99 



to the forgoing treatment of the young vine but they are not agreed 

 M to the treatment of the main growth or leader. The general rule 

 is to let it roam at will and eometimes when the vine is vigorous and 

 the treatment liberal a growth of twenty, thirty or more feet may be 

 made during the season. 



It has been my practice to restrict both laterals and main growth 

 and I believe it is the right thing to do. I pinch the tip out when a 

 few feet of growth is made and repeat the process once or twice. I 

 find others sometimes do the same. 



Mr. A. Young, one of England^s best grape growers says "Young 

 canes planted this season must not be allowed to ramble too much ; 

 both the leader and sublaterals being kept well in hand" and Mr. 

 Stephen Castle of Bottlesford Vineries, perhaps the greatest authority 

 living on vine culture says " It is a grave error to encourage the wild 

 growth of the leader in young vines." The restrictive method recom- 

 mended secures a good vine in less time and the general stamina of 

 the vine is improved. 



Vines may be trained in a variety of ways and each different way 

 has both its advantages and its advocate. Thousands of vines and 

 tons of grapes are grown annually in pots. Some varieties do ex- 

 ceedingly well in pots and where grapes are wanted and land can- 

 not be had for a permanent arbour this method might often be use- 

 fully adopted. 



Another method and one that has much to recommend it is the 

 espalier or horizontal trellis. This is a neat, clean, easy method of 

 training which gives a maximum of result for a minimum of labour. 

 Every part of the vine is easily at all times accessible. Every portion 

 of the vine is (except at noon) exposed to the action of light and air. 

 There is also the flat or sloping arbour, the method most generally in 

 use here, and we presume from its universal adoption that it is the 

 method that has been found best adapted to our circumstances. 

 Whatever method of training may be followed the principles that 

 govern the training, pruning and after treatment are the same. 



Emit may be taken from a vine the second year — it is however bet- 

 ter not to do so but to wait one or even two years longer by which 

 time the vine should be strong and vigorous enough to yield fruit for 

 many years. Pruning is an intentional and artificial removal of cer- 

 tain portions of the vine to serve one or more of the following ends, 

 viz. : — To give some desired shape to the vine itself either as a matter 

 of taste or of utiKty, to remove superfluous or ill-placed growth — to 

 concentrate the vital forces of the vine within a limited area — to se- 

 cure an even distribution of fruit over the different parts of the vine — 

 to open up and keep the canes with foliage and fruit well exposed to 

 the influences of air, light, and warmth, and to secure more and better 

 fruit. You may put a new reading into the old proverb — " Spare the 

 knife and spoil the vine" for "a vine left to itself bringeth its owner 

 to shame.*' 



Many varities, such " Muscat of Alexandria", " Madresfield Court", 

 "Black Hamburgh" and "Fostere Seedling" do best when pruned 



