THE CULTURE OF THE GEAPE. 237 



to the intense heat of our sun ; besides, on account of the 

 heat and duration of our summers, a vine here, under 

 proper culture, will, in twelve months, grow as much as 

 a vine in England will in four years. And to adopt the 

 rigid system recommended by Mr. Hoare, would ensure 

 a loss of the fruit every year, and, in the end, the vine 

 itself. After a vine has become established, say after 

 the first fruit year, (if healthy,) it should never be pruned 

 back exceeding one half, and oftentimes not more than 

 one third, of that year's growth, unless it be the smaller 

 lateral shoots. This will secure a sufficient foliage to 

 protect the fruit from the rays of the sun, which is the 

 main cause of the rot. Unlike other fruit, it is all-im- 

 portant that the grape be entirely shaded at every stage 

 of its growth and maturity, otherwise, if it escape the 

 rot, it will be small, hard, and insipid. I have known 

 canvass, and other artificial means, adopted to shade the 

 vines in this climate. This will not answer; for al- 

 though it will secure the fruit from the rot, yet the rich 

 flavor of the grape is impaired, if not entirely destroyed. 

 The natural shade and protection of the fruit is the 

 foliage, and the more luxuriant this is, the greater cer- 

 tainty of fruit of large size, and rich flavor. After seve- 

 ral years' experieilce with some five hundred vines, I . 

 have never known an instance in which these sugges- 

 tions did not prove true, both in regard to the native and 

 foreign varieties, especially the latter, on account of their 

 thin skin and great delicacy. 



" In training the vine, I much prefer the trellis to the 

 arbor. As to the kind of grape suited to this climate, 

 I would state, I know of no foreign variety which will not 



