Inclement Weather^ Diseases, Etc, 275 



combination with hinged posts, though making a very pretty 

 plaything in the model, would probably be anything else in 

 its practical application in the vineyard, and would be attended 

 with an expense which the inventor wisely keeps in the back- 

 ground ; besides, its liability to get out of order would ren- 

 der it impracticable. Otherwise, its efficiency, both summer 

 and winter, as a protection against mildew, and frost can not 

 be gainsayed. Will it pay ?] 



A little later, when the branches are in bloom, the 

 same fall in temperature may destroy the crop. Vege- 

 tation being suspended at the very moment when the 

 plant has most need of all its vital energy to carry it 

 through fructification, the young ovaries receive that 

 influence but imperfectly, and the berries prove abortive. 

 This is also called " running " (blighting). 



Many means have been tried, to prevent running. 

 The annular incision [Fig. m] recommended by 

 Colonel Bouchote, of Metz, diminishes this hurtful in- 

 fluence to a certain extent. It is performed by remov- 

 ing a ring of bark at the time of blooming, at A, im- 

 mediately below the joint bearing the bunch. This 

 incision, which should not be wider than two-tenths of 

 an inch, is very easily performed, by means of the sap- 

 checker [Fig. 112]. Unfortunately, this is too minute 

 an operation to be performed economically over large 

 surfaces, and has, moreover, been observed to have a 

 deleterious influence on the quality of the wine. 



[It is a common practice among those who attempt to pre- 

 pare choice show fruits for the exhibitions, to pursue a some- 

 what similar course. They ring the bark below certain 

 specimens, knowing that they will thereby be greatly en- 

 larged, and rendered very attractive. It is one of the tricks 



