6S 



the evolution of the fruit, and six or eight days before the blossom 

 opens, rarely longer and sometimes less. It may also be done at 

 any time from the commencement of the ascent of the sap, and so long 

 as the blossom lasts, but it is better that it should be rather near to 

 the time of flowering than distant from it. If done late it is of no 

 service to prevent blighting, though still it preserves its other proper- 

 ties, those of hastening the ripening, and of securing an abundance 

 of fruit, and of a finer quality than can be had otherwise. It may be 

 done as well on the old as new wood ; that is, on the stock, the main- 

 branches, the old laterals, and the shoots of the year. However, 

 last year's wood should be preferred ; the wood of the year bears the 

 fruit, and is too tender at the season for girdling to allow the operation 

 to succeed well. 



'Xh& way it is done is to remove a ring of the bark or cortex, clean 

 to the true wood ; not a particle or fibre of the pelhcle, (the liber,) 

 between the wood and the bark should be left. The size of the ring 

 should vary from the l-14th of an inch, to an inch in breadth, 

 according to the subject, the soil, the season, the exigence of the case 

 and the intention proposed by the operation. This ring insensibly 

 spreads ; the foliage takes a maturer look ; the leaves become of a 

 swarthy red if the wood is affected. Some days after, a fortnight at 

 furthest, the cambium, (the viscous sap between the wood and the 

 liber,) exudes from under the bark, like a gum, gradually hardening, 

 and extending over the wood without adhering to it, and forming a 

 slightly salient, barky collar, or pad, around the stem. This pad at 

 first runs rapidly, then more slowly, until it reaches the lower edge of 

 the ring, to which it unites itself, resembling the bark .as much as 

 possible, and in the second year becomes a real cortical formation. 

 When the encrustation becomes complete around the wound, then 

 the grapes swell, begin to change their colour, and by their forced 

 maturity are ready for the wine-vats eight or ten days sooner than 

 they w6uld have been without girdling. If the supplemental bark 

 does not form, the girdled branch dies the next spring. This is of no 

 importance to the Vine, as at that time it would of course have all the 

 last year's sprouts, (with the exception of stools from two or tiiree at 

 most, to be left for the new wood to spring from,) cut off and cleared 

 ajvay. If the girdled branch does not bear enough of fruit the second 

 year, the opejation may be repeated. 



In good seasons, girdling should not be resorted to ; it is then quite 

 as hurtful as it is of service in rainy seasons. For a general rule, 

 also, It must not be done every year, unless on stocks that are very 

 sterile, and hard to he^T. or are given to blighting. On stool-vines 



