248 The Canadian Horticulturist 



BOOK ON WINE MAKING. 



No. 479. 



81R, — I wouUl like to have a book as a practical guide in manufacturing wine, with 

 recipes. Could you supply me with one, and at what price. ? 



O. riA(;NON, Montreal, Que. 



One of the best works on this subject is "Grape Growing and Wine 

 Making," by Prof. Geo. Husmann, who is a recognized authority in the United 

 States on this subject. The price of the book is $1.50. 



SUMMER PRUNING OF. THE GRAPE. 

 No. 480. 



.Sir, — My grape vines are growing so profusely that 1 do not know when, or how much, 

 to prune them. A few lines from you would very much oblige me. Please instruct me. 



Wm. McMi'RRAY, The. Rectory, Niai/ara, Out. 



Summer pruning of the grape receives less attention in Canada than it 

 deserves. The reason is found in this, that the fruit growers all have too much 

 work on their hands, in the summer time, to attend to this important operation. 

 As we prosper more and understand our business better, we shall, no doubt, do 

 better work. If we knew fully what is meant by summer pruning, and appreciated 

 its benefits more fully, we would, no doubt, find ways, even in the busy season, 

 of getting the work done. Most growers think it means thinning out of the wood 

 and foliage, at any time during the summer ; but this is wide of the mark. Per- 

 haps a better term for the operation would be "summer pinching," which more 

 properly describes it. Summer pruning, if indulged in too freely and too late in 

 the season, will seriously weaken the tree or vine, while pinching is simply direct- 

 ing the young wood where it is most wanted. Severe pruning of the young 

 vineyards in July and August would be more injurious than beneficial. The 

 mischief brought about by neglect, early in the season, is accomplished, the 

 growth has taken place just where it is least wanted ; and now it is better to leave 

 the vineyard untouched, excepting, of course, such tying as is necessary, until 

 after fruiting season, allowing the vines to have the full benefit of the young 

 leaves, which they have spent so much energy in producing. 



Pinching off the young wood growth, just as it e.xtends two or three joints 

 beyond the last bunch of grapes, is very important. The energy of the vine is 

 thereby directed to strengthen the fruit stalk and to increase the size of the fruit. 

 If the buds at the axis of the leaves are thereby started into growth, they also 

 should be pinched several times in the season, if necessary. In this way the sap 

 is concentrated about that part where we most want it, namely, in the vicinity of 

 the fruit. 



Many people say they see no use at all in suninicr pruning, and, indeed, this 

 appears to be the general opinion in the commercial vineyards in Southern 



