95 



almost entirely involved in the preceding section ; a 

 few features may, however, he presented in relief with 

 advantage. In the first place, the importance of this 

 part of the subject is, we are sorry to say, much un- 

 derrated. When we take into consideration the cha- 

 racter of atmosphere that prevails in some of the vine- 

 growing countries, together with the enormous tem- 

 perature that at times prevails, it will appear evident 

 that this process is seldom overdone in Britain. The 

 vast difference between unripe wood and wood which 

 is thoroughly ripened is more than people commonly 

 imagine. Those who have been much accustomed to 

 pruning, however, are perfectly aware of the much 

 superior hardness, as well as much less amount of 

 pith in the wood of the latter. An experienced 

 vine-pruner may, by these points alone, guess at the 

 amount and character of the produce for the ensuing 

 year. He can also discover, if the wood is particu- 

 larly firm, of a round character, and possessing a very 

 small proportion of pith, that the border is pretty 

 safe, and that there has been a permanent action of 

 root through the previous season. It need scarcely 

 be urged here, that this process cannot be carried out 

 without much heat, and this of rather a dryish cha- 

 racter. 



11. Rest Period. — Not long since, practical 

 men insisted that vines must be frozen to ensure a 

 proper rest. Such ideas are now completely repu- 



