THE VINE IN THE GIRONDE, 831 



(when the ground permits) set their ridges from east to. west, asserting 

 that the wind and hail come from the west; by this method the first 

 feet of each row alone are injured ; the others, affording mutual shelter 

 to one another, have less to suffer. It is noticeable that this direction 

 of east to west is practicable only in the M6doc, where the vines are 

 very low, because the shade of any individual plant can not be preju- 

 dicial to the others ; nevertheless, it sometimes happens that the land 

 is not evenly exposed to the action of the sun, which, of course, is not 

 so favorable. Other vine-growers plant in the direction of north to 

 south, so that the rays of the sun may penetrate into the vine rows as 

 long as possible, in order to heat the surface of the ground and the dif- 

 ferent parts of the fruit in a more equal manner. 



The soil, according to its condition, is tilled from two to four times a 

 year, either by plow or by spade. The wages of laborers having doubled 

 of late years, the plow is consequently in greater use in most of the vine- 

 yard. 



When the vine is stripped of its leaves and fruit laborers are employed 

 to examine each vine row, in order to weed out the quick or dog grass, 

 which is very destructive. The old vine plants are often covered with 

 a kind of moss which serves as a refuge for crowds of injurious insects 

 to the vine. Some proprietors take the precaution to destroy them dur- 

 ing winter; others do not attach the same importance to them. Since 

 the appearance of the new disease of the vine, some proprietors have 

 obtained favorable results from barking, by which means a great num- 

 ber of insects and their eggs can be destroyed, including those of the 

 phylloxera. 



Another part of the winter labor consists in removing the earth 

 brought by the plow or by the waters into the " capvirades," a kind of 

 alley made between the rows for facilitating the running of water and 

 for allowing sufficient room for the teams to turn. 



After the pruning, which should take place as late as possible, on 

 account of the spring frosts, the laths and decayed stakes are replaced ; 

 the branches or hastes are then fastened by means of a kind of rush to 

 the nearest stave. The best season for this, as the hastes have frequently 

 to be curved or bent, is when the sap begins to ascend into the branches, 

 rendering the wood pliant. This work should be carefully avoided in 

 dry weather. When once the vine is in good condition labor com- 

 mences. 



In the month of June the vine is nipped ; that is to say the sap is 

 stopped from going into the " suckers," thus named because, though 

 possessing much vigor, they notwithstanding are unfruitful. The shoots 

 or sprouts appearing on the old wood are cut off (at least, those not 

 intended to become fruit-bearing branches). In July the vine is some- 

 what freed of its suckers, in order that the air may circulate round the 

 plant and that the grapes may be better exposed to the solar influence. 

 This also facilitates the passage of the plow. 



