110 EXCURSIONS IN MADEIRA 



happens to be massapes, they mix the ara^a (the volcanic cinder 

 before mentioned) with it, and it is considered, that the vine 

 endures longer in this than in any other soil. It is said to last 

 sixty years in it, if planted wide enough apart. The ground 

 being turned up, the trenches are dug from four to seven feet 

 deep, according to the nature of the soil, and a quantity of loose 

 or stony earth is placed at the bottom, to prevent the roots 

 reaching the stiff clayey soil beneath, which would oppose their 

 growth. They water the ground three times, if the summer has 

 been very dry, leaving the sluices open until the ground is pretty 

 well soaked ; the less the ground is watered, the stronger the wine, 

 but the quantity is diminished in proportion. Some cultivators 

 lay cow-dung at the roots of the vines when they plant them, and 

 when the wine becomes poor, mix a fresh quantity with the soil at 

 the surface: others consider that animal manure injures the 

 flavour of the grape, and sow the lupinus perennis among the 

 vines instead; this they do in the January of every second year, 

 cutting it down and burying it, by turning over the surface of the 

 soil, after the small rains, which prevail for about ten days at the 

 end of April. An EngUsh acre will produce four pipes of wine 

 under the most favourable circumstances ; but one pipe seems to 

 be the average, taking the vineyards throughout the island'. The 

 propagation is by cuttings, and they prefer the verdelho of the 

 north, when forming a plantation in the southern part of the 

 island, as it improves considerably from the better soil, climate, 

 and aspect; on this they engraft any other variety they may wish: 



' The lizards devour immense quantities of grapes ; and are said to manifest a 

 decided preference for the tinta, but this, probably, is merely because the verdAko 

 grapes are not ripe so early in the season. A cultivator dares not allow his grapes to 

 remain on the vines after his neighbours have taken in theirs, however much he may 

 wish to do so ; for if he did, all the rats of the neighbourhood would adjourn to his 

 vineyard, and take a ruinous tithe. 



