PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 237 



son for this, one writer states that two-year-old wood becomes too hard to 

 permit the fruit buds to burst. Surely he did not consider that fruit trees 

 of every kind onl}'- bear on wood of the previous year's growth. The fruit 

 spur is ended and destroyed in fruit. I have noticed quite a rage among 

 some pomologists to shorten in their fruit trees during the summer, that is, 

 to cut off the ends of the branches. Their object may be well enough, such 

 as making the tree more stocky; but one thing is certain, the tree does 

 not bear, because the buds which the tree was developing have been cut 

 off. 



The old Roman method, undoubtedly established by slaves — for even the 

 schoolmasters and book-keepers of this people were slaves — the German 

 method and the Cincinnati method is to raise single vines about five feet 

 high, and during the summer to clip or jerk oflf all shoots except one, which 

 is to be the cane for the next year. There is reason to believe, however, 

 that the Cincinnatians have departed from the German method to some ex- 

 tent, at least, as established some years ago, for the poet Gray, writing 

 from Rheims, June, 1739, says: "The country round about is one great 

 plain, covered with vines, which at this time of the year afibrd no very 

 pleasing prospect, as being not above a foot high." I have before stated 

 that they get 100 gallons more wine to the acre at Cincinnati than they do 

 either in Germany or France. Here is a good place to quote from Lord 

 Byron, who says that he sowed many wild vines, probably roots, in some 

 old vineyard, which had climbed high trees and borne large quantities of 

 fruit. Whether such examples could teach the Italians anything, a portion 

 of whose country is still as savage as the territory of Idaho, is doubtful. 



The Hermann method, and the Kelly Island method are similar to each 

 other. This is, to let the vines spread out, like the branches of a fan, the 

 number of which, in the fall of the year, and including all extended branches, 

 will be twenty or thirty. When they prune, they cut out the old wood, 

 and some of the new, and shorten in those which remain, with the object in 

 view to let no more bearing branches remain than the strength of the root 

 will support well. They confess it impossible to give particular directions 

 and say they rely wholly upon their judgment, in connection with the con- 

 dition, aspect and location of the vine. 



Many do not prune till midwinter, or till even so late as March; others 

 advocate the forepart of December as the best time, and I think with good 

 judgment. That every branch has a particular root on which it depends 

 for support may or may not be true, but it is certain that all roots lying 

 below the reach of frost, and all of them, when the ground is open, start 

 out little spurs for fibrous roots, and I do not hesitate to declare my belief 

 that extended from these are the future fibrous roots, but which at present 

 are wholly invisible. To illustrate, I would say that all roots and all grain 

 first sends out an invisible root, which leads on and prepares the way for 

 the visible root. This is what I have called the spiritual roots of plants, 

 and it shows the importance of having ground prepared fine for all crops. 

 I can show this more clearly, I have a cistern which constantly leaks, but 

 which supplies suflScient water, except in a dry time. By the side of it 

 stands an oak tree which, since the cistern was dug, has grown most rapidly. 



