VINES ON TRELLISES. 76 



train two horizontal thighs out of it, upon which 

 they trim in winter, four -to eight spurs. Others, 

 again, trim for full bows — others for half bows, 

 with more or less spurs in all cases. The general 

 idea is, that being less restrained as to room, par- 

 ticularly along walks and around houses, less strict 

 rules are followed as to trimming, it being varied ac- 

 cording to circumstances. Summer trimming is almost 

 invariably entirely dispensed with, unless, indeed, a 

 regular vineyard is planted out upon this principle. 

 Eeading the preceding pages will indicate the general 

 rules. Instead of thighs, branches, &c., the vine will 

 then be divided into main and side stems, and 

 branches with half bows and often even without any 

 bows, and relying for bearing wood only upon spurs. 

 Where a vine is intended to be drawn up as high as 

 the roof of a two-storied house, the vine had better be 

 trained upon the two-story principle also, by forming, 

 if I may say so, a two-storied main stem. 



To train a vine some twelve to fifteen feet straight 

 up, engenders its rapid growth, and imparts to it a 

 heavy, rich foliage, but such vines are seldom good 

 bearers. 



It is in accordance with long experience — one that 

 has never failed — that bending the bearing wood pro- 

 motes its bearing qualities, and equally \iseful are aU 

 checks to the too rapid upward flow of the sap. 



