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districts of the colony. The poor yield of our vineyards, compared to 

 that obtained in Southern France, is probably due to the excessive 

 topping practised, especially in the warmer parts. 



I have observed many cases in which blocks of vines trained 

 gooseberry style, which had almost ceased to be productive, and only 

 produced miserable shoots scarcely worth leaving at pruning time, 

 resumed their vigour and bore good crops when staked and the 

 shoots allowed to grow. 



In the south of France many vineyards are simply pruned in winter, 

 and neither disbudded, topped, nor tied up to stakes or wires, but 

 allowed to grow wild, so to speak, with the result that enormous 

 crops of good wine are obtained from them. The shoots and leaves 

 spreading in all directions protect the fruit from the burning rays of 

 the sun, and at the same time shelter the soil and keep it cool, thereby 

 hindering the excessive evaporation of moisture. In addition to 

 these advantages, by forming a sort of network, the vines protect 

 each other from the effects of high winds. The evidence given by 

 witnesses before the Royal Commission on Vegetable Products also 

 tends to prove this. 



If the excessive growth of weeds is to be feared, it will be better to 

 train the vines on stakes or wires, as this will render cultivation 

 possible at any time. 



In spite of these manifest disadvantages, the gooseberry system has 

 something to recommend it, as it renders economy, both of labour and 

 stakes, possible, so that in poorer soils, where the vines grow with 

 medium vigour, it may be tolerated. Not more than one topping in a 

 season should be given, and the shoots should be cut at least four 

 leaves above the last bunch. Unless this is done there will not be 

 enough leaves left upon the plant to provide for the necessary accumu- 

 lation of reserve materials in the buds for the ensuing year after the 

 elaboration of the crop of grapes. If care be observed in these points, 

 the diminution in crop may be so small as to be compensated for by 

 the greater facilities of cultivation, &c. It would be well to allow a 

 portion of the vineyard to grow wild every year say one-fifth so 

 that in five years the whole vineyard will have had time to completely 

 regenerate itself. This reminds one of the precept in the Bible, 

 Exodus xxiii. 10, 11, wherein it is ordained to cultivate the vineyard 

 and olive ground for six years, and leave it alone the seventh. 



