BOOK IV. XXIV. 20-xxv. i 



spring. Therefore it is necessary that a limit be set 

 to such a sort especially, that it may not be burdened 

 by fruiting branches of excessive length, and that 

 the vine-dresser may take into account whether or 

 not the vintage of the previous year was abundant. 

 For after a large yield the vines must be spared, and 21 

 for that reason they should be closely pruned ; but 

 after a scanty yield they must be urged. In addition 

 to the other directions we are of this opinion also, 

 that we should carry out the entire operation with the 

 thinnest and sharpest of hard iron tools. For a knife 

 that is blunt and dull and soft delays the pruner, and 

 for that reason he accomplishes less work and causes 

 more labour for the vine-dresser ; for if the edge is 

 curled over, which happens to soft iron, or if it pene- 

 trates too slowly, as is the case with a blunted and 

 thick tool, greater effort is needed. Then, too, ragged 

 and uneven wounds tear the vines ; for the matter 

 is not finished with a single stroke but by strokes 

 often repeated. And so the usual result is that what 22 

 should be cut off is broken off, and that in this way 

 the vine, being mangled and jagged, is rotted with 

 moisture and its wounds do not heal. Therefore the 

 pruner should be expressly reminded to draw out 

 the edge of his implement and to make it as razor- 

 like as possible. And he should not be ignorant as 

 to what part of the pruning-hook should be used in 

 each operation ; for I have learned that a great 

 many men make havoc of vineyards through lack 

 of knowledge on this point. 



XXV. Now the shape of the vine-dresser's knife is 

 so designed that the part next to the haft, which 

 has a straight edge, is called the culter or " knife " 

 because of the similarity. The part that is curved is 



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