FROSTS. 55 



more advantageous to plant a new vine than to depend on it. 

 It has been remarked that vines which are left tied to the 

 poles are more liable to be injured by the severe winter frosts, 

 than those which are loosened and left to trail on the 

 ground. This fact is sufficiently explained by the circum- 

 stances of the snow often covering and protecting them, and 

 by the emanations of caloric from the earth. It is, therefore, 

 based on conclusive circumstances, and should be generally 

 known and adopted. It is very seldom that the old wood of 

 vines is frozen, and it is known when this does happen there 

 is no other course but to dig up the vine. A vine whose 

 branches have been partly frozen should be pruned later, so as 

 to distinguish the living buds, and to cut off the shoots above 

 them. 



The third head to be considered is confined to spring frosts. 

 They are very frequent, and occur in the south of France, 

 as well as in the north, as may be equally said of our own 

 country for nearly its whole extent. There are some locali- 

 ties, which from the quickness or delay of vegetation, are more 

 subject to these than others, for a frost which kills a shoot that 

 is only three or four days old, does no injury to one which has 

 grown twelve or fifteen days. From this cause it arises that 

 certain kinds are more subject than others to the effects of 

 these frosts, and thence the necessity of considering the selec- 

 tion of the varieties a primary object of our attention, the 

 great importance of which will be dwelt upon in the sequel. 



It has been remarked, that of two neighbouring vineyards, 

 which were situated as much as possible under similar circum- 

 stances, the one which had been in the spring the latest worked, 

 was the most susceptible of the attacks of frost. This fact 

 would indicate that after having terminated the winter work 

 previous to the expansion of the shoots, no other work should 

 be done until the period when frosts are no longer to be 

 feared. 



It has been noticed that the shoots of vines slightly frosted, 

 which had not previously had the sun's rays upon them, are 

 not destroyed ; and also that on this account vineyards are 



