Cultivation of the Grape Vine. 23 



December. It is essential to good management, and the welfare of the tree, 

 to afford a long rest, in order that the wounded parts may become healed, and 

 the exhausted energies of the plant refreshed. The vines under my care have 

 been cut to the first convenient bud within the house for two seasons follow- 

 ing the planting, and the shoots from them have proceeded unstopped. In 

 the third year, these shoots were cut to three eyes or buds each ; the two 

 lower ones to form permanent branches in the future arrangement of the tree, 

 and the other, or terminal one, to become a fruiting cane in the year follow- 

 ing. It will be necessary now, being the third year, to stop the leader some 

 little distance beyond, when it is intended to be left for bearing, which, in 

 general, will be 18 or 20 feet. In the strong-growing kinds, every third bud 

 is displaced, and in the short-jointed ones, Sweetwater for instance, every other 

 two ; the remainder will then be situated at proper distances, and in alternate 

 order, and the fine buds at the extremities will be preserved : the jtiices, being 

 diverted from the displaced buds, will cause a surer developement of the 

 retained ones, which, in conjunction with a greater portion of solar light, will 

 induce a vigorous and fruitful habit. The shoots at the base of the terminal 

 leader (intended to become permanent branches) are shortened to a few eyes 

 each, and the shoots proceeding from them are shortened at half the length of 

 the original leader. This stopping is intended to divert the current of sap, 

 and cause it to flow into the first leader, now bearing fruit. The same reason 

 may be assigned for stopping the bearing shoot itself and laterals at one joint 

 beyond the fruit ; for if the terminal be permitted to proceed unstopped at 

 this early state of bearing, the laterals at the lower part of the stem will be 

 deprived of their proper quantity of nourishment, in consequence of the rapid 

 flow of sap towards the extremity, situated, as it is, in a warmer medium, and 

 in a higher position. 



In the future pruning, the stems are cut to two buds each, and, when evolved, 

 the weaker of the two, or the one having the smaller cluster, is removed. 

 Muscats are sometimes cut to the third or fourth bud, but the close system of 

 pruning, wherein the spurs are removed entirely, is not productive of the 

 desired results in continued succession, because it is not in accordance with 

 the known principles of vegetable physiology. The original shoot in the 

 second year of bearing is permitted to occupy the top part of the house, and 

 one of those at its side encouraged to become a fruiting cane in the following 

 or succeeding years ; while the other, at the opposite side, is retained in store 

 until the original shoot is intended to be removed, forming a system extending 

 over a series of years in succession, calculated to obtain fine and abundant 

 grapes, and a vigorous and healthy tree. 



I will now proceed to explain some particulars in connexion with the 

 climate in vine-houses, and the casualties, &c., experienced everywhere, more 

 or less, where vines are cultivated. The vine is a plant that requires to be 

 managed according to fixed principles. A slight variation or diversion from 

 determined rule, or a mistimed act of unquestionable utility, is often pi-oduc- 

 tive of serious consequences. Hence the propriety of simulating those funda- 

 mental laws of nature regulating the developement of vegetable life. The 

 genial showers and gradual increasing temperature of spring are no less bene- 

 ficial to general vegetation, than genial when imitated in a house of vines. 

 And when external circumstances concur with operations of forcing in houses, 

 the}' are productive of the most important advantages to vegetables under ex- 

 citement : consequently, it is necessary to contrive that the difference of the 

 temperature, internally and externally, shall be as httle as possible, by covering 

 the roots and bole, not so much to supply heat, as to prevent the escape of 

 heat existing in the soil, and injury from excessive rains or frost. At the de- 

 velopement of the buds the temperature should be low, a perfect resemblance 

 to circumstances determining a similar act out of doors, gradually increasing 

 to 50°. A regular and abundant supply of moisture should be afforded, 

 both by syringing and sprinkling, for if the temperature should exceed this 

 amount, or V)'ater be sparingly applied, many buds situated at the hinder parts 



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