134 FRUIT CULTURE. 



break unevenly. And, in addition, the fruit 

 clusters gradually diminish in size. Many good 

 cultivators have felt that large clusters were of 

 so much importance to their sales that they 

 have adopted the annual renewal system, as it 

 is called. This consists in selecting a vigorous 

 shoot near the base of the vine, and training 

 it up perpendicularly until it reaches the re- 

 quired length of the vine, when it is stopped. 

 In the mean time, the old cane is bearing its 

 fruit. After stopping the new shoot it will 

 throw out laterals, which are in turn to be 

 stopped when about a foot long. Plump lat- 

 eral eyes will thus be developed, and it is from 

 the one nearest the base of each that the largest 

 fruit is expected. Splendid results have fol- 

 lowed this method, and first prizes are usually 

 obtained in some such way. But manifestly a 

 large amount of wood growth is involved in the 

 plan, and it is questionable whether the young 

 shoot does not draw too much vigor from the 

 bearing cane, especially if the practice is per- 

 sisted in year after year. Beyond doubt an in- 

 creased quantity of nitrogenous matter would be 

 desirable, if such annual growth is required. 

 Experiments are wanting to show how long such 

 a system can be practiced with success. An oc- 

 casional renewal is the better way for home use, 



