PRUNING AND TREATMENT OP A YOUNG VINEYARD. 281 



superabundance of sap generated in our vigorous native vines 

 must be allowed greater facilities for passing off through its 

 natural channels. 



In regard to pruning off the tendrils which some consider 

 important, it has been proved to yield no apparent good or harm. 

 In some places they take off the leaves of the vines in order to 

 make the fruit ripen sooner by exposing them more to the sun 

 but this nearly always has a contrary effect, and when done 

 too soon or to too great an extent, alters the flavour of the 

 juice. Another point worthy of consideration is that the 

 foliage by protecting the fruit from cold winds, and stopping 

 the passage of the warm vapours which rise from the earth 

 during the night, produces more effect than the rays of the 

 sun, which at that season are feeble and often obscured by 

 clouds and fogs. 



Taking off the foliage is therefore of no benefit in vineyards 

 and of no use except in giving more colour to table grapes, 

 such as the chasselas, &c. and it would not probably be much 

 practised in Europe, if they were not in want of the leaves as 

 food for cattle. At all events it should only be resorted to 

 when the summer has been so moderate as to create great 

 doubts respecting the maturity of the grapes, which is not 

 likely to often happen in our country, where fhe quantum of 

 solar heat in the most unfavourable seasons, is fully adequate 

 to the maturity of our native varieties, and no doubt by pro- 

 per attention, equally so as respects foreign vines when appro- 

 priately located. 



Pruning and treatment of a young vineyard. 

 The first year after the plants are placed in the vineyard, 

 I would allow only one shoot to grow, and an examination 

 for this object should take place as soon as the scions or rooted 

 vines begin to shoot, leaving only one of the most promising, 

 and pruning off the rest ; this should be carefully pursued every 

 three weeks throughout the season, during which period, all 

 lateral branches should be quickly taken off, as they not 

 only impoverish the main shoot, but greatly prevent the ri- 

 pening of the wood. 



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