CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 131 



turned into the horizontal arm, its tendency is to seek the 

 extreme end. This force is diminished by the suction of 

 the successive upright shoots ; yet it is sufficiently strong 

 at the end of a cane of the ordinary length of six or 

 eight feet. This one-arm system, or single, horizontal 

 cane-system, I have tried for two seasons in my own 

 vineyard, and with gratifying results. Upon arms six 

 feet in length, I have not noticed any appreciable differ- 

 ence in vigor at the end. of the cane. 



As the canes all lead in one direction, the whole work 

 of training, pruning, and winter-covering, is reduced to 

 its simplest and easiest form. The two main objections 

 which I have experienced have been, first and especially, 

 in the vigor of the upright shoots ; and, secondly, in the 

 labor of carefully tying each shoot. It is evident, as was 

 before stated, that the upright position of the bearing 

 wood tends directly to overcome the influence of the 

 horizontal arm. In the case of the wild vine, not only 

 the arms run horizontally in the tops of trees, but also 

 the branches arch over, or are pendent, with the weight 

 of fruit. In the Thomery plan, it is evident that Na- 

 ture's pattern is not followed. What will be the result, 

 if, instead of a partial use of Nature's hints, we apply 

 the principle entirely? 



