176 TREATISE ON THE 



the vine dresser, where cleanliness is wanting 

 are rendered abortive. 



It is manifestly important, therefore, to keep 

 the vine grounds free of weeds, and especially is 

 the necessity increased in a season when manure 

 is dear. The most effective mode of destroying 

 these weeds, is to eradicate them immediately 

 after the vintage. The instrument best adapted 

 for this purpose, is the rattisoir* by this means 

 the vine grounds will be rid of the weeds be- 

 fore the seeds ripen, and will also be clean dur- 

 ing the succeeding winter, to the period of the 

 first spring labour. This is the moment when 

 the vine dresser finds that he is repaid for the 

 labour he has bestowed, by the facility with 

 which the spring work is accelerated. 



The rattissoir is the best instrument by which 

 the weeds of the vine grounds can be eradicated, 

 and the operation is effected with a greater de- 

 gree of safety than it can be done even by the 

 hand. Those who are expert in the use of this 

 instrument, may give to the vineyard a third 

 labour; and this is attended with great advantage, 

 inasmuch as it is performed at a time usually con- 

 sidered hazardous to work in the vine grounds. 

 This is not long before the vintage, when the 

 weeds have, from the absence of any labour 

 for some considerable time, shot up, and ac- 

 quired a menacing attitude. 



In skilful hands, with the rattissoir, the 



* The rattissoir is something like the shuffling hoe of our 

 gardens, about six inches in breadth. TRANS. 



