and the Method of malmg Ulnes, 1 29 



facilitate th? maturation. In this cafe they really produce the 

 fame effe6l as is produced by propping ; but recourfe is had 

 to this method only when the grapes are too abundant, or 

 when the vines grow in fpil tpo fat or humid. In fonie 

 countries the vines are Gripped of their leaves,, which pro- 

 duces nearly the fame cffed; in others, the pedicle of the 

 grapes is twilled to determine the maturity by checking the 

 vegetation. The antients, accordhig to Pliny, prepared their 

 fweet wines in this manner; Ut duie'ia pra'tereajicrejit^ af- 

 fern) ah ant uvn,s diutiUs in. v'lte^ pediculo in tor to. 



The method of pruning the vines has alio a great influence 

 on the nature of the wine. 'Jlie greater the number of 

 branches left to one vine, the more abundant the grapes, 

 but the worfe is the quality of the wine. 



The art of cultivating the vine, and the method of planting 

 it, have a powerful influence on the quality and quantity of 

 the wine. To fliow the eflecl which cultivation has on the 

 vine, it wllj be fuflicient to obfcrvew^hat takes place in regard 

 to vines left to themfelves^ it vvijl be found that the foil, foon 

 covered with foreign plants, acquires firmnefs, and is. after- 

 wards but imperfe6lly acceilible to the air and to water. The 

 vine, being no longer pruned, fends forth weak flioots, and 

 produces grapes which decreafe in fize year after year, and 

 which fcarcely ever come to maturity. It is no longer that 

 vigorous plant the annual vegetation of which covered the 

 foil to a great difl:ance. The grapes are no more that well- 

 nouriflied fruit which aflorded found and faccharine aliment ; 

 the vine becomes ftunted, and its fruit, of a bad and weak 

 quality, attefts the languid and ruinous flate of the foil. By 

 what are thefe changes produced ? By the want of cultiva- 

 tion. 



We may therefore coniider the good (late of the foil as the 

 work of nature : all the art confifts in flirring it, turning it 

 up fcveral times, and at favourable periods. By thefe means 

 it is freed from all noxious plants, and it is better pre- 

 pared for receiving water, and for tranfmitting it with more 

 eafe to the plant; the air alfo can penetrate to it wiih more 

 eale, and thus all ihofe conditions aeceflary for proper vcge- 



\oi, IX. K tation 



