APPENDIX 161 



tlieir roots carefully divided and spread out ; to do this 

 the ball of earth should be squeezed between the hands 

 so as to loosen it thoroughly, and after planting, water 

 should be given, the earth filled in, and after about ten 

 days the soil round the vine should be trodden firmly. 

 The vine from a pot, if strong and from seven to nine feet 

 in length, should be shortened down to three feet, or, say, 

 to eleven or twelve buds, not counting the buds within 

 nine ^nches of the ground ; every bud will show a bunch of 

 fruit ; all but three or four bunches should be removed, 

 and every side shoot except one should be shortened as 

 soon as it has made, say, five leaves : the one to be ex- 

 cepted is the leading shoot, which, if the vine is growing 

 tolerably well, may be suffered, even the first season, to 

 grow from four to five feet before it is stppped : this leader 

 may require being stopped a second time the first season 

 if it is in a vigorous state. In the autumn (mind* this 

 is the first season) the young leading shoot may be cut 

 down to about twelve eyes, or within three feet of the 

 old wood, i.e. the shoot left on the vine when planted ; 

 the latter will be furnished with spurs, and each of these 

 must be shortened in the autumn to two eyes ; the time 

 for pruning is towards the end of October. After the 

 fruit is gathered, and at this time only, the ridges may 

 be removed from the vine, and remain off for a fort- 

 night. The pruning in succeeding years is very simple ; 

 you ha,ve merely to shorten the leader to three or four 

 feet, or less, and the spurs to two eyes, annually in 

 October. 



M 



