50 THE AMERICAN YINE-DRESSER'S GUIDE. 



is performed before the first of August. The 

 branches are then turned toward the north, 

 in order that the sun may strike them more 

 effectually. 



In very warm countries, however, and in 

 the case of extremely dry soils, these two op- 

 erations are dangerous, by exposing the 

 grapes to be parched and the vine to be 

 dried up. In such cases, far from cropping, or 

 stripping off the leaves, the branches should 

 be fastened to the prop about two feet high, 

 without bringing them too close together, 

 and allowed to droop over in the form of 

 a parasol, thus to shade both grapes and 

 trunk from the burning sun, and keep up at 

 the same time the coolness of the ground. 



What I have said of stripping off the 

 branches is applicable to the cropping and 

 the stripping off the leaves. Even after the 

 grapes have been gathered, if hay be scarce, 

 you may strip the vine of all its leaves, put 

 them to dry, and feed the cattle on them the 

 whole winter round. 



