a6S Oti the CuUtvaiion of the Vine^ 



port thL'ir method by the refult of their experience. The 

 oi>e makes wines more delicate, the other wines ot a ftronger 

 quality ; both find partifans of the liquor which they pre* 

 pare : but this is a matter of tafte, which docs not contradict 

 the principles wc have here laid down, 



In general, a fork with three prongs, which the wprk- 

 man turns and agitates in a circular manner in the val 

 where the grapes are contained, is employed for freeing 

 them from the {talks. By this rapid motion the llalks are 

 detached from the grapes, and, being drawn up to the fur- 

 face, are removed with the hand. 



They may be freed from the (^alks alfo by means of a 

 common fie^T formed of ofier twigs, diftant from each other 

 about half an inch, and having above it a clofe ofier pad or 

 prefier, about four inches thick. 



But whether the grapes be freed from the ftalks or not, 

 it is indifpenfi^bly npcefifary to tread them, in order to facili- 

 tate the fermentation, and this procefs is performed as the 

 grapes are collected and brought home from the vineyards. 

 The operation is nearly the fame in all the wine countries, 

 and is performed, for the moft part, in a fqnarc box, open 

 at the tqp, and about a yard and a half in breadth. The fides 

 confill of wooden bars, with intervals of fuch a fize that 

 the grapes may not pafs through them. This box is placed 

 911; the vat, and kept in its pofition by two beams refting 

 on the edge of the veflel. The grapes are poured into 

 this box as they arrive from the vineyards, and are immedi- 

 ately trod, in a llrong and equal manner, by a man, having 

 pn his feet large wooden plogSj or ftrong ihoes. While em- 

 ployed in this labour, he refts with his two hr^nds on the 

 (L*dge of the box, ftamping \yith rapidity on the flratum of 

 the grapes, while the expreflcd juice runs into the vat 

 through the interftices left between the bars. Nothing 

 remains in the box but the pellicle and ilalks of the grapes j 

 and when the workman finds that all the juice is exprefled, 

 he raifes a plank, which forms a part of one of the fides of 

 |.he box, and purties the fkins and (talks with his foot into 

 the vat. This door Hides in two grooves, formed on two 

 pci4)endicular bars. As foon as the box has been cleaned, 



ft ne\v 



