168 TREATISE ON THE 



tion of the plants, but for the appearance of a 

 neat and careful vine dressing. The toilette of 

 a belle for a midnight ball is not more studious- 

 ly arranged, than the vineyards of the Swiss 

 cultivator, who considers not merely the pro- 

 duct of the vintage, but the neat and orderly ap- 

 pearance of his plantation, and the favorable im- 

 pression of such regularity, on his fellow labour- 

 ers of the same profession. There exists among 

 them, in a high degree, the esprit du corps, and 

 the whole fraternity feel scandalized, if in the 

 visit of a French vigneron, a slothful or unskil- 

 ful cultivator should be found among them. 



In deferring this work too late, an injury is to 

 be apprehended on the crop of the succeeding 

 year, and the quality of the wine changed for 

 the worse. The stock will be weakened by the 

 length of the oars and number of the off-sets, the 

 branches not attaining sufficient strength and 

 solidity to the requirements of the succeeding 

 season, and which are the sure guarantees of a 

 successful vintage. 



The vine shoots more vigorously in a wet 

 than in a dry season. In the former, therefore, 

 it will be necessary to strip, or pinch, the plants 

 twice or three times during the summer. 



The vineyard is sometimes exposed to long, 

 continued drought, suffering greatly from an ab- 

 sence of the necessary rains, the foliage during 

 such times becoming parched and assuming a 

 yellow tinge. 



Under these circumstances, I have sometimes 

 consulted experienced vine dressers as to the 

 remedy of the evil, and they have counselled 



