127 



vines they should be soaked in water for a day or two, in order to 

 render them soft and pliable, as in the dry state they are very brittle, 

 and snap off easily. If no rushes can be obtained, a good substitute 

 will be found in rye-straw; an acre or so of rye, according to the size 

 of the vineyard, may be sown for the purpose. New Zealand flax 

 (Phormium Tenax) will also be found useful. A knife, with four 

 or five blades about one-third of an inch apart, will enable a leaf to be 

 cut into a large number of strips with ease. 



After the vines are tied, the shoots will probably continue to grow 

 the extremities above the stakes may be cut off, although this should 

 not be done too often. Good strong stakes should be employed, pre- 

 ferably made of split timber, not less than 2 inches square, and of 

 sufficient height to allow a considerable amount of growth above the 

 crown of the vine ; if this be 2 feet above the surface, the stakes 

 should not be less than 4ft. Gin. above the ground, which will 

 necessitate their being oft. 6in. to 6 feet in length. Vine-stakes 

 of stringybark, messmate, or box timber of the above dimensions, 

 tarred or charred at the lower extremity before being driven into the 

 soil, ought to last in good condition for fourteen or sixteen years. 

 In France it is customary to draw and stack the stakes during the 

 winter, but of course expense of labour renders such a course 

 impracticable in Australia. Tying to wire rs practically the same as 

 tying to stakes, and needs no detailed description; the shoots are tied 

 together in two or more small bundles, and not tied separately. 



Nipping off the terminal bud of a shoot or Pincement, as it is 

 termed in French resembles ordinary topping in many respects, but 

 differs from it chiefly in being executed before the flowering ; it is 

 executed in many parts of France upon the fruit-bearing shoots as a 

 preventative of the non-setting of the blossom. It is also had recourse 



FIG. 44. 



to as a supplement to the system of pruning employed in the Bordeaux 

 district, which will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 44. 



