THE VINE. ] 495 



superphosphates, chloride of potash etc. Where manur- 

 ing is not done by trenching, the ashes, may be applied 

 in small quantities, but every other year, being spread 

 over the surface of the ground at the rate of i to 2 kilog. 

 per are, in autumn or winter, just before hoeing. The 

 superphosphates are best supplied in spring being dis- 

 tributed in the same manner as the ashes at the rate of 

 100 to 150 kilos per hectare. This phosphatic manure 

 may be spread on the ground just before the deep hoeing 

 of spring, and digged in at once, or may be applied with 

 the same good results in autumn or winter, but should 

 not come in contact with organic or farmyard manure 

 should this be applied at the same time as the other. 



PRUNING AND TRIMMING. The vine must be pruned 

 every year, and trimming is also an essential part of 

 every year's work. A vine which has not been pruned 

 falls out of production, loses its vigour, and soon become 

 decrepit. Trimming is performed on the plant in active 

 growth and its object is to economise the vigour of the 

 plant, throwing it entirely on the improvement of the 

 bunches and on the formation of healthy wood for next 

 year's crop ; therefore the operation of trimming is a 

 preparation for pruning and also a continuation of it. 

 Training, sometimes referred to as pruning, is the shape 

 given to the plant by judicious pruning and trimming, 

 and is of course very variable, according to the type of 

 the vine and the method of cultivation. In reality prun- 

 ing consists of three types, (a) short pruning, (b). long 

 pruning and (c) a combination of both. 



I. Short pruning is suitable only f< r special sorts 

 of vines of medium or poor vigour, the canes of which 

 are usually furnished with true flower buds or fruit buds 

 close to the old wood, and therefore if primed to frur or 

 two buds, and even to one bud, will not fail to fruit. 



A. In the system of short pruning pure and simple, 

 as practised in certain districts of Calabria, Sicily, Greece, 



