On the Cultwation of the Fine. 



country, it is of no small consideration that the same 

 cuttings will produce five times the number of plants. 

 As to the manner of accommodating your vine to its 

 situation, an active imagination would suggest a vo- 

 lume upon the subject, and possibly unluckily miss the 

 only direction suited to the case ; but, fortunately, the 

 fact is, that a very small share of common sense will 

 in all cases, be fully sufficient to supply the deficiency ; 

 and very little more will be required to apply the prin- 

 ciple and practice here laid down, to an hundred or a 

 thousand vines, whenever the people of the country 

 shall feel the advantage, or necessity, of raising vine- 

 yards for a supply of wine within ourselves. A few ex- 

 amples by men of your standing, will lead them into the 

 practice, in the only way in which we can hope for 

 speedy success. And I pledge myself to you, that 

 whether you immediately succeed or not, you shall 

 derive a pleasure from the attempt itself, that shall am- 

 ply satisfy you for every expense, of money or time, 

 it shall cost you. Sporting with the long branches, 

 bending them in festoons, and marking the growth of 

 the fine clusters from the upper buds, that in this way 

 may be preserved, and occasionally displaying them at 

 a festive board, has the happiest effect upon the human 

 mind — such as Bonaparte never felt. These are the 

 proper play things of great men ; and had General 

 Washington lived to this day, I would have said to 

 him " one thing lackest thou yet," in that, after saving 

 the world from a political deluge, thou hast not yet 

 planted a vineyard. 



Lame by an accident and confined, I have cheated a 

 wearysomc hour by intruding this upon you ; for 



