CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 185 



quires the support of the elaborated and descending sap, 

 to some degree, for the trunk, and even for the roots. 

 If this support is arrested above, the lower parts will suf- 

 fer. The more complete the arrest of the descending 

 sap, the more, injury results to the trunk and roots As 

 a general rule, when a tree is girdled at the trunk, it will 

 die ; but a branch may be girdled without serious injury 

 to the entire system. 



For the short-spur system of pruning, it is plain that 

 the ringing practice would be very injurious. The eyes 

 upon which we rely for fruit the following season must 

 be below the ring. Consequently they are deprived of 

 the downward flow of elaborated sap, which is absolutely 

 necessary to their perfect development. It would be 

 very foolish to rely upon eyes below the ring, and on the 

 same branch, for fruiting the following season. If every 

 other eye on an arm of the single-spur system should be 

 fruited and ringed, and should be allowed to re-establish 

 on the succeeding year, without fruiting, the result might 

 be satisfactory. But it cannot be questioned that this 

 practice interrupts the natural flow and distribution of 

 sap, and that its tendency is decidedly injurious. It may 

 be practised to a certain extent, and for certain purposes ; 

 but it cannot be recommended as a desirable mode for 



