154 THE FLORIST AND 



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ed to extend to the extremity of the rafter and then stopped; the side fruit- 

 bearing shoots are to be stopped at the second leaf beyond the bunch, at the 

 same time a shoot is to be encouraged from near the bottom of the cane, not 

 subjected to any stopping whatever. In the winter pruning the shoots that 

 produced fruit are cut clean out, and the two leading shoots cut down to 

 suitable lengths as before. The third season there will be a crop of fruit 

 the whole length of the rafter, but produced on separate canes, viz. the lower 

 portion will fruit on the shoot encouraged from the bottom last year, and the 

 top on the last year's growth of the older cane. The summer pruning now 

 will consist in pinching the points out of the fruit-bearing shoots the same 

 distance as before ; all growth should be checked on the lower portion of the 

 old cane, except one shoot to be encouraged from the bottom, and at the 

 winter pruning the oldest cane is removed altogether, and young one takes 

 its place. By this means an old cane is cut out yearly, and a young one in- 

 troduced. This in practice need not be rigorously adhered to, as the canes 

 can be fruited two or three seasons on spurs. 



The advantages to be derived from a system of renewal are, 1st. The 

 young growths that are produced yearly, keep the roots in constant healthy 

 action, in consequence of the large area of elaborating foliage. 2d. The 

 canes producing fruit can be managed on the spur method, and the fruit en- 

 larged by close stopping, without injury to the health of the plant. 3rdly. 

 It in considered that the fruit is less liable to mildew when produced on 

 young, vigorous wood ; and 4thly, The cutting out of a cane in winter 

 after the leaves have performed their functions, strengthens rather than 

 weakens the plant. In close spurring the plant will yearly show less and 

 less vigour. On the contrary when managed as above, they will increase in 

 strength, and send forth vigorous growths. This way of managing vines is 

 not new; indeed, it was atone time the prevailing mode, but since the in- 

 troduction of excessively rich borders, and the consequent production of 

 luxuriant wood, a few heavy crops are produced, even although the canes 

 are cut yearly as smooth as a walking-stick. We confess to having at one 

 time a high opinion of spur pruning, but more extensive observation and 

 experience has fully convinced us of its inferiority. In the case of vines 

 trained under the roof of a greenhouse, or where other plants were in the 

 body of the house, then we would adopt the alternate spur in preference to 

 any other, and even then would introduce a young cane every 5th or 6th 

 year, and cut the old ones out by degrees. Summer pruning and close 

 stopping undoubtedly invigorates the present crop, but is injurious to the 

 plant,, unless very skilfully managed. The summer management in this re- 

 spect also depends very much upon the mode of winter pruning to be 

 followed. 



