If vines are to be trained
scientifically in the open garden, I should recommend the
trellises figured on pages 120 and 142 of Mr. Fuller's work, "The
Grape Culturist." These, beyond anything I have seen, appear the
best adapted for the following out of a careful system of pruning
and training. Such a system Mr. Fuller has thoroughly and lucidly
explained in the above-named book.
Unless the reader has had experience, or is willing to give time
for the mastery of this subject, I should advise that he employ an
experienced gardener to prune his vines after the second year. It
is a brief task, but a great deal depends upon it. In selecting a
man for the work I should require something more than exaggerated
and personal assurances. In every village there are terrible
butchers of vines and fruit-trees, who have some crude system of
their own. They are as ignorant of the true science of the subject
as a quack doctor of medicine, and, like the dispenser of
nostrums, they claim to be infallible. Skilful pruning and
training is really a fine art, which cannot be learned in a day or
a year. It is like a surgical operation, requiring but little
time, yet representing much acquired skill and experience. In
almost every locality there are trustworthy, intelligent
gardeners, who will do this work for a small sum until the
proprietor has learned the art himself, if so inclined.
Pages:
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85