PRUNING. 275 



not however to be hurried, but time should elapse sufficiently 

 to show if any of the buds have vigour enough remaining to 

 allow them still to produce fruit which they frequently do even 

 in such cases. No neglect should take place in removing at 

 the annual winter prunings all wood that is old and dry, 

 which should be cut oft* close to the healthy shoots, for when 

 suffered to remain, it retards the circulation of the sap, and its 

 influence is felt by the Wealthy branches. 



The vines subjected to low pruning are cut down to two or 

 three eyes, and those high trained often to a single eye, because 

 the vegetation of the young shoots is strong in proportion to 

 their reduction in number, and to the diminished height of the 

 plant. It is most prudent however to leave more than a single 

 eye, because there is a risk that the one may perish, which not 

 only causes a loss of the fruit, but that of the vine itself, if it 

 is a weak one. 



Judgment must necessarily be exercised in this operation, 

 and more particularly in a country possessing so much solar 

 heat as our own, and it is indispensable that a number of buds 

 be left proportioned to the strength of the shoot and the 

 abundance of sap, for vines trimmed too much and pruned too 

 close, afford less wine, especially if they are of strong growth. 

 Further remarks on close pruning upon the system adopted 

 at Thomery, &c. will be found under the head of " Garden 

 culture." 



It seems very certain that the extreme heat of our climate 

 renders it optional with us whether we shall pursue or not, the 

 system of close pruning to its fullest extent, as adopted in many 

 European countries. I must confess myself considerably a 

 convert to the system of long pruning in that portion of our 

 country where the summers are long and the heat great, and 

 in regard to our most vigorous native vines, I think this sys- 

 tem alone can be attended with the greatest success. Even in 

 France long pruning is preferred where the growth of the 

 vines is very vigorous. In support of the opinion that close 

 pruning is not requisite to abundant produce of our native vines, 

 the most productive Scuppernong vineyards in North Carolina, 



