THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE, 191 



The system of Pruning and Training the American 

 varieties of the Qrape^ in gardens, on houses, and in 

 vineyards. — The Amei'ican vai'ieties of the grape require 

 very different summer treatment from the European 

 kinds. The system of training them which I should re- 

 commend as the best, is the one Speechly advises for 

 espaliers. It is having eight upright canes permanently 

 established, instead of one, as advised by myself, for the 

 grapery. 



The vine is to be established in this form, by the same 

 process as Mr. Hoare gives for his, (see Hoare's plan,) 

 and is, in fact, restoring this to its original and most ju- 

 dicious system. After it has once become established, 

 the fall or -winter pruning will only be to cut back the pre- 

 sent year's wood to the spur, leaving one or two eyes, as 

 you may think best. 



This plan is illustrated by a view of some vines trained 

 as above described, and represented as in full growth in 

 summer. The only pruning recommended for the sum- 

 mer, is to stop the leading, or any other shout that may 

 be growing too strong, and thereby weakening the growth 

 of the lower limbs. In August or September, stop the 

 shoots by cutting or pinching off their ends. ' The foliage 

 is liable to be injured by blight in some sections of the 

 country ; as a remedy for this evil, promote a good stock 

 as a reserve. After the fruit is set, and is as large as 

 peas, it will be time to tie the shoots into the trellis. In 

 the view, it will be obsefved that this has upright pieces 

 three feet apart ; the shoots from the spurs can be se- 

 cured to these, or lighter supports may be placed half- 

 way between them for this purpose. 



