84 CULTIVATION OF THE 



In the Italian mode of cultivation, which, from 

 different motives, will probably be that adopted 

 in Pennsylvania, we shall avoid much of the la- 

 bour given to the vine, even in Italy, because, 

 though in that country, the rows of the vineyard 

 are at best twenty feet asunder, the instrument of 

 dressing is, in almost all cases, the spade or the 

 hoe. I do not remember once to have seen the 

 plough amongst their vines, whereas with us, 

 when labour is so important a feature in the cal- 

 culation, it may be advantageously introduced, 

 and in careful hands, safely used in the cultiva- 

 tion. 



Many of the most delicate wines of that coun- 

 try do not bear a foreign transportation ; and it 

 is but natural to suppose, that their system of 

 wine making has not received the same attention 

 which, but for that circumstance, would other- 

 wise be given to it. 



That from such a variety of circumstances, 

 affecting, in a greater or less degree, the prospe- 

 rity of the vine, will naturally spring a wide dif- 

 ference in the treatment and cultivation, is mani- 

 fest at the glar>ce, and it is by the study of a 

 character so curious, forming a subject of fruitful 

 theory and endless experiment, that thejudicious 

 cultivator will avail. to seize the fugitive traits 

 as they are elicited and give to it a permanency 

 which shall arrest and control its cameleon hues. 

 To the American cultivator, this forms a pri- 

 mary object. He will soon be convinced that 

 the previous history of his foreign vine has but 

 little influence on the future cultivation, and 

 furnishes no data on which to build his hopes o-f 



