Chap. 35.] 
CULTURE OF THE VIM. 
509 
blossoming begins ; in addition to which, it should always be 
done below the cross-piece. As to the second clearing, opi- 
nions differ very considerably. Some think it ought to be done 
when the blossoming is over, others, again, when the grapes 
are nearly at maturity. This point, however, may be decided 
by following the advice of Cato on the subject; for we must 
now pass on to a description of the proper mode of pruning 
the vine. 
Immediately after** the vintage, and while the weather is still 
warm, the work of pruning*^ begins ; this, however, ought never 
to be done, for certain physical reasons,*^ before the rising of the 
Eagle, as we shall have occasion to explain in the following 
Eook. IS'or should it be done either when the west winds 
begin to prevail, for even then there is great doubt whether a 
fault may not be committed by being in too great haste to 
commence the work. If any return of wintry weather should 
chance to nip the vines, while still labouring under the wounds 
recently inflicted on them in pruning, there is little doubt 
that their buds will become quite benumbed with cold, the 
wounds will open again, and the eyes, moistened by the juices 
that distil from the tree, will become frost-bitten by the rigour 
of the weather. For who is there,'*^ in fact, that does not know 
that the buds are rendered brittle by frost ? All this, how- 
ever, depends upon accurate calculations in the management of 
large grounds, and the blame of precipitation cannot with any 
justice be laid upon ITature. The earlier the vine is pruned, 
in suitable weather, the greater is the quantity of wood, while 
the later the pruning, the more abundant is the fruit. Hence 
it is that it is most advisable to prune the poor meagre vines 
first, and to defer pruning the more thriving ones to the very 
last. In pruning, due care should always be taken to cut in 
a slanting direction, in order*''' that the rain may run off with 
all the gTeater facility. The wounds, too, should look down- 
of a higher colour, but in no degree riper than they otherwise would have 
been. 
^* The proper period for pruning varies in reality according to the 
climate. 
See B. xviii. c 59. 
*6 See Columella, De Re Rust. B. iv. c. 29. 
*7 The real reason, as Fee remarks, is the comparative facility of cutting 
aslant rather than horizontally ; indeed, if the latter were attempted, injury 
tx) the wood would be the certain result. 
