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ing of many of the best or cardinal buds. 

 Moreover, the wounded end of the branch, heals 

 with more difficulty than when the cut is oblique, 

 on the side opposite the bud, neither too near, 

 nor too far off, and though the latter is by no 

 means so prejudicial in its consequences as when 

 the cut is too near the button, yet it causes an 

 unnecessary labour to the vigneron, who will be 

 obliged to cut off, in the ensuing season the points 

 of the branch thus left too long. 



When cut too near the bud, there will not re- 

 main of the old wood enough to nourish and 

 support it, and the branch from such will be 

 weak, and produce but little fruit. That part of 

 the vine below the best branches, and which, in 

 general, are not cut very near to the main trunk, 

 is called the figure, (taille) and from this, on 

 each of which two buttons are to be left, we have 

 the crop of fruit. It is important to observe a 

 medium in this work, that is, about two or three 

 inches of wood from the bud, and particularly 

 where the pruning is early in the season. As to 

 the number of branches as well as their several 

 lengths, we must be governed by the particular 

 species of the vine, as well as the strength of 

 each plant. The vines of great strength having 

 several horns, may be safely trusted with the 

 support of four or five buttons, particularly 

 should the vine be of that species called the 

 Grosse Rougeasse, and growing a fertile soil. 

 This vine is a plant producing strong, vigorous 

 branches, with heavy wood, of a colour deeply 

 tinged with red, and the buds at considerable 

 distance from each other, producing but little fruit 

 Q 2 



