CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 133 



majority of these may be simply placed in position upon 

 the outer wires, where their own weight will keep them. 

 Some stray shoots will require tying. As the fruit 

 matures, the weight will gradually bend down the 

 branches, checking the tendency to growth at the ex- 

 tremities, and securing all the forces of the vine for the 

 fruit. Fig. 26 represents a vine grown after this manner. 



Fig. 26. 



So far as I am aware, this mode of training is novel ; 

 it has not had the test of trial. The main advantage 

 which it claims is the economizing of the forces of the 

 vine to the utmost extent possible for the production and 

 maturity of fruit. It is a near approach to the position 

 of a vine in a tree-top. The two outside wires are a 

 little raised for the purpose of encouraging growth in 

 the shoots during the early stage of development; this 

 growth, however, becoming gradually restrained as the 

 branches take a horizontal position. Incidental advan- 

 tages of this form may also be suggested, such as a 

 more uniform and moderate shade of the soil than by 



