71 



What I can affirm is, that far from having observed that grapes 

 from girdled stems were less rich in colour, less sugary, or more 

 watery than others, I have always seen on the Vines of those plant- 

 ers who used this operation, that the grapes were larger, more plenti- 

 ful, more sugary and more vinous. Moreover, these qualities, indispen- 

 sable for a superior wine, must be the result of girdling, the undispu- 

 ted and positive advantages of which are, 1st. infallibly to prevent 

 blighting, if done skillfully and opportunely ; 2nd. to hasten the matu- 

 rity by twelve or fourteen days, thus securing a long and excellent 

 period for the ripening before the vintage. 



There are cases when it cannot be done ; two of them I shall no- 

 tic© ; when, for instance the branch is to be trained in a spire, or bent 

 into an arch ; because the welt of bark formed around the twig ia so 

 brittle that the branch is endangered if tightly bent. In spiral-trained 

 Vines only lateral shoots should be girdled. The second case is, when 

 the planter is convinced that the peculiar excellence of his wine 

 depends upon the stocks being suffered to blight ; girdhng must be 

 reserved for stocks to which damping -off or blighting is ruinous. 



We have many instruments good for girdling, but there is a choice 

 among them. Some make too large a ring, which renders the healing 

 «f the cut more difficult ; others are apt to become clogged every 

 minute and must be cleaned out with a thin blade, which causes delay. 

 The best are those which assist to effect it speedily and without risk. 

 The cutting nippers (pince incisive) ©f Bettinger. and the girdler 

 (bagueur) of Quentm Durajid are of this kind, (figures are given of 

 these instruments in the plate.) They arc calculated to loosen the 

 skin and the pellicle, but require a careful workman. If any of 

 the pellicle be left, the sap continues to run ; if the cut goes too 

 d«ep, there is much danger of the branch being ruined ; therefore, 

 these patent iftetniments are highly necessary. 



