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Carbohydrates produced by the leaves move down through the phloem layer that is right under the bark. Water and nutrients flow up through the xylem layer deeper in the vine. Making cuts with a special-purpose knife that cut through the phloem layer but not the xylem layer is called "girdling" the grape vines. With the phloem layer severed, the carbohydrates flow to the fruit instead of mostly to the roots (until the phloem layer heals). Seedless grapes will increase in size and set more heavily by girdling.