BOOK XVII. xxxv. 190-193 



just beginning to ripen. liut on this point the 

 instructions of Cato shall dccide ; for we also have 

 to describe the propcr method of pruning. § 197. 



This is set about dircctly after the vintage when Prunino. 

 the warmth of the weathcr allows ; but even in warra 

 weather on natural principles it never ouglit to be 

 done l)cforc the rise of the Eagle, as we shall show xviii. 283. 

 when dealing with astronomical considerations in the 

 following vohune, nor yet v/hen the wind is in the 

 west — inasmuch as excessive haste involves a double 

 possibilitv of error. If a \ate snap of wintry weather 

 should nip the vines while still sutfering from wounds 

 intHcted by reccnt treatment, it is certain that their 

 buds will be benumbed by the cold and tlic v.Dunds 

 will open, and the eyes, owing to the juice dripping 

 from them, will be nipped by the inclemency of the 

 weather ; for who does not know that frost makes them 

 brittle ? All tliis depends on calculations regarding 

 labour on large estates, not on the legitimate accelcra- 

 tion of Nature's processes. Given suitable weather, 

 the earlier vines are pruned, the larger amount of wood 

 they make, and the later they are pruned, the more 

 abimdant supply of fruit. Consequently it will be 

 proper to prune meagre vines earUer and strong ones 

 last ; and always to make the cut on a slant, so that 

 rain may fall off easily, and turned towards the 

 ground, with the lightest possible scar, using a 

 j)runing-knife with a well sharpened edge and giving 

 a smooth cut ; but always to prune between two buds, 

 so as not to wound the eycs in the part of the shoot 

 cut back. Thev think it a sign of damagc for this 

 to be black, and that it should be cut back till one 

 comes to the sound part, since useful wood will not 

 shoot from a bad stock. If a meagre vine has not 



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