground, having from six to ten eyes according to the length 

 of the joints — the other cane, which is often equally beauti- 

 ful, is cut down to two eyes, and is generally used for cuttings. 

 From these two eyes two more shoots are trained, as in the 

 previous year. After all are pruned, and just when the sap 

 begins to flow freely and the vines are most flexible, the bear- 

 ing cane is carefully bent round in the form of a hoop, and 

 tied to the stake with willow twigs — one at the bottom, one at 

 the top of the circle, and the third fastens the extremity either 

 to the the stake or to the vine below. 



I am often asked, why this hoop or circle ? The answer 

 is, gradually to retard the current of sap or juice, that each 

 eye may receive an equal share, and prevent its rushing on- 

 ward to the last eye or bud, which is sure to gain too great a 

 share and to cause a growth too exuberant if trained upward 

 with the stake. 



The operation of tying is performed with much dexterity 

 by experienced hands, and should always be completed before 

 the buds are much expanded, as then they are liable to be 

 broken off. 



All my hopes and expectations of a crop are now centered 

 in this little circle. If the winter has not been too severe 

 every eye will shoot, and in a short time show the blossoms, 

 from one to three bunches on each. After the berries are set 



