148 



FURTHER OBSERVATIONS 



thus disburthened of all their unnecessary shoots, 

 which only tend to embarras them in the regular 

 disposition of the new wood. 



In the summer-pruning of Vines, the use of the 

 knife should be avoided as much as possible : it is 

 far more eligible to pinch off the shoots with the 

 finger and the thumb. The acidity of the juices 

 which abound in the young shoots of Vines, cause 

 an immediate tarnish to ensue and appear on the 

 blade of the knife ; and this, if not poisonous, 

 proves very injurious by incorporating with the 

 juices in the wounded part. c 



As all the different kinds of Vines are not dis- 

 tinguishable by the wood at the time of the winter- 

 pruning, a person, unacquainted with the kinds, 

 might easily be led into an error respecting the 

 proper space which ought to be allowed for the 

 shoots. If the wood should appear crowded, when 

 the leaves are full grown, it will be proper to let 

 it remain in that state during the season of the 

 Vine's bleeding. But the superfluous wood may 

 safely be taken from any part, at the time of the 

 Vine's flowering, as they do not bleed at that season. 



I have already observed, that the best season for 



c The ancients were well aware of this circumstance. Virgil, 

 in giving directions for summer -pruning of Vines, expressly 

 says, 



" Nor exercise thy rage on new-born life, 

 " But let thy hand supply the pruning knife ; 

 " And crop luxuriant stragglers." 



