860 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



shore of the Marmora, and on the coast of Oaramania, vineyards extend 

 down to within 50 yards of the sea-shore. 



Near the sea-coast, sea fogs and mists, especially when frequent or of 

 long duration, are very apt to injure the vines, particularly those grow- 

 ing nearest the sea-shore; but to check and counteract their injurious 

 action the plants and fruit are sprinkled lightly with powdered sulphur, 

 the sprinkling being repeated two or three times if after the first appli- 

 cation the rain should wash the sulphur off before the heat of the sun 

 has had time to complete the sulphuration required. 



Pruning. — In the opinion of foreign planters, the system in vogue here 

 of pruning and " backing " is rather the carrying out of a hand-to-mouth 

 principle than the application of a scientific or economic idea, because the 

 wholesale, ruthless pruning is often done, first, to get a second crop ; sec- 

 ond, to ripen thegrape quickly, or rather prematurely ; third, to allow the 

 sun to color the grape a rich golden hue; and, fourth, to admit of 

 greater facility in getting around the plants. 



Vines " backed " and pruned in the native fashion in summer, unless 

 they are planted in deep, strong, and heavily manured soil, become 

 prematurely old, anTl their yield diminishes yearly, until at last they 

 become quite unprofitable. 



But in the best-managed vineyards extensive pruning in summer, 

 especially of the foreign vines, is regarded by foreign vine-growers as 

 robbing the plant of its lungs, and that, too, at the time when all its 

 breathing powers (leaves and branches) are mostly wanted. Happily, 

 both systems have been tried and found to prosper here. 



Soil. — A cultivator who wishes to plant a vineyard that will give 

 profitable results should have considerable scientific as well as practical 

 experience to guide him in the selection of the most suitable ground for 

 the purpose, as any defect in the nature of the soil or in its position, 

 both as regards exposure to the sun and protection from cold winds, 

 might render the enterprise abortive. 



The vine dislikes a damp soil, bat will thrive in almost any open 

 ground with good drainage. In rich, deep soils it grows luxuriantly, 

 but on shallow^ dry soils the fruit, though less abundant, is of finer 

 flavor, especially where the earth is ferruginous. 



The best results are obtained from vineyards planted in good soils on 

 the hillsides, the next best being those fiituated on undulating table- 

 lands, and afterwards from those planted in the valley, especially where 

 the vines are most exposed to the influence of the sun, and best pro- 

 tected by nature against dry, hot winds and sudden and unseasonable 

 currents of cold air. 



Cultivation. — Lands cultivated by native farmers are first turned up 

 about the end of June, with rude plows or implements of husbandry of 

 the most primitive description. In some places the young vines receive 

 little care beyond beiug occasionally hoed and partially cleaned of weeds 

 and couch-grass {Triticum repciin). In other places they require and re- 



