Feb.] THE VINEYARD. - 147 



similar cases; but the more to the southward the earlier ought this 

 to be done; for if deferred till the sap begins to ascend, serious 

 evils will ensue to the plants, in consequence of bleeding too 

 copiously from the wounds. Let it be observed that the sap begins 

 to rise six weeks or more before the buds expand into leaves. 



Such plants as are but one year old from the cuttings must be 

 cut down to one or two good buds each, according to their strength, 

 always cutting about an inch above the bud in a sloping manner, 

 and on the opposite side thereto, observing that the lowermost bud, 

 next the old wood, is never reckoned among the good ones. 



Such of these young plants as have made more than one shoot 

 last season must be deprived of all, by cutting them off as close as 

 possible to the old wood, except the strongest and best placed; 

 which prune as above directed, and cut off such part of the old 

 wood, close to this shoot, as appears above it, in order that the 

 bark may grow over it and the stem become whole and sound. 



Your two years old plants must be similarly treated, with this 

 difference, that you may leave two good buds to each in order to 

 form as many strong shoots for the next season. 



The three years old plants must be headed down to two good 

 buds, leaving not more than two shoots to each plant, which will 

 produce four for the ensuing season; and these, if the plants be in 

 good health, will yield fruit very handsomely that year. 



The fourth year of a plant leave it three of the best shoots, head- 

 ing them down to two good buds each; and observe to cut oft' the 

 extra branches close to where they were produced, and in like man- 

 ner any decayed wood, as well as the spurs or stumps occasioned 

 by last year's pruning; by which treatment all the parts will get 

 covered with bark, and the stock be continued in health and 

 vigour. 



According as your vines increase in age and strength, you may 

 leave from four to eight shoots on a plant, in proportion to its 

 strength, each headed down from two to four or five good buds, 

 always leaving the greatest number of buds on the most vigorous 

 shoots. 



When a vine is extremely vigorous and well furnished, you may 

 head one or two of its best shoots at the height of three or lour feet, 

 which will bear an abundance of fruit; but the others must be headed 

 down to two or three buds each, in order that they may produce 

 good wood for the ensuing year's bearing and not too much fruit; 

 for those which you headed so high must be effectually cut out close 

 to where they were produced in the next pruning. 



Having finished your pruning, sec that each plant has a good firm 

 stake to support the young shoots when produced and advancing in 

 growth, and if it be vigorous and of many shoots, a second, or even 

 a third, would be more eligible. 



Some inconsiderate persons may think that eight an- too few for 

 1 In 11 grown vine; but if they consider that the eight shoots so 

 pruned may produce, on an average, twenty-four, and each of these 

 bear three bunches of grapes, making in all seventy-two, they will 

 probably view the matter in a different point, especially when they 



