158 JOUENAL OF THE EOYAL HOKTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
call bleeding — indeed, generally there is none at all in October, and the 
wounds caused by pruning dry naturally before the advent of frost severe 
enough to hurt the plants. 
On the other hand, the alternative of spring pruning causes certain 
loss of strength by bleeding, and this often continues to a serious extent. 
I am at this moment thinking both of French and English Vines. 
Admitting for a moment that the recuperative power of the French Vines, 
with more sunshine than ours have, is greater than ours, they also have 
more risks to encounter, e.g., their earlier bud-pushing and flowering 
exposes them (two years out of three) to dangerous spring frosts that 
ours escape. In either case the Vine wants its whole strength, un- 
crippled by bleeding, to go on and accomplish its annual task. To my 
mind there is something more than adopting an opinion and practising a 
One very large 
bunch 30 to 40 ozs. 
Two long canes of this ' Syrian ' on left, mixed with a chmbing Rose crossing garden walk. Two 
long canes of ' Brandt ' cross boundary wall, and mix with neighbour's apples and pears. 
system in this matter, for, unless I am greatly mistaken, it will be 
difficult, if not impossible, to name any other plant the equal of the Vine 
in the open air in repaying intelligent care bestowed liberally and 
regularly upon it. 
Judging from my own garden and from others, I think this must be 
called a good Grape year. The best row of Vines in the middle of my 
garden is the subject of a sketch I made in the middle of this month of 
September, just as the standard 'Brandt' with over forty small black 
bunches (seen on the right of fig. 55) attained maturity. This Vine is 
nine years old, very strong and wild : it resents control, and is the earliest 
ripener within my knowledge. Its foliage is rapidly assuming splendid 
scarlet and purple tints. I mean to graft some more valuable variety 
upon it. The * Brandt ' is about 9 ft. high, and the top rail of the sup- 
FiG. 55. — Clement Hoake's Long Rod Training. 
• Syrtax. 
13 ye'ais old. 
3 bunches— own. 
6 black— grafted. 
There are 
6 bunches on 
this graft. 
' Trebbiaxo.' 
16 years old. 
6 bunches. 
'Brandt.' 
Standard 9 ft. higrh. 
Over 40 bunches lipe 
mid. Sept. 
