1032 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Pruning is carried out about the middle 

 of December, there is then no danger of 

 the Vine " bleeding." It consists of shorten- 

 ing the main stem to within 4 feet of its 

 base and in cutting off close all side shoots. 

 In spring nearly every bud on the Vine will 

 form a growth, but as each one. if allowed to 

 develop, would form a lateral or side shoot, 

 some must be rubbed off. Two on each side 



Showing the side 

 shoots or laterals 

 that form on each 

 side of the stem. 



Each side shoot is "stopped" when two leaves 

 have formed beyond the bunch. 



of the upper part 'of the stem, at about 12 or 

 14 inches apart, may be left, all buds below 

 them being removed. The bud at the apex 

 of the Vine is, of course, left untouched, for 

 it will form the extension of the stem. Let 

 the outside part of the border be protected 

 with fresh fallen leaves to the depth of 10 

 inches when well trodden down, covering the 

 leaves over with a lining of straw corded down 

 to prevent their being blown about. 



As soon as growth is again active (towards 

 the end of February) the buds which are left 

 on each side and the top bud will start into 



growth ; it is on side shoots that fruit is 

 borne ; the embryo bunch generallv appears 

 on the stem opposite the third leaf. As soon 

 as two leaves are formed beyond the bunch 

 the shoot is " stopped " by pinching off the 

 point. The leading shoot must be allowed 

 to grow until it is 6 or 8 feet long before being 

 stopped, and the side shoots which spring 

 from it are also stopped when they have 

 formed two or three leaves. 



Out of the side branches 

 bearing fruit small side shoots 

 will also form, and these must 

 be " stopped " at the second 

 or third leaf, together with all 

 others that may form subse- 

 quently. It is only by doing 

 this that the Vine can be kept 

 within bounds ; if this work 

 is neglected the trellis will 

 soon be overrun with weak, 

 useless shoots. Each Vine 

 ought not to be allowed to 

 bear more than two or three 

 bunches of Grapes the first 

 season after planting. 



As the summer wanes and 

 the Grapes begin to change 

 colour, the atmosphere of the 

 vinery must be less moist and 

 more airy. In a warm, moist 

 air the berries are likely to 

 split. 



The same routine of work as 

 already described is followed 

 year by year. Pruning is car- 

 ried out in December, and each 

 time the stem of the Vine is left 

 3 or 4 feet longer until it has 

 reached the top of the trellis. 

 In spring the buds on the stem will start into 

 growth and form laterals or side shoots that 

 bear bunches of Grapes ; if all were allowed 

 to grow they would be much too crowded, 

 and some must be rubbed off. The laterals 

 ought to be about 14 inches apart and alter- 

 nating with those on the opposite side of the 

 stem. It will thus be seen that by the time 

 the Vine reaches the end of the trellis the 

 stem will possess side shoots at intervals 

 along its whole length. The winter pruning 

 is then extremely simple, for it consists in 

 cutting back to within two buds of the base 



