148 THE VINEYARD. [Feb. 



consider that the ground, occupied by this plant, is no more than 

 about six feet square. However fond people may be to see their 

 vines bear great quantities of fruit, the over-bearing of them, espe- 

 cially while young, and indeed at any period, is allowed on all 

 hands to injure them materially. 



You are particularly to observe that the young shoots of last 

 Bummer's growth are the only bearing wood; that is, they produce 

 new shoots which bear fruit the same season; therefore if you ex- 

 pect a regular supply of grapes, you must manage your plants so as 

 to have an annual succession of new wood, which you cannot ex- 

 pect if the vines are suffered to overbear. 



The above being the method of managing vines in vineyards, the 

 heads being formed near the ground, which is the present practice 

 in most of the vine countries, I shall now proceed to give some 

 directions for the pruning of such as are trained against walls, trel- 

 lises or espaliers. 



Pruning of Vines against Walls, Trellises, and Espaliers. 



In order to have well formed espaliers and wall-vines, &c. you 

 must train the two first good shoots, produced by the plant, horiz.on- 

 tally, one to each side, within a foot or a little better of the ground, 

 and continue them in that direction, from year to year, to whatever 

 extent you may think desirable. 



The first year these must be deprived only of the decayed wood 

 on the extremities, and of any secondary shoots proceeding from 

 the axillas of the leaves, unless they have run to the desired extent: 

 the second year they will produce shoots from the joints, which are 

 to be trained either upright, serpentine form, or fan-fashion, accord- 

 ing to fancy, at the distance of about eight inches from each other; 

 the third year head each of these down to one good bud, and train 

 them up as before directed; the fourth, and every succeeding year, 

 make choice of the strongest shoots, say every third one, and head 

 them down to from ten to twenty buds each, more or less, according 

 to the strength of the mother plant, goodness of the ground, and 

 roundness of the wood, but never leave wood that is not round, for 

 such seldom bears fruit. The other shoots are to be headed down 

 to one or two good buds each, which are to produce young wood for 

 the next year's bearing, as those left to bear this season must be cut 

 down next, in order to produce a succession of young wood: and 

 so continue in their management from year to year. 



When you meet with old vines which have been neglected, and 

 having a great quantity of naked wood, as is generally the case, cut 

 them down near to the ground, and they will not fail to produce you 

 plenty of young wood, which you can train to your liking, but you 

 will have no fruit for that year. Or you may cut out every other 

 branch, leaving the old ones to produce fruit that season; but these 

 must be cut down the next year in order to produce young wood, 

 and a well furnished tree. 



When arbours are to be formed of grape-vines, the shade bcins; 

 as much an object as the fruit, you are to train them so as to cover 



