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Small Suckers: The egg hatches into a very tiny creature which at 6rst is flat and which spends most of its time for the first few days holding on to plants or other objects in the water. Small suckers on the head of the tadpole give off a sticky substance which enables it to cling to objects.
Ploughing comes to an end in April, the vineyard is cleaned up and one-year-old cuttings are planted out from the nursery. Late vegetation is desirable, to escape the effect of late frosts. Indoors, topping up of casks continues - five per cent of the wine evaporates through the sides of the cask in a year and there must be no empty space in the cask.
Frost danger is at its height in May. On clear nights, when it is likely to strike, small stoves are taken out among the vines and workmen sit with them to keep them fuelled. The soil is worked again and the vines are sprayed against oidium and mildew. Suckers that drain the vine's energy are removed. As the vines begin to flower, the second racking of last year's wine takes place indoors.
We, too, have started such a bower at the side of our garden. The largest tree harbors three hanging houseplants during the summer months, giving them the filtered sunlight that they prefer. Underneath is a cool and pleasant place to sit on a hot day. By selectively cutting the suckers that arise throughout June, July, and August, I am able to plan the direction that my living house of shade will pursue. |
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