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Grape vines should not be topped too early, unless they happen 

 to be in exposed situations where they are liable to be broken by 

 strong winds. A great many growers I have met will, on the other 

 hand, leave this topping until late in the season, so, as they fancy, 

 to keep down labour, and at one stroke slash back both shoots and 

 laterals. This practice has of late given rise to much adverse com- 

 ment, and by degrees it is satisfactory to notice growers are 

 moderating the intensity of this summer slashing, and the vines 

 in consequence are much benefited both in growth and in pro- 

 duction. 



Wherever the vines are trellised very little topping, if any at 

 all, will be required, and the shoots, after being tied up to the top 

 wire, should be allowed to droop down in 

 festoons. When growing bush -fashion, just 

 enough trimming should be done to enable the 

 team and implements moving between the rows 

 without knocking the shoots too much. This 

 is generally done early in November, and 

 three or four joints are left above the last 

 bunch of grapes. 



" Defoliation," which in cold and damp 

 countries was practised for promoting the 

 colouring and the ripening of the grapes, and 

 thus saving them from bursting and rotting, 

 is now seldom practised. In such a genial 

 climate as the Australian one it has 

 nothing whatever to recommend itself, and 

 should be absolutely discarded ; all the efforts 

 of the grower, on the other hand, should tend 

 to provide for the grapes as much shelter as 

 possible against the direct and scorching rays vine cane rightly topped. 

 of the sun in the height of summer. 



THINNING THE FRUIT 



is an operation which consists in rubbing off fruit which is imper- 

 fect, insect-infested, diseased, overcrowded in clusters, and all 

 surplus fruit which can well be dispensed with, thereby improving 

 that which remains, and sparing the energy of the tree. It is almost 

 as important as pruning, and it is becoming to be regarded as 

 essential to the profitable production of first-quality fruit as is 

 pruning, cultivating, and manuring. Thus, in its proper season, it 

 should receive as much attention on the part of the grower. The 

 best time for thinning fruit is after the late spring frosts and other 

 early accidents are passed, but before they have become of sufficient 

 size to be a tax upon the tree. 



In connection with thinning, the following points are worth 

 bearing in mind : Fruit trees form their blossom buds a year or 



