CULTIVATION OF THE VINE. 177 



vines may even now be worked, and a suitable 

 advantage will accrue by cutting down the weeds, 

 which, among other sources of mischief, afford a 

 harbour to the numerous insects that are collect- 

 ed to descend in mass on the ripening fruit, the 

 moment the skin of the grape becomes so tender, 

 as to enable them to perforate it with ease. 

 Without the rattissoir this work could not be 

 performed at this moment, as it w r ould be dan- 

 gerous to attempt it by the hand alone. There 

 is a period at which this important labour ought 

 not to be attempted, as the fruit would be greatly 

 endangered thereby, that is, in the time which 

 intervenes the first labour and the tying up of 

 the branches, as at that moment the oars are long, 

 heavy, and generally so fragile, as to render the 

 use of any instrument attended with danger. 

 This work, therefore, should only be done im- 

 mediately after the tying up is finished. 



ARTICLE XIV. 



Gardening among the vines. 



IN the early part of my establishment, at the 

 outset of my career as a cultivator, my know- 

 ledge, as may be easily supposed, limited, I fell 

 into the habit of many of my neighbours, and 

 introduced into my own vine ground a cultiva^ 



