244 PRUNING. 



length of the rafter ; this is destined to bear fruit only, 

 no other growth being suffered on it, except the bases 

 of the side shoots bearing the fruit, their points being 

 pinched off immediately beyond, and one succession- 

 shoot trained from the Jowest part of it. When 

 the fruit is all gathered, the whole of the shoot that bore 

 it is cut away, and the young succession shoot takes 

 its place, to be treated in a similar manner in the 

 ensuing year. This method of pruning the vine is 

 exactly like that practised in pruning the raspberry ; 

 the shoots that bear the fruit this year die, and are 

 cut away to make room for the bearing wood of the 

 next. This alternate, or rather successional plan 

 of managing the vine, may be continued for many 

 years ; and if the plant be kept vigorous and well 

 treated, generally with great success. The principal 

 attention required is to cause the lower buds to burst 

 simultaneously with those situated above ; because 

 the vine, like other trees, commences growth at the 

 top, and as this part of the shoot has also the greatest 

 excitement from the higher temperature of the upper 

 part of the house, it will very naturally happen, that 

 the upper buds forming outlets for, and attracting a 

 chief share of, the rising sap, deprive the lower of 

 their due portion ; hence the latter are liable to 

 remain inert. 



As this is always an unprofitable, as well as an un- 

 sightly defect, cultivators practise various means to 

 effect a general movement of all the buds from top 

 to bottom as nearly at the same time as possible. 



