138 



MANUAL OF MODERN VITICULTURE. 



vegetation ; all the sap which would have acted immediately 

 on a certain number of buds and induced early growth if 

 pruning had been performed will be divided on a greater 

 number of buds, .and, therefore, have less influence on each of 

 them. 



But, while the canes are not pruned, one cannot proceed 

 with ploughing. Therefore, in such districts the middle 

 -course is followed, removing all the canes which are not to 

 furnish spurs, and temporarily pruning the others to a length 

 of 18 inches to 2 feet. Later on, when the frosts are over, 

 they may be pruned back to two eyes.* 



(F.) PRUNING TOOLS. 



The tools used for pruning are a strong pruning-knife and 

 secateur. The pruning-knife was for a long time the only 

 tool used, but it is don^ away with now, especially in dis- 

 tricts of large production, and replaced by the secateur. 

 However, it is met with in some places in Bourgogne, 

 Gironde Charentes, and Provence. The pruning-bill of 

 Provence (poudette) (Fig. 119) is formed of a blade having a 

 right angled sharp edge on one side and a small straight 

 edge on the opposite side. The cane is pruned with the part 

 a b, the cane being held slightly curved outwards, so as to 



Fig. 119. Pruning Bill of Provence. Fig. 120. Secateur of Languedoc. 



cut on the projecting part with a movement similar to that 

 of sawing. The part misused to cut suckers on the old 

 stump. It requires long practice to be able to use this 

 pruning-knife, and this explains why it is replaced by the 

 secateur, with which it is impossible, however, to make such 

 .a neat section. The secateur of Languedoc (Fig. 120) consists 



* This method of pruning vines twice is termed in America " Fall pruning." (Trans.) 



