Ijo On the Cultivation of the Fine, 



tation are united. But when, on account of fome particular 

 fpeculatidns, it is neceflary to obtain wine in greater abun- 

 dance^ and when the quality may. be facrificed to this confi- 

 deration, the vines in that cafe may be dunged, more (hoots 

 may be allowed to the ftems, and all the caufes which cau 

 multiply the grapes may be united. 



11. Of the Time mq/i favourable for the Vmtage, and the 

 Proceffes employed during that Period, 



Olivier de Serres obferves, with great juftice, that if the 

 management of the vine requires great (kill and intelligence, 

 it is at the period of the vintage that thefe things are necef- 

 fary, to obtain in perfection and abundance the fruits which 

 Providence thence dil^ributes to us. Every body allows that 

 the moment moft favourable for the vintage is that when the 

 grapes come to maturity ; but this maturity can be known 

 only by the union of the following (igns : 



I ft, The green (talk of the grapes turns brown. 



2d, The grapes become pendulous. 



3d, The (lones of the grapes lofe their hardnefs ; the pel- 

 licle becomes thin and tranfparent, as is obferved by Olivier 

 de Serres. 



4th, The clufters and grapes can be eafily detached from 

 the twigs.^ 



5th, The juice of the grapes is favoury, fweet, thick, and 

 vifcld. 



6th, The ftones of the grapes are free from any glutinous 

 fubftance, according to the obfervation of Olivier de Serres. 



The fall of the leaves announces rather the return of winter 

 than the maturity of the grapes; this (ign, therefore, is con- 

 (idered as very uncertain, as well as putridity, which a thou- 

 fand caufes may occafion, none of them fufficient to enable 

 lis to deduce from them a proof of maturity. When the 

 froft, however, makes the leaves to fall, the vintage ought 

 not to be longer deferred, becaufe the grapes are then fuf- 

 ocptible of no further maturity. Their remaining on the 

 vine could tend only to promote putrefaction. 



^* in I'/^c/y the grapes, (till green,'' fuys Rosier, ^^ were fur- 



prifed 



