HORTICULTURAL JOURNAL. 163 
Pruning properly performed and at the right reason is certainly of great 
service ; we find it practically so — its good eiFects are everywhere to be seen 
when such is adopted, but so far and no farther is it advisable. If proof be 
required of the injury that may be done by too close stopping, let anybody 
try the experiment of pinching-in closely the side shoots of a part of his 
vines, and leave the others several joints longer and he will find at the end 
of the growing season, that those which were left the longest are better 
ripened than the shorter ones, providing the light has had equal influence 
on both. If the vines are no further apart than three feet, the distance will 
allow a shoot on each side of fifteen to eighteen inches, upon which there 
will be from seven to eight leaves, and allowing the fruit to be on the second 
or third joint, there will still remain four or five leaves above it, each of 
which will do its duty of elaborating the crude juices, and assimilating the 
carbonic acid absorbed, thereby adding to the bulk and solidity of the whole 
structure, and if so, of increasing the amount and greater firmness of the 
roots ; for according to the quantity and action of the foliage under favorable 
influences, so are the underground extremities encouraged. 
With judicious treatment the grape vine is a plant of great longevity 
notwithstanding which, with the practice of some vignerons it is considered 
to be worn out in a few years, and fresh plantations have to be made 
periodically. This may in vineyard culture answer the particular purposes 
of the cultivator, and by the method of only allowing a few feet of bearing 
surface to each individual, a great amount of fruit and suitable quality for 
his purpose may be obtained from a limited extent of land employed. Here 
is evidence that too much curtailing of the plant's natural disposition shortens 
life, and vreakens down the constitution to such an extent as to make it 
worthless, comparatively speaking, in a short time. Considering that there 
is not a very great expense in replanting a vineyard, the means may be 
said to justify the end, but when we come to the outlay incurred in erecting 
glass houses, preparing borders &c., it behooves us to think well how we can 
pay back a permanent interest on the capital invested, and if there be any 
method that will keep a house of vines in healthy bearing for a long time 
without the requirement of renewal, surely it must be wisdom to adopt it. 
Now, if the grape vine is a long liver when allowed to extend, and soon worn 
out if kept in small compass, is it not reasonable, if we wish permanancy that 
all the available space that we have in the superficial area of a house, should 
be covered with healthy leaves, in order the better to concentrate, and store 
up the food for future development, and add each year a fresh layer of well 
organized alburnum to the previously existing sound vascular tissue ? 
