MANAGEMENT OF FRUIT TREES, &c. 75 



cimen of the fruit, and be satisfied that they are worth culti- 

 vating. 



After they are planted, they should be cut at the third 

 eye^, if strong; but at the second, if weakly: At the same 

 time remember to rub off the lower bud with your finger and 

 thumb, as hereafter directed. 



If vines are to be propagated from cuttings, they should 

 be chosen from the shoots that are best ripened, and have the 

 shortest joints ; always having one or two joints of the last 

 year's wood, cutting it perfectly smooth and a little rounding 

 at the lower end, and as near to a joint of the old wood as 

 possible. The upper end should also be cut smooth and slop- 

 ing towards the wall ; but if they are planted in beds or bor- 

 ders, let the cut always face towards the North. When cut- 

 tings are planted against piers or walls, let it be at about a foot 

 distant from each other, according to the vacant space, and so 

 deep as to have the second eye level with the ground; remem- 

 bering always to rub off the lower eye. By so doing, if no 

 accident happens to the top bud, there will be a shoot produc- 

 ed from each eye, with a little one under, which should al- 

 ways be rubbed off as soon as it begins to swell; for if suffered 

 to grow to any considerable size you will be in danger of In- 

 juring the large one in rubbing the small one off. Remember 

 also to pick off all the runners and side shoots, as before di- 

 rected, leaving only two shoots, which should be trained at 

 their full length. About January or February they may be 

 prunedf, leaving one or two eyes on each according to the 

 strength of the shoot, which should be managed as shall be more 

 fully explained hereafter. 



In the first year, especially if the summer be dry, and pro- 

 per attention be not paid to the watering of them, they will 

 make but little progress ; but in the second year you will plainly 

 discern which is the strongest plant, which only should be left 

 to fill up the vacant space on the wall : The rest should be 

 taken up and planted in other situations where they are wanted. 



Mr. Speechly and others practise a method of propoga- 

 ting the vine from one eye and a few inches of the preceding 



* That is, three eyes from the ground. 



f In America the pruning of vines should be performed, not in the fall, 

 for the hard frost is then apt to kill the joints which are cut, and, sometimes 

 it kills the whole branch. Neither should it be done too late in the spring, 

 for the vegetation is so rapid, and the sap mounts in such abundance, that 

 the vines are in great danger of bleeding to death. The latter end of Febru- 

 ary, or the first week in March seems to be the best time ; but, as the seasons 

 differ so widely in different years, much must, on this point, be left to the ob- 

 servation and judgment of the cultivator. 



