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heat may be obtained. Fourth, to force the vine 

 to push forth new shoots, from which the heading 

 of the succeeding season is to be supplied, and 

 to preserve the plant by these means in youthful 

 vigor, prevent a declension of its powers, and 

 bring on premature old age. The- necessity of 

 performing this work neatly and judiciously, 

 must be at once apparent. Let us, therefore, 

 consider the best manner of executing it, and 

 other circumstances which indicate the period 

 most favourable to a successful pruning. 



The period generally considered as 'that pro- 

 mising success to this operation, in our country, 

 is usually about the last week in February, or 

 early in March, varying with the state of the 

 season; but here let me observe, that this must 

 not be understood so strictly, as different posi- 

 tions and different vines require that the opera- 

 tion should be performed at different periods of 

 the season. 



For example, where the soil of the vineyard is 

 close and loamy and the situation a plain, such 

 vines should be left to the last, and not receive 

 their spring pruning so early as those of a sandy 

 or gravelly soil. 



Those vine dressers occupying the warmest 

 positions of the Canton, whose vines are feeble, 

 and where the most rigid economy is the pre- 

 servation of the sap, the precious source of life 

 to the plant, is required, should commence the 

 spring pruning at an earlier period if possible, so 



whore the temperature of summer is equal to that of Italy. 



TRANS. 



