ON PRUNING. 
137 
foft brufh, fuch as is ufed for common painting ; The time of 
winter pruning is the moft eligible feafon to perform this 
operation, as then the Vines will not be in danger of bleeding. 
The foap fuds are not only ufeful for giving the Vines a fmooth 
and gloffy appearance, but are alfo efficacious in deftroying fe- 
veral fpecies of infects that lodge upon them during the winter. 
When Vines, through negledt or mifmanagement, are re- 
duced and become weak, nothing better than a few fmall 
bunches can be expedted from them. The bed; method to re- 
cover them, when in fuch a fituation, is, by cutting them 
down, at the winter pruning, to the lowermod: lafl year’s 
fhoot upon each Vine. The next fummer’s ffioots ffiould be 
diverted of all the bunches as foon as they appear, and the 
ffioots ffiould be allowed fufficlent fpace, viz. from twelve or 
fourteen inches to two feet and a half, according to the kind 
of Vine, that is, whether it produces fmall or large leaves. 
When the ffioots are properly difpofed, the leaves of one ffioot 
ffiould not be fuffered to interfere with thofe of the next ad- 
joining ffioot. Thus, by affording a free admiffion of fun and 
air, the new wood will be greatly benefited. 
Vines are often permitted to run into a rude and diforderly 
ftate during their progrefs in the fummer. And it is alfo too 
prevalent a practice to fix upon certain periods for pruning, or 
dreffing them as it is termed. But Vines, properly managed, 
require attendance almofl daily, and particularly in the begin- 
S 
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