PRUNING. 273 



of the same year, renders this management much more simple, 

 In fact it is sufficient to know that the lower buds yield the 

 fruit-bearing shoots, in order to understand it ; and to indicate 

 to us that it is proper to cut the past season's shoots down to 

 as many eyes or joints only, as we deem the plant capable 

 of supporting, the number of course is to be varied according 

 to the vigour, soil, nature of the variety, or other causes, and 

 the operation is only to be extended to shoots of the preceding 

 year. The deviation of the sap from its perpendicular pas- 

 sage, effected by annual primings, is favourable to the produc- 

 tion of fruit by causing it to flow with less rapidity ; and even a 

 sterile vine (those truly male excepted) may be made to yield 

 fruit the ensuing year, by breaking the shoots between the 

 two growths at about half their height, without entirely sepa- 

 rating the upper half, and there is no injury where branches 

 Iiave not produced fruit the previous season, in allowing them 

 to Temain of good length when pruning them, because their 

 sap not having been exhausted^ can support a large crop. 

 Short-jointed shoots being generally deemed the most fruitful, 

 should be left in preference to long jointed ones, if equal in 

 other respects* 



On this subject we can only lay down general rules lo be 

 adopted, wholly or partially according to the circumstaaces. 

 As relates to our native vines, I think die precise period of 

 (performing the principal pruning, is not a matter of very great 

 moment ; for as there is o danger of injury arising from it, 

 the fall, winter, or early m the spring will perhaps answer 

 (equally well. On this and the other operations connected witfi 

 the subject, every vigneron should in frequent instances exer- 

 cise his own judgment 



The vine is among the number of vegetable productions 

 whose foliage and fruits are wholly produced on the shoot of 

 die same year- This fact at is important to be acquainted 

 with, for it is upon this, that is based a part of the principles 

 upon which die culture of the vle is founded. It being also 

 at the lower part of the shoot thai die clusters of fruit are 

 formed, that is another circumstance equally important in tlie 



35 



