Cliap. 3o.] 
CULTURE OF THE YINE. 
503 
some manure is then placed upon the spot, and a stay driven 
in close to the plant. In the same manner it is again cut 
down at the end^^ of the second year, and from this it acquires 
additional strength, and receives nutriment to enable it to 
endure the onerous task of reproduction. If this is neglected, 
in its over-haste to bear it will shoot up slim and meagre, 
like a bulrush, and from not being subjected to such a train- 
ing, will grow to nothing but wood. In fact, there is no tree 
that grows with greater eagerness than the vine, and if its 
strength is not carefully husbanded for the bearing of fruit, it 
will be sure to grow to nothing but wood. 
The best props for supporting the vine are those which we 
have already mentioned, or else stays made of the robur and 
the olive; if these cannot be procured, then props of juniper, 
cypress, laburnum, or elder, must be employed. If any other 
wood is used for the purpose, the stakes should be cut at the 
end each year : reeds tied together in bundles make excellent 
cross-rails for the vine, and will last as long as five years. 
Sometimes the shorter stock-branches of the vines are brought 
together and tied with vine-cuttings, like so many cords : by 
this method an arcade is formed, known to us by the name of 
*'funetum.'' 
The vine, by the end of the third year, throws out strong 
and vigorous stock-branches with the greatest rapidity, and 
these in due time form the tree ; after this, it begins to mount 
the cross-piece. Some persons are in the habit of blinding'* 
the vine at this period, hy remo^dng the eyes with the end of 
the pruning-knife turned upwards, their object being to in- 
crease the length of the branches — a most injurious practice, 
however ; for it is far better to let the tree become habituated 
to grow of itself, and to prune away the tendrils every now 
and then when they have reached the cross-rail, so long as it 
may be deemed proper to add to its strength. There are some 
persons who forbid the vine to be touched for a whole year 
after it has been transplanted, and who say that the pruning- 
knife ought never to be used before it is five years old ; and 
^9 This is condemned by Columella, B. iv. c. 1 1 ; but is approved of by 
Virgil, Cato, and other authors. 
20 In c. 34 of this Book. 
21 Stays of elder would be utterly worthless, as they would soon rot, and 
break directly, upon the least strain. 
