3(54 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



young shoots, as it is from these that we must, at 

 this period, make our selection, for producing a crop 

 the ensuing year ; therefore, the shoot that appears 

 to be the most vigorous should be chosen, and kept 

 regularly tied to the trellising, and divested of the 

 tendrils. The one, at the extremity, may be left, in 

 case of accident occurring to the top of the leading 

 shoot, which should be carefully preserved, if possi- 

 ble, as no subsequent leader it will form will be 

 equal to the first. The side shoots which have shown 

 fruit, were gone over, and also divested of tendrils, 

 and stopped at the first joint above the bunch, 

 which operation is performed by pinching off the 

 young shoot. In short, the greater part of the Sum- 

 mer pruning of the Vines may be effected without 

 using the knife ; in a similar manner, they will re- 

 quire to be frequently examined, and divested of all 

 superfluous shoots and laterals that are not requisite 

 for the nourishment of the fruit, and for providing a 

 supply for the succeeding year's crop, which, at this 

 time, should be chosen, and laid in so as to keep the 

 trellis furnished with young bearing wood, but with- 

 out creating too much confusion amongst the shoots, 

 or shade to the Grapes. When the berries have at- 

 tained the size of small peas, they should be gone 

 over, and thinned out ; but this operation must be 

 performed with some nicety, with a pair of sharp- 

 pointed scissors ; all the deformed and smallest ber- 

 ries ought to be cut out, and such as appear crowded 

 towards the centre of the bunch, so as to leave the 

 remaining ones free from each other, and to allow 

 room for their swelling, and that a free circulation 



