CULTIVATIOK. 141 



the degree of vigour and soundness of the stock, and the 

 purpose to be attained by cutting,' a middle course being 

 maintained between the degree of concentration desirable 

 in the nutrient materials and the resulting accumulation 

 of sap. 



Consequently it becomes necessary to distinguish be- 

 tween four different methods of cutting : (a) close or short 

 cutting ; (b) the ordinary cut ; (c) the long cut (stimulating 

 and quickening) ; (d) simple topping. 



The examples given below are intended to more fully 

 explain these various methods, and to indicate tne conditions 

 under which either of them is preferable to the others. 



(a) Close Gutting. 



If, when uncovered, the rootstock is found to be over- 

 grown, so that it forms a regular tangle of shoots and 

 roots, as happens in very fruitful or highly-manured 

 gardens, then the shoots are simply cut off close against 

 the parent stock ; since in this case the latter is too 

 vigorous, and it would be a waste of trouble to consider 

 how many eyes to leave, there being always a number 

 lying dormant, which, being quite near the source of supply 

 of the nutrient material, at once absorb the accumulation 

 of sap following on the operation of cutting, and hence the 

 leaving of any other eyes would result in a corresponding 

 subdivision of the total food matter available. 



' It would, however, be erroneous to set up as a criterion the number of 

 stalks to be kept for training, including those held as reserve. Thus, for 

 example, if two or three stems are to be trained in the case of a very strong 

 stock, and an equal number left to serve as reserves, i.e., a total of four to six 

 being left — instead of ten to twelve, as advisable under these circumstances — 

 the growing power of such a stock will not be sufficiently drawn upon by a 

 long way, and an injurious choking of sap will result, which may lead to 

 enfeeblement and disease ; or, if this difficulty be overcome, the stock will 

 put forth a number of small useless shoots, to the great detriment of the 

 plant. 



