240 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. 



[10 April, 191 i. 



Summer Pruning. 

 The summer treatment of the vines of Herault constitutes the strongest 

 possible indictment of summer pruning in warm, stnny climates. A 

 more eloquent condemnation would indeed be hard to find. In this 

 region of heavy yields and intense culture, where no expense is spared 

 which can in any way stimulate production, summer pruning is considered 

 to be not only useless but undesirable. According to the late Professor 

 Foex — 



No green pruning operation is habitually practised in Bas Languedoc (the region 

 which includes the Department of Herault), on account of the danger which is feared 

 of causing a stoppage of vegetation at th^ moment when the action of drought already 

 tends to slacken its course. Clairette alone is sometimes submitted to fincement 

 (nipping)* since its exuberant vegetation occasionally leads to coulure (faulty setting 

 of the fruit). Disbudding is carried out in some places when the vine is too much 

 crowded with shoots and when, owing to amjjle moisture conditions, their development 

 is favoured. 



6. APPEARANCE OF VINES IN SUMMER AT GUILIIERMAIN. 



H. Mares, one of the best known writers on viticulture in the " Midi," 

 is even more emphatic. Speaking of disbudding he says — 



Disbudding is more widespread than nipping ; nevertheless, it does not constitute 



a general practice admitted everywhere and recognised to be advantageous 



During very hot days when the vines are apt to suffer from sunburn the loss 

 of part of their foliage is prejudicial and increases the damage they are exposed to. 



After pointing out that varieties which send out many suckers and 

 water shoots are those on which disbudding should be logically applied, 

 he continues — 



Tinto, Espar, Morrastel and Carignane grow from the spur buds and not from 

 the arms of the stock ; also, they do not require disbudding. 



Concerning nipping, after admitting that it may sometimes be applied 

 to Clairette, he says — 



We have several times seen pincement applied to Aramon, Carignane, Grenache, 

 &c., and we must admit that under its influence the yield of the first season was sen- 

 sibly increased, but it was no longer the same the following years; the vines de- 

 clined, they were distinctly fatigued, and the yield underwent a considerable dimi- 

 nution. Young vines resisted longer than others, but in the end they undergo the 

 same fate. Also, pincement has not been adopted in the Midi. 



" * This operation, which might be termed stopping, as opposed to tonping, consists in the removal of 

 the terminal bud just before flowering time. 



