80 TREATISE ON THE CULTURE AND 



gether in a cluster, and to mat, which will infallibly ruin them 

 for bearing the succeeding year. Top the shoots that have 

 been trained in a serpentine manner, as soon as the grapes come 

 to the size of very small green peas, a joint or two above the 

 fruit ; but never top the leading shoot, nor that which you in- 

 tend should bear fruit next 3^ear. 



I shall now give some directions for the second year's 

 pruning. 



I would never recommend the pruning of vines till the be* 

 ginning of February, except in such a season as the present ; 

 for they are more forward now (in the middle of January) 

 than they were last year in the latter end of March : This is 

 owing to the fine autumn and mild winter, and the wood being 

 so well ripened in the preceding summer. It is, however, 

 very common with some to begin pruning soon after the fall 

 of the leaf, before the wood becomes bard ; but if a frost sets 

 in before the wood is hard, in particular after wet summers 

 and autumns, it will be very much injured^ ; I have frequently 

 seen it almost killed after autumnal pruning. We often have 

 fine weather in the months of October, November, and Decem- 

 ber, with sun and drying winds, which helps to ripen the wood 

 after wet autumns. 



When the vine leaves begin to fall, remember always to 

 take a soft broom and sweep them off upwards in a gentle man- 

 ner, which will be of great service in assisting to harden the 

 wood. 



When you begin to prune in Februaryf, ahvays make 

 choice of the strongest and longest shoots, leaving them as long- 

 as you find the eyes good and plump, and the wood round ; 

 but by no means leave them when they become flat ; as in that 

 ease they seldom bear fruit ; and if they do, it will be very 

 small. I never lay in any that has less than fifteen, and from 

 that to thirty good eyes, according to the strength of the shoot^ 

 which will produce two bunches from every good eye. I have 

 had seventy bunches of grapes from one shoot. The shoots 

 that have borne fruit in the preceding year should be cut out 

 next year, except when you want to fill the wall, and the shoots 

 are very strong. You will always get plenty of fine healthy 

 young wood if you are careful when you prune in the winter; 



* This is the case in a much greater degree in America, where the weather 

 h so much more intense. Great attention should be paid to this part of the 

 directions. 



t The reader will recur to what I have before said, respecting the ttason 

 for pruning in America. 



