VITICULTURE.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXV, Issue 1, 20 July 1922, Page 53

VITICULTURE.

J. C. WOODFIN,

Vine and Wine Instructor.

VINEYARD AND CELLAR. Pruning and ploughing should be continued in the vineyard as directed in last month’s notes, burning all cuttings that are not required for scions. The pruning should be terminated as early as possible in all but the areas where there is. any risk from late frosts. . In these areas pruning should be performed as late as possible, but before the buds begin to swell. Ploughing is frequently left until the pruning is finished, and this is sometimes late in the winter. It is preferable to plough in the beginning of the winter, and so expose the soil to the beneficial effects of the atmosphere—particularly to the pulverizing effects of the frosts —over as long a period as possible. The soil can be ploughed out from the vines, leaving a furrow along the vines where the pruners can stand when doing their work. In countries where severe frosts are the rule it is the custom to plough in to the vines in the

winter, and so cover the roots near the stocks with as much earth as possible to prevent their being frozen. No such precautions are necessary in New Zealand. In the cellar, bottle as much wine as possible while the cold weather continues. THE VINEHOUSE. The vines in cool houses should be kept hanging down till the buds break on the lower part of the rods. To promote the rising of the sap the house should be kept closed at night and the top ventilators opened for an hour or two at midday. In suspending the rods wire hooks, made by bending pieces of fencingwire, are preferable to binder-twine or other similar materials, which form a hiding-place for mealy bugs. For the treatment of young vines see the article “ Vine-culture under Glass ” in last month's Journal.