64 THE vine-dresser's manual. 



staked out, will gladden the eye of every one that sees 

 it. A slovenly vintner is certain to be detected in this 

 very point, and I want no better evidence of a good 

 vintner than to see him particularly nice in staking 

 out his vineyard. 



"What system of trimming to adopt for the vines is 

 oftener a matter of fancy than of actual propriety. I 

 have, in this chapter, treated of various methods ; in 

 the next I shall particularly describe that which, in my 

 opinion, deserves universal adoption. The reader can, 

 from the cuts given in this and the following chapter, 

 find a safe guide, whether he should choose the method 

 recommended by me, or any other. I do not think it 

 necessary to describe these others more fully, because 

 I am satisfied that any intelligent reader can, if he 

 will but read carefully this and the next chapter, and 

 if he will apply the general rules laid down practically, 

 vary the trim of his vineyard to suit the particular 

 locality, or fancy, as the case may be. I wish to avoid, 

 also, if possible, perplexing the reader, and I therefore 

 indicate to him the method which my own experience 

 points out as the best. At the same time, I have also 

 named other methods, upon which it may be well to 

 " experiment,''^ after the reader shall have had some ex- 

 perience in vine-dressing. 



