380 OFTHE CULTURE. Part III. 



CHAP. XII. 



Of the Culture of the Vine. 



S E C T. I. 



"117 E fhall here borrow Mr. Miller's judicious diredions for the 

 ^^ firft planting of the vine, and then give the obfervations and 

 experiments of Mefs? de Chateau-vieux and Rouflel, on the farther 

 culture and management of it. 



All forts of vines are propagated either from layers or cuttings, 

 the former of which is greatly pradlifed in England, but the latter, 

 fays Mr. Miller, " is what I would recommend, as being much pre- 

 ferable to the other ; for the roots of vines do not grow ftrong and 

 woody, as in moft forts of trees, but are long, ilender, and pliable : 

 therefore when they are taken out of the ground, they feldom flrike 

 out any fibres from the weak roots, which generally flirivel and 

 dry; fo that they rather retard than help the plants in their growth, 

 by preventing the new fibres from pufhing out : for which reafon I 

 had rather plant a good cutting than a rooted plant, provided it 

 be well chofen : and there is little danger of its not growing.. 



" But as there are few perfons who make choice of proper cuttings, 

 or at leafl that form their cuttings rightly in England ; fo it will be 

 proper to give direftions for this in the firfl place, before I pro- 

 ceed. 



" You fhould always make choice of fuch fhoots as are flrong and 

 well ripened, of the lafl year's growth. Thefe fhoots fliould be cut 

 from the old vine, jufl below the place where they were produced, 

 taking a knot, or piece of the two years wood to each, which fhould 

 be pruned fmooth : thofe ends fliould then be laid into the ground, 

 about two inches deep, and the refl of the cuttings be left at full 

 length, only obferving to cover them with dry litter or peafe-haulm 

 in frofty dry weather; though in moift weather, the covering fhould 

 not remain on, becaufe it would make the cuttings grow, which 

 would greatly injure them. In the fpring, when they are to be 

 planted, they fhould be taken out of the ground, and their upper 

 part cut off, fo as to reduce them to about fourteen inches in length, 

 according to the diflance of the buds or eyes : for thofe cuttings 

 where buds grow pretty clofe, together, need not be left more thaa 

 one foot long 3 but on others, fourteen or fifteen inches will be full 



fbort. 



