124 



TREATISE ON THE CULTURE A^D 



in good order. Never fuffer the Vines to run together in a 

 clufter, and to mat, which will infallibly ruin them for bear- 

 ing the fucceeding year. Top the fhoots that have been 

 trained in a ferpentine manner, as foon as the Grapes come 

 to the fize of very fmall Green Peas-, a joint or two above 

 the fruit ; but never top the leading (hoot, nor that which 

 you intend Ihould bear fruit next year. 



I fhall now give fome directions for the fecond year's 

 pruning. 



I would never recommend the pruning of Vines till the 

 beginning of February, except in fuch a feafon as the pre- 

 fent ; for they are more forward now* (in the middle of Ja- 

 nuary) than they were laft year in the latter end of March : 

 this is owing to the fine Autumn and mild Winter, and the 

 wood being fo well-ripened in the preceding Summer. It is, 

 however, very common with fome to begin pruning foon af- 

 ter the fall of the leaf, before the wood becomes hard ; but 

 if a froft fets in before the wood is hard, in particular after 

 wet Summers and Autumns, it will be very much injured ; i 

 have frequently feen it almoft killed after Autumnal pruning. 

 We often have fine weather in the months of October, No- 

 vember, and December, with fun and drying winds, which 

 helps to ripen the wood after wet Autumns. 



When the Vine leaves begin to fall, remember always to 

 take a foft broom and fweep them off upwards in a gentle 

 manner, which will be of great fervice in affifling to harden; 

 the wood. 



When you begin to prune in February, always make choice 

 of the ftrongeft and longeft fhoots, 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 



cafe- 



