320 



brought up uniformly, \^hen they should be lightly filled iu vrith the 

 best of the soil, leaving about two or three germs out above the earth's 

 surface. After this, for three consecutive years, if it is a rockj^ ground, 

 a systematic breaking up between the vines should be carried on in 

 December and January, availing always, if possible, of recent rains, as 

 then the operation is rendered comparatively easy and less expen- 

 sive, and it is very essential that during these years of education, or 

 breaking in, the vines should be (each time they are dug up) bared 

 down at least 18 inches of the stalk, so that all appearance of root may 

 be removed with a knife, at the expiration of which time that portion 

 of the stem loses its germinating tendency, and thus the plant is driven 

 to live in the lower and moister soil, where it is more independent of 

 the variableness of the surface. This process likewise enables the cul- 

 tivator to dig up his land to any depth, with the certainty that he will 

 not injure his vines, they having no snrface-roots to obstruct the opera- 

 tion. 



Among the cultivators of the Muscatel grape, it is customary to 

 prune in two ways. The more wealthy proprietors, and those that can 

 afford all the necessary expense and outlay in j)roducing and packing 

 superior fruit, invariably prune around the stump or head of the vine, 

 cutting oft" all the last year's shoots at the second bud from the stem, 

 thus throwing the full power of each new shoot into the one or two 

 bunches of grapes which it can throw out ; and it is a point with the 

 pruner so to arrange his vine that the branches for pruning should be 

 as evenly and fairly distributed around the stump as possible. All 

 shoots which are thrown out from the top of the stump are invariably 

 plucked off green by the good grower. 



The ijoorer class of cultivators, who j)refer quantity to quality, and 

 who cannot afford to dedicate their energies to good fruit, on the con- 

 trary, prune all around, leaving two, three, or four shoots with half a 

 dozen buds each, whereby the strength is thus disseminated through a 

 large number of inferior bunches, and thus the majority of their fruit 

 goes into the class of " corrientes." 



In the neighborhood of Malaga, and in its " veyer," or valley, there 

 are some very fine vineyards, which produce large quantities of good 

 fruit ; but, in the opinion of the writer, it will bear no comparison with 

 carefully-grown fruit in the soil from the mountain-side, at first de- 

 scribed by him, as in the rich alluvial soil of the valley the grape fills 

 out too readily, making juice instead of flesh, which latter is the indis- 

 pensable requisite for fine packing raisins. 



The difference is readily preceptible after they have been packed for 

 a few mouths. Those of the yalley shrink up with a sharp edge and 

 acute wrinkle, becoming very hard, whereas the mountain-grown re- 

 tain their fleshy fullness and soft plastic nature. The former, when first 

 packed, have a bluish velvety hue, whereas those from the hilly land 

 assume a clarety-trausparent color. 



The writer is well aware that the Malaga classifyers prefer the dark- 

 colored fruit, but he ventures to say that he considers this to be a 

 chronic error, and one that time will effectually eradicate. 



The only disease of the vine of any importance which has yet shown 

 itself in the Malaga district is the " oidium tuckery." This has done 

 vast damage, and has even totally devastated some " pedro garienez," or 

 wine-vineyards, but by taking it in time and a S3'stematic sulphuring, 

 the danger has been readily averted in the Muscatel. 



The process of drying this grape is naturally a very simple one, but, 

 at the same time, there are so many little circumstances attending it. 



