55 
experiments, has arrived at conclusions which promise to be of the 
highest importance. He has formed a scale of the weight of 
fruit, which a vine can perfectly mature; the scale being made 
dependent on the circumference of its stem, near to the ground, 
at the autumnal pruning. Thus, a vine whose stem is three 
inches in circumference, can mature 5 lbs. of Grapes. inches, 
10 lbs. 4 inches, 15 lbs. 4| inches, 20 lbs; and so on, allow- 
ing 5 lbs. for every additional half inch of circumference. “No 
vine is taken cognizance of, until its stem measures three 
inches in girth, as under that size vines ought never to be suffer- 
ed to ripen any fruit. This is a rule that should be strictly ad- 
hered to in the management of young vines, for it may be safely 
asserted, that for every pound weight of grapes extracted from 
a vine before it has grown to that size, ten pounds will be lost 
during the next 6ve years, independently of the very severe 
check which is given to its growth by premature bearing. But 
by husbanding its strength till its roots have multiplied suffici- 
ently to provide a full supply of nourishment without suffering 
from exhaustion, the plant commences its fruit bearing life with a 
degree of vigour, which lays a sure foundation for its future pros- 
perity”. We will mention a few of the leading features of 3Ir. 
Hoare’s practice of pruning; at the same time we refer such of 
our readers as take much interest in the growth of the vine, to 
his work ; in which the details of the subject are so practically 
illustrated that no slight extract can do credit to the experience 
whence it has emanated. In the first place we will copy his 
General Rules, which may be advantageously borne in mind. 
“ 1. In pruning, always cut upwards, and in a sloping direction. 
2. Always leave an inch of blank wood beyond a terminal bud, 
and let the cut be on the opposite side of the bud. 3. Prune so 
as to leave as few wounds as possible; and let the surface of every 
cut be perfectly smooth. 4. In cutting out an old branch, prune 
it even with the parent limb, that the wound may quickly heal. 
5. Prune so as to obtain the quantity of fruit desired, on the 
smallest number of shoots possible. 6. Never prune in frosty 
weather, nor when a frost is expected. 7. Never prune in the 
month of March, April, or May. Pruning in either of these 
months causes bleeding, and occasions thereby a wasteful and an 
injurious expenditure of sap. 8. Let the general autumnal pru- 
ning take place as soon after the first of October as the gather- 
12S. ACCTARIDM. 
