WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 205 



shoots were killed, while the lower escaped; while a neighbor- 

 ing vine would show exactly the reverse; many had their 

 lower and upper shoots killed, while the middle ones escaped; 

 and another vine close by was not hurt at all. Therefore in 

 such seasons high training would not be a preventative, al- 

 though in some cases it may prove beneficial; but we can 

 hardly expect as good results from vines thus elevated, nor 

 quite as early. 



jd. Smoking. This is one of the most generally adopted 

 preventatives. It is claimed by its advocates that by raising 

 a dense smoke early in the morning, about three to four 

 o'clock, it will raise a cloud or covering above the vineyard 

 which will prevent the effects of frost, if any comes, and more- 

 over, prevent the direct rays of the sun from striking the 

 vines, should they be frosted ; and thus allow them to thaw- 

 gradually. This is a plausible theory, and may hold good to 

 a certain extent. If all the neighbors join and make so dense 

 a smoke that it will serve as a heavy cloud over all the vine- 

 yards, and the temperature does not fall too low, it may pre- 

 vent or ameliorate damage. But they seldom work in unison, 

 some prefer staying in bed while others watch and smoke; 

 besides, I think smoke is only a preventative when the ther- 

 mometer falls to the freezing point or slightly below it; but 

 when it drops as low as 28, or even 26, as has been the 

 case, even the most systematical smoking will not save the 

 vines from damage. But if all these preventatives will fail- 

 sometimes, what shall we do to be safe, or, at least, partially so ? 



I have given this subject close attention and thought, and I 

 think my experience of last spring has proven that. I have 

 found a method to obtain fair crops, even in the most frosty 

 season. My method and partial preventative is " longer 

 pruning." 



Instead of the commonly followed practice of pruning all 

 spurs to two buds, I leave four, other Arise pruning as before ; 



