ZT& PRUNING. 



Pruning. 



This, as well as the other operations should be performed 

 when the weather is dry, the advantage of which experience 

 proves, and the instrument should be sharp and calculated to 

 cut smoothly and expeditiously. There are indeed three sea- 

 sons when experienced vignerons deny access to their vine- 

 yards ; first, when the ground is wet, because the labourers 

 passing to and fro press down and pack the earth ; secondly, 

 when the vines are in blossom, because disturbing theni in 

 any way at that period is calculated to produce an abortion 

 or coulure ; thirdly, when the fruit is at or near maturity, 

 because the people are apt to pluck the fairest and best ripen- 

 ed grapes which is considered an injury to the whole bunch. 



In the arts of horticulture, I have never taken as a posi- 

 tive guide the rules of any other country ; convinced, as I 

 am, that the exercise of common sense reasoning, will bring 

 one to the wisest conclusions as to the course to be pursued. 

 Thus, with regard to vines, it is evident that as the small la- 

 teral branches are for the most part unproductive, and as their 

 absorption of avast portion of sap, which might otherwise 

 pass into the main and fruit bearing branches, renders them 

 worse than useless, they should be in no way encouraged far- 

 ther than is absolutely necessary to the safety of the plants. 



All forcing of the natural functions of the vine, or of any 

 other plant, is alone rendered necessary by inappropriateness 

 of the climate and other circumstances, to afford equal success 

 by a natural development. 



A person to prune skilfully or to direct the labours of 

 others, should possess a knowledge of its eflects both from 

 theory and practice, so as to be able to foresee the effects of 

 its every application. The object of pruning the vine is to 

 increase its produce, to obtain from it annually equal crops, 

 and to render the berries larger and of earlier maturity. Its 

 operations are based upon the same principles as when ap- 

 plied to other trees ; but the vine possesses one peculiar 

 characteristic, which is, that the fruit being produced on shoots 



