HOW TO BEND THE BOWS. 61 



away, close to tlie joint of tlie thigh, not injuring, how- 

 ever, the bud, which may be upon the thigh itself or 

 upon the head. The trimmed vine will resemble 

 Fig. 18. 



The vine may now be said to have reached the dig- 

 nity of an adult, being ready for the duties of its use- 

 ful life. 



Its pruning and treatment during the following sum- 

 mer and winter, wiLL be described in another chapter. 



HOW TO BEND THE BOWS. 



Before entering more fully into detail about trim- 

 ming, it maybe well to describe the manner of making 

 bows. 



While the hoeing and ploughing may be entrusted 

 to any laborer having a general idea of work, so he be 

 one not apt to shirk work, or slur it over, it is differ- 

 ent with bow-making. This requires much practice 

 and sMll, or else much damage will be done, by break- 

 ing the branches. 



The bows should be formed before the buds swell, or 

 else many of them will be stripped off by even a 

 careful workman — ^the great point being to have them 

 as round as possible, and all breaks and sharp bends 

 should be carefully avoided. Morning is the best time, 



