THE GRAPE 221 
with most varieties, to remove about one third 
of the berries. Most of these must be from the 
inside of the bunch; some may have to be from 
the outside. With some of the larger berried 
varieties like Gros Colman it will be best to 
remove even fifty per cent. of the bunch. By 
leaving too many berries, you not only lose 
quality in the fruit, but also do injury to the 
vine. In thinning, use a pair of long, pointed 
scissors and a small, forked twig. The berries 
should never be handled, and the shoulders 
should be supported away from the body of the 
bunch; all really small shoulders should be cut 
off entirely. 
About a week after thinning the berries, 
remove all the extra bunches, basing the number 
of bunches left for the crop upon what the vine 
can carry. I claim that a well-established vine 
can bear one bunch for every foot of cane. Some 
growers consider this too much, but if the soil 
is rich, and all other conditions are right, I am 
convinced that a healthy cane can easily stand 
it. I grew, last season, on a cane sixteen years 
planted, somewhat more than one bunch to every 
foot of cane and obtained a very satisfactory 
crop. The age of the vine is an important factor 
in cropping; never let a cane bear until it is 
