54 FROSTS. 



its benefits. In northern latitudes vines are more sensibly 

 affected by a drought than in southern ones, because their 

 roots are not as strong, and they are less accustomed to it. 

 The foliage of vines during a drought puts on a yellowish ap- 

 pearance and no longer fulfils its functions, which can alone 

 be prevented by watering them. 



Frosts. 



The vine being a native of warm climates, is subject to be 

 affected by frosts ; this is the most formidable and most fre- 

 quent of the evils to which its nature exposes it. Cultivators 

 should therefore do every -thing to protect it from their effects, 

 and to diminish the injuries resulting therefrom. It is proper 

 these injuries should be considered under three heads. The 

 first comprises early autumnal frosts : these dry up the foliage 

 before its time, injure the shoots whose wood is not yet ripened, 

 prevent more or less the maturity of the fruit, thereby causing 

 the wine to be of bad quality, and tend even to the destruction 

 of the crop. Varieties that vegetate late, especially when the 

 vines are not strong, are more exposed than others to the be- 

 forenamed effects. These frosts, by preventing the branches 

 from completing their maturity, often produce consequences 

 which are felt by the crops for succeeding years. When vines 

 are materially injured by frost, it is best to prune them down 

 to a single eye, and not to leave any long shoots, thus resign- 

 ing the prospect of an abundant crop to the necessary re- 

 establishment of the strength and vigour of the vines. 



Under the second head are the severe winter frosts, which 

 attack the branches after the leaves are fallen. Their effect 

 upon the crop of the ensuing year are similar to the preced- 

 ing, although in a less degree, as in this case it is in general 

 only the upper part of the shoots which is affected ; but it is 

 far more disastrous when the whole shoot is injured, so that 

 no living buds remain, because the vine is then forced to form 

 new shoots from the old wood, an operation of much difficulty, 

 and which produces such feeble branches, that it is generally 



