342 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



since dead, which covered a space of 137 square yards ; and that at Val- 

 entines, in Essex, about 147 square yards. 



The celebrated Hampton-court vine covers the roof of a glass house, 

 about 160 square yards. This vine was computed to produce 2,200 

 bunches of grapes. The vine at North Hallerton, when cut down, had a 

 trunk of no less than four feet in circumference, near the ground. Pliny, 

 the historian, mentions one that was 600 years old, in his time. Strabo, 

 who lived in the reign of Augustus, says that the vines in Margiana, and 

 other places, were so large that two men could scarcely compass them with 

 their arms, and that they produced bunches of grapes a yard long. The 

 preservation of leaves on vines, as, indeed, of all trees and plants, is of 

 vast importance — in fact, so much so, that the removal of a single leaf 

 tends to lessen the vigor and energies of it ; much more must that be the 

 case, when they are removed in numbers under the mistaken notion of 

 admitting light to the fruit : and the still more barbarous custom of 

 denuding the vines almost entirely, as some ignorant persons do, with a 

 view to accelerate the ripening of the fruit. 



Too much attention cannot be paid to the proper pruning of vines. 

 There is a difference of opinion as to the right time to prune ; but the 

 general opinion, among persons of experience, is, that shortly after the fall 

 of the leaf is the most proper time for pruning. In pruning, 1st. Always 

 cut upwards, and in a sloping direction. 2d. Always leave an inch of 

 blank wood beyond the terminal bud, and cut on the opposite side of the 

 bud. 3d. Prune so as to leave as few wounds as possible. 4th. In cutting 

 out an old branch, prune it even with the parent limb. 5th. Never prune 

 in frosty weather, or when frost is expected. 6th. Never prune in the 

 months of March, April, or May. 7th. Use a pruning knife of the best 

 description, and very sharp. 



Dr. Underbill, of Croton Point, stated how vines are pruned in Europe. 

 In Spain the vines are cut down within a foot of the ground, the old 

 stump sending out enough new wood for fruit. In Germany the stump 

 is left about four feet high. In Italy the vines are left twenty to forty 

 feet long, and extending from tree to tree, always horizontal, some six or 

 eight feet high ; raising the fruit from spurs upon these main stems. The 

 yield is very large, particularly where the soil is volcanic. In Spain a 

 vineyard looks n.ore like a cabbage-patch than like our vineyards. In this 

 country we are cultivating grapes only 50 or 70 years from their native 

 positions in American forests. These vines cannot be so closely pruned as 

 the European vines, because they are stronger wood producers. If allowed 

 to run, a strong growing vine would extend 50 or 60 feet ; but I think the 

 Isabella and Catawba vines should be limited to six or eight feet in length. 

 The doctor contended against the idea that the Isabella vines are not 

 perfectly healthy. He says that these vines are sometimes planted in too 

 rich ground, and that produces too much sap wood, and then the fruit 

 blasts. He acknowledged that there was a great deal of complaint of fail- 

 ure of Isabella vines to produce fruit, but thought the cause was all owing 



