193 



unpractised eye might appear the best shoot of 

 the stock. 



It is not, however, the case, as it possesses 

 generally but little flower, vegetates sluggishly, 

 and should by all means be detached, and not 

 allowed to remain. 



Whenever, in passing through his ground, the 

 vigneron perceives on his plants the accumula- 

 tion of moss, it should be immediately removed, 

 where the situation of the vines be such as to jus- 

 tify the mark, without manifest injury to the 

 fruit or young branches. 



Remarks by the Translator. 



IN concluding the subject of vine dressing, as 

 applicable to the cultivation of Pennsylvania, I 

 shall briefly observe, that as the culture is new 

 among us, that part of the counsel of the Swiss 

 writers particularly claiming our attention, ap- 

 pears to be a preparation of the soil by previous 

 judicious tillage for the reception of the cuttings. 

 This is of primary importance, as otherwise it 

 would be vain to hope a favourable issue to the 

 experiment. Where the soil of the intended 

 vineyard has been in grass, it is the practice in 

 Switzerland to break up the sod in autumn, and 

 expose the upturned furrow to the action of the 

 frost during winter, by which the roots and sod 

 will perish and be decomposed. Early in the 

 R 



