CULTIVATION OF THE VINE. 167 



fruit would not attain a favourable maturity. 

 This is not the case ; for we find that in such 

 situations, the grapes at the season of vintage are 

 equally large ; and finely flavoured as those of 

 the vineyard not exposed to the like inconve- 

 nience. 



ARTICLE XL 



Pinching off the superfluous small buds. 



THIS work should be performed immediately 

 after the blossom has fallen. In consists in de- 

 taching all the small shoots that have sprung be- 

 tween the leaves, which may have been forgot- 

 ten or overlooked in a previous labour. The 

 oars, or branches, should now be shortened to 

 the height of the stakes, with this understanding, 

 that they should not be less than four feet in 

 length. 



If the prop be a little short, the branch must 

 be broken to a height somewhat exceeding it, 

 though it is always desirable to avoid such an 

 inconvenience. 



Should the wood of the main stock or trunk 

 be too short to reach the top of the stake, it must 

 be secured to it without pinching, as it is im- 

 portant that the vines be regularly pruned and 

 trained, not merely on account of the preserva- 



