Chap. XII. OF THE V I N E.'i l! 3S; 



bearing, it fliould always be done; becaufe the (lopping of tho(V 

 (hoots which have fruit upon them, asfoon as the grapes are -formed,- 

 which is frequently praftifed, often fpoils the eyes for producing 

 bearing branches the iollowing year ; and this referving of new 

 wood, is what the vine dreflers abroad always practife in their vine- 

 yards. The bell feafon for pruning of vines, is about the middle or 

 end of Odlober. 



" The latter end of April or the beginning of May, when tlie 

 vines begin to (hoot, you muft carefully look them over, rubbing off 

 all fmall buds which may come from the old wood, which only 

 produce weak dangling branches ^ as alio when two (hoots are pro- 

 duced from the fame bud, the weakeft of them (hould be difplaced, 

 which will caufe the others to be (Ironger ; and the fooner this is 

 done, the better it is for the vines. 



. " In the middle of May, you muft go over them again, rubbing off 

 all the dangling flioots, as before; and at the fame time you muft 

 faften up all the ftrong branches, fo that they may not hang from the 

 wall : for if their flioots hang down, their leaves will be turned with 

 their upper furfaces the wrong way, and when the (hoots are after- 

 wards trained upright, they will have their under furface upward, 

 and until leaves are turned again, and have taken their right poll tion, 

 the fruit will not thrive; fo that the not obferving this management 

 will caufe the grapes to be a fortnight or three weeks later before they 

 ripen : befides, by Cuffering the fruit to hang from the wall, and be 

 fhaded with the clofenefs of the branches, it is greatly retarded in 

 its growth : therefore during the growing feafon, you (hould con- 

 ftantly look over the vines, difplacing all dangling branches and wild 

 wood, and faften up the other (hoots regularly to the wall, as they 

 are extended in length; and towards the middle of June, you (liould 

 (lop the bearing branches, which will ftrengthen the fruit, provided 

 you always leave three eyes above the bunches : for if you ftop them 

 too foon, it will injure the fruit, by taking away that part of the 

 branch which is neceflary to attradl the nouriftiment to the fruit, as 

 alfo to perfpire off the crudities of the fap, which is not proper for 

 the fruit to receive. 



*♦ But although I recommend the flopping thofe fhoots which have 

 fruit, at this feafon, yet this is not to be pradifed upon thofe which 

 are intended for bearing the next year; for thefe muft not be ftop- 

 ped before the middle of July, left, by ftopping thena too foon, you 



D d d caufe 



