510 
for searring rubber trees in the tropics are used. It is not essential 
that the bark be removed. If made too wide, waxed calico wrapped 
over the cincture causes the healing callus gum to form readily. 
If pinching is practised only the shoots issuing from long, 
or bearing rods should be so treated and not those from short or 
wood spurs, as pinching favours the growth of laterals and inter- 
Fic. 7.—Annular incision at A. Fie. 74.—Vine shoot 
pinched back. 
feres with the spur and rod system of pruning. New shoots are 
undesirable where vines have been sprayed to guard against fun- 
goid diseases. In large vineyards it is not easy to discriminate 
between shoots growing from rods or those from spurs, and for that 
reason cincturing on the stem at blossoming time is preferred. 
Constitutional defects very often cause bad setting. 
A seedless grape is a defective grape. The ‘‘seedless muscats,”’ 
for instance, are grapes which have been imperfectly fertilised, and 
in some seasons they are more or less noticeable. These “shot 
grapes” occur at times with nearly all varieties. Raisin des Dames, 
Grand Centennial, Madeleine Anjevine are particularly affected 
with us, 
The following figs. show at a glance in what respect some 
flowers show malformation :— 
Fie. 8.—(a.) Perfect flower. 
(b.) Reflexed stamens. 
(c.) Staminate flower. 
