THE VINE. ] 493 



ripening of the young wood. Cuttings will fruit in the 

 4th or 5th year after planting, and of course plants 

 (barbaleile) will fruit earlier, but the training or pruning 

 of the plants should commence from the first winter 

 following that in which they are planted. In the first 

 winter the shoot produced by the young plant is 

 shortened to two buds and the same is done in the next 

 winter. In the third year the plant is usually strong 

 enough to -be definitely trained and submitted to the 

 system of pruning which it is proposed to adopt. In the 

 first two years crops of potatoes, peas and winter vegeta- 

 bles may be grown among the vines, provided that the 

 ground is left clear and finely tilled alter April, so that 

 the gruwth of the vines may proceed without any inter- 

 ference. 



After summer ths first tillage of the vineyard is 

 done as soon as the fruit has been cut, and should 

 consist mainly in making deep circular troughs or basins 

 around the stem, with the object to facilitate ihe absorp- 

 tion of rain by the soil around the main roots of the vine. 

 These circular troughs are allowed to remain all the 

 winter, being readjusted after each weeding or tillage, 

 and are moreover necessary for the removal of the upper 

 rootlets which may develop from the stem with the first 

 rains, and being too close to the surface are liable to 

 dry up early in summer and craw upon the energy of 

 the vine instead of contributing to its upkeep. After this 

 early autumn digging the soil is again digged or stirred 

 lightly at least once during winter, in December or 

 January, or better twice more, the second hoeing being 

 done early in December and the third at the close of 

 January or in February. In April the soil is tilled for 

 the last time, this tillage being done by a heavy hoe at a 

 depth of 15 to 20 c.m., the basins above mentioned are 

 digged off and the soil is properly levelled for the 

 summer. Should there be a heavy shower of rain in 



