IP I N D FA LLS . 



435 



in France. It is a native of Eastern Asia, and was dis- 

 covered by and named fcr a missionary, Armand David. 

 It was introduced into France some years ago, but the 

 existence of such a grape was doubted for a long time. 

 But now it is no longer a myth, and it is being studied 

 closely. E. A. Carriere gives the following description 

 of it in the Kivuc Hprticole : 



The plant is very vigorous, climbing and attaches 

 itself to all bodies with which it comes in contact. The 

 tendrils are very strong and enable the plant to obtain 

 a firm hold. The canes arestrong and slightly flattened. 

 The bark is pale red and it bears many quite firm spines, 

 which persist two or three years ; they are of unequal 

 length, but they are always enlarged at the base ; some 

 are blunt and others are sharp, but all are very hard ; 



a contrary result. The greater part of fruit-bearing 

 vines, shrubs and trees, is more or less injured by over- 

 bearing, while much of the remaining part is injured by 

 over-pruning. There is nothing gained by this over- 

 bearing, but, on the contrary, there is loss. The tree, 

 by the excessive draft upon its vitality, either sheds its 

 excess of fruit prematurely, or bears its burden and im- 

 perfectly matures indifferent or worthless fruit. 



To test the value of proper pruning, relieve the tree 

 of the excess of fruit, in a fruitful year, by picking off 

 a third or more of the fruit set, and it will be found that 

 the remainder will, at least, equal in weight and more 

 than equal in quality and value all that the tree could 

 have borne. 



The object of pruning, then, is to grow shapely, vig- 



Spinovitis Davidii. 



they are yellowish-white in color. The leaves are heart- 

 shaped and long, coriaceous, quite thick, deeply crenate 

 at the base, the lobes almost overlapping ; the leaves 

 are about six inches long and four wide, reddish-green 

 above, glaucous-green below. The petiole is deep red 

 in color and also covered with spines. The clusters are 

 often a foot long, and bear many spherical berries which 

 are almost half an inch in diameter. The berries are 

 very acid, but the flavor is, nevertheless, good. 



Altogether this grape seems to promise a good deal. 

 It is exceedingly early and very productive, and may be 

 the origin of a new race of grapes. 



Judicious Pruning. — Judicious pruning is one of the 

 chief means of producing good and abundant fruits. 

 This implies, of course, that improper pruning tends to 



orous fruit-bearing trees that more valuable fruit may 

 be produced. 



Ordinary pruning consists in cutting away useless 

 wood, to balance the growth of the tree, and form a 

 symmetrical shape ; check excessive growth in parts 

 where it is not desired, and to force it where it is wanted, 

 and to cut away the surplus of bearing branches, so that 

 the productive powers of the tree may not be over-taxed. 

 And to do this properly and effectually, it is necessary 

 that some knowledge of the business be had, and some 

 plan adopted and followed. 



Although a tree somewhat advanced may be greatly 

 improved, both in appearance and condition, yet, prop- 

 erly speaking, the nursery is the place to give incipient 

 formation of the tree, and after transplanting, the time 



