The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-11-08

1t WIS doubtless expected, from a re-
mark, which was iucautiously made in
last weeks paper, that the subscriber
would give some hints respecting trim.
ming grape vines Were l greatly
skilled, which l do not profess, all that
could be done in short article would
be merely hints to those, who have little
or no acquaintance with the subject.
A common mistake Of the unskilled is
to enc ,urngc great quantity Of foliagc,
as if the fruit would be in proportion to
the amount of vines Whereas there is
most fruit, when vines are kept within
small compass; aud the labor Of taking
care of them, in such case. is compara-
lively nothing. Iu the autumnal prnn.
ing, the supcrabnndant wood should be
cut out, and the number Of the eyes
should be adjusted to the capacity Of the
next crop, and the production of future
bearing wood.
AS general rule, each rigorous
branch of the present year may give two
bunches Of grapes the mex, for every
eye that it has produced before the frs,
Of August, when its growth should be
checked BY piuching or cutting the epd
But still H"aro says. as remarked last
week, that after deducting two inches
aud a half no vine should be suffered to
mature more than five pounds for every
remaining half inch Of its circumference
at the surface If the ground This rule
may apply to Foreign Grapes. suel, MS
the White Sweetwat"r, Royal Mn.eadine
or Golden Chasaelas, Mllcr's Burgundy.
&c, but probably not to our American
Grapes, the Isabella Catawba. Diana,
Bland, " lime, &c. 1t this country We
have great lakes and great mountains
and our grapes vines are so much more
rampant than foreign ones, that you can
determine the nativity of one about as
readily as you can distinguish Yankee
from un Esquimaux. Venture to add
one third to IIoarc's estimate. and you
may then expect, say pounds for every
half inch. With these principles, any
man, by surposirg according to the cx-
pcctcd size oe clusters that from two to
five punches will weigh pound may form
his own theory for trimming a vine
however should not be expected to bear,
unless in its growth it has enjoyed I'M
disturbed the full rays Of the sun to in.
sp;ssatc its juices, aud thus mature its
wood and its eyes.
There are several theories for pruning,
all assuming substantially the above
principles. " THE long rod system is
the simp lest and bast--thc most prac-
ticed in Europcan-vinc-yards, aud the
least prac,iccd in this part of the coun,
try. This system is based on the ground
that one stalk Tor il largo vine few
stalks) that grew this year without
bearing, shall yield all the grapes next
year, 1855, and then b. cut down to ono
eye, from which stalk is to be raised
in SO without grapes, TO bear in '57.
The stalk that grew this year without
grapes is to be permitted /, load it self
next year SO, and in tho autumn to
be cut down to ono eye, from which q
sprout or stalk is expected ill '55 tha at
shall be,r grapes in IS. Thus alternate
year after year, The Spur mode" is
more common and both may be practiccd
on the same vine. if large Consider how
many eyes should be left, according 10
the principles already mentioned. Ad'
nit there is multitude Of stalks cut of
those that grew last year aud bore this
except one eye, and those that grew this
year without bearing except or 4 eyes
Thus vine in its early stages will pres
ont number Of spurs, and AS it advances
& ihrews out branches to the right and
left, they also will exhibit thrir spurs
As general rule, never allow the shoot
Of any year to bear but two blocbcs,
and, as soon as the grape cluster has
passed blossoming or is set, cut off the
branch on which tho grapes grow, 81 tina,
there shall remain one or two leaves be-
tween the end Of tho branch and the
grapes. If a stalk starts out from. the
eye from which bunch ofgrapcs sprang
cut /. off except Que leaf IF it star. a
gain cut off leaving one leaf more. aud so
treat the stalk, which does not bear
The tendency Of perpendicular vines
is to bear at the upper extremities. The
remedy is to train horizontally or np'
preaching tho horizontally. or TO train
the limb with several crooks. The juices
will then 1ow more slowly, aud the low
er eyes or those near the the main stalk
will secure their rights. 1t is difficult to
make all plain without plates. 1t is
trusted however that those, who have not
given attention to the subject will be
benefited. if they put themselves in pos.
session of the leading principles above
advanced. .....
Iu regard to old vines that have q
u 1 r