OF THE VINE. 25 



ing upon poles supported by crotches set in the 

 ground. Many of the clusters weigh from three to 

 seven pounds, and are suffered to rest their heavy 

 heads upon the ground." It must be remembered 

 that the vines of Europe are not of European origin ; 

 they were imported from Asia two thousand years 

 ago, and have become dwarfed and belittled by con- 

 tinued pruning, until they now bear to be planted 

 in hills about as thick as our Indian corn. Their 

 severe pruning and long neglect to propagate from 

 the seeds, are thought by many, to be the chief 

 causes of the rot upon their grapes with which 

 they are at present afflicted, and of the gradual de- 

 terioration of their vines. I do not fully believe in 

 the square and compass system of too close pruning 

 our American vines; for onr soil and climate, char- 

 acterized by extremes of excessive heat, and abund^- 

 ant moisture, are adapted by nature for more vig- 

 orous and extended growth. Over-cropping is det- 

 rimental to the vine, and a part of the clusters of 

 grapes, (some say two-thirds,) should be thinned 

 out: the remainder ^vill be larger, and wiU ripen 

 better. Commence thinning soon after the berries 

 are formed, and continue occasionally, until they 

 attain more than one-half the ordinary size. Doivn^ 

 ing observes, that in order to obtain large and 

 good looking fruit, " one-third of the berries should 

 be taken ojff with the point of the scissors, espe- 

 cially those in the center of the cluster ; and is to be 

 performed when the berries are well set and formed." 



