70 THE GRAPE. 
It will now be plainly seen which are the best set and 
handsomest bunches, and as there aru more than it is ad- 
visable to ripen off, on account of the youth of the vines, 
and the consequent danger of overbearing, thereby injuring 
their permanent prosperity, it will be better to reduce the 
number according to the strength of the plant, or weight 
of the bunch. A cane of three-fourths inch diameter may 
be allowed to carry from six to seven, and one of half an 
inch, five to six pounds; but when they are smaller than 
this, only one, or at most two bunches ought to remain. 
Some kinds form much larger bunches than others, which 
may be ascertained in some measure while young, and 
the number may be calculated accordingly. A well 
shouldered Hamburgh will weigh from one and a half to 
two and a half pounds; if very large, from three and a half 
to four pounds; while the Malvesia is a large bunch of its 
kind at ten ounces. Better to be guided by comparative 
weight than number of bunches, as greater equality is 
gained, and the vines are rendered more uniform in vigor 
afterw: Be it remembered, that it is much more diffi- 
eult to bring back energy where a part is injured, than 
when the whole is so, for the well-deing will take the 
lion’s share of nutriment from the borders. In removing 
the superfluous clusters take out the worst formed and most 
weakly, and let the greater part be near the top of the 
plant, leaving the bottom spurs as free as possible; for a 
vine while young is prone to push its strongest growth 
upwards. By bearing the upper part the heaviest, the 
cirenlation is equipoised, and the lower laterals are re 
lieved, and if the flow is encouraged to take a lateral 
course at first, it is much easier to retain the same after 
__ wards. There is no occasion to crowd all the crop at the 
ae a and the pee 
