Chap. 35.] CULTURE OF THE TINE. 509 



blossoming begins ; in addition to which, it should always be 

 done below the cross-piece. As to the second clearing, opi- 

 nions differ very considerably. Some think it ought to be done 

 when the blossoming is over, others, again, when the grapes 

 are nearly at maturity. This point, however, may be decided 

 by following the advice of Cato on the subject; for we must 

 now pass on to a description of the proper mode of pruning 

 the vine. 



Immediately after 44 the vintage, and while the weather is still 

 warm, the work of pruning 45 begins ; this, however, ought never 

 to be done, for certain physical reasons, 46 before the rising of the 

 Eagle, as we shall have occasion to explain in the following 

 Book. Nor should it be done either when the west winds 

 begin to prevail, for even then there is great doubt whether a 

 fault may not be committed by being in too great haste to 

 commence the work. If any return of wintry weather should 

 chance to nip the vines, while still labouring under the wounds 

 recently inflicted on them in pruning, there is little doubt 

 that their buds will become quite benumbed with cold, the 

 wounds will open again, and the eyes, moistened by the juices 

 that distil from the tree, will become frost-bitten by the rigour 

 of the weather. For who is there, 46 in fact, that does not know 

 that the buds are rendered brittle by frost ? All this, how- 

 ever, depends upon accurate calculations in the management of 

 large grounds, and the blame of precipitation cannot with any 

 justice be laid upon Nature. The earlier the vine is pruned, 

 in suitable weather, the greater is the quantity of wood, while 

 the later the pruning, the more abundant is the fruit. Hence 

 it is that it is most advisable to prune the poor meagre vines 

 first, and to defer pruning the more thriving ones to the very 

 last. In pruning, due care should always be taken to cut in 

 a slanting direction, in order 47 that the rain may run off with 

 all the greater facility. The wounds, too, should look down- 



of a higher colour, but in no degree riper than they otherwise would have 

 been. 



44 The proper period for pruning varies in reality according to tke 

 climate. 



45 See B. xviii. c 59. 



46 See Columella, De Re' Rust. B. iv. c. 29. 



47 The real reason, as Fee remarks, is the comparative facility of cutting 

 aslant rather than horizontally ; indeed, if the latter were attempted, injury 

 to the wood would be the certain result. 



