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to rectify early in the spring any errors of pruning which may have 
been done when the foliage did not permit of a correct view of the 
tree; at that time about one-half of the season’s growth is cut back, 
due regard being paid to shape and balance, and cross shoots; water 
sprouts and dead branches are also taken out. 
SumMEr Prunine VINES. 
Grape vines should not be topped too early, unless they happen 
to be in exposed situations where they are liable to be broken by 
strong winds. A great many growers I have met will, on the other 
hand, leave this topping until late in the season, so, as they fancy, 
to keep down labour, and at one stroke slash back both shoots and 
laterals. This practice has of late given rise to much adverse com- 
ment, and by degrees it is satisfactory to notice growers are moder- 
ating the intensity of this summer slashing, and the vines in conse- 
quence are much benefited both in growth and in production. 
Wherever the vines are trellised very little topping, if any at 
all, will be required, and the shoots, after being tied up to the top 
wire, should be allowed to droop down in 
festoons. When growing bush-fashion, just 
enough trimming should be done to enable the 
team and implements moving between the rows 
without knocking the shoots too much. This 
is generally done early in November. Suckers 
and shoots bearing no fruit and not needed for 
subsequent pruning should, however, be rubbed 
off while still tender. In any case, topping has a 
weakening effect, as it deprives the plant of its 
lungs, and it should be avoided as much as pos- 
sible. Topping while the shoots are young is 
not so severe. ‘“Defoliation,” which in cold and 
damp countries was practised for promoting the 
colouring and the ripening of the grapes, and 
thus saving them from bursting and rotting, 
is now seldom practised. In such a genial 
climate as the Australian it has nothing what- 
ever to recommend itself, and should be abso- 
lutely discarded; all the efforts of the grower, wee ci ald 
on the other hand, should tend to provide for 
the grapes as much shelter as possible against the direct and 
scorching rays of the sun in the height of summer. 
THINNING THE FRUIT 
is an operation which consists in rubbing off fruit which is mper- 
fect, insect-infested, diseased, overcrowded in clusters, and all sur- 
plus fruit which can well be dispensed with, thereby improving 
