TfiE VINE IN THE GIRONDE. 833 



etc. In certain districts the rows are 3 feet apart; in others, ^ little 

 less. The plants are moreor less distant, according to their nature and 

 that of the soil ; this distance varies from 3 to 4 feet. The trunk of the 

 plant is from 6 to 8 inches long, and fixed to a little stake about 15 

 inches high ; laths are attached to the tops of the stakes, and to the 

 laths are fastened the two arms of the vine. For some years past these 

 wooden laths have, in several vineyards, been profitably replaced by 

 iron wires. This system, which presents great advantages above all in 

 an economical point of view, has been in use for the last twenty-five 

 years by Monsieur Eichier, the inventor, and by his heirs, in all of their 

 vast vineyards. 



The stakes are sometimes of pine, but more generally of chestnut 

 wood ; the latter cost from $2.30 to |2.70 the thousand, while the former, 

 which do not las't so long, cost from $1.35 to $1.55, The laths come from 

 the west of the M6doc, where for some years past pines have been grown 

 on a large scale. When delivered at the vineyard they cost from $3.85 

 to $4.80 the thousand. 



Pruning. — On the first year of planting the vine is pruned from the 

 two eyes nearest to the ground. The second year the process is per- 

 formed in the same manner. The third year, when pruning, three or 

 four buds are left untouched. In strong earth the weaker plants are 

 cropped short ; but two arms are left to the most vigorous plants. The 

 fou«'th year, in light soils, arrangements are commenced for establishing 

 the two arms; in heavy soil this operation is completed, the trunk of 

 the vine is then made 6 inches high, so that when the plant is earthed 

 up the arms start almost on a level with the top of the ridge. Special 

 care should be taken that the arms follow the direction of the laths. 

 The vine always having a tendency to rise, great attention is paid to 

 •save, when pruning, the short cuts which are intended to become fruit- 

 bearing branches, in order to be able to cut off the old wood when it 

 becomes too long. The fruit-branches are chosen from those of the pre- 

 ceding year, near the old wood; the under branch is chosen by prefer- 

 ence, so as to avoid the plant rising too quickly. 



The branches are allowed 13J or 15J inches in length ; they are fast- 

 ened horizontally to the lath ; this is intended to equalize the distribu- 

 tion of the sap, and to form at the base of the branches a proper wood 

 for renewing the vine. Une, two, and sometimes more of the last buds 

 of the branches are taken off to increase the strength of the shoots pro- 

 duced by the others, and to facilitate fastening. As soon as the pruning 

 is over, the branches gathered up, the different kinds of winter work con- 

 cluded, such as the clearing of the dog-grass and of the moss covering 

 the trunks of the old vines, the transports of earth conveyed from the 

 alleys to the middle of the ridges, and the vines propped, plowing 

 commences. Four plowings are made; the first one toward the end 

 of February or the beginning of March. The object of this is to " open 

 the vine," according to the expression of the country ; that is to say, to 



