GRAPE VINES. 47 



trimming. When kept under as usual in vineyards by 

 annual cutting, they only last from 40 to 60 years, and 

 thus less than the European vines. 



32. The best foreign grapes ought to be raised in shel- 

 tered gardens for table fruit. Even the most delicate 

 may be naturalized gradually, by sowing the seeds, and 

 sowing a second or third time the best seeds produced 

 in the country. This, however effectual, is a very long 

 process, which requires patriotism and patience. 



33. To prepare the ground for vines or a vineyard, a 

 crop of potatoes or turnips ought to be raised on it be- 

 fore planting, which improves and opens the ground, or 

 else it ought to be manured and ploughed deep several 

 times in the fall previous. 



34. The best manure for vines then, and at any other 

 times, are composts made to suit the soil, or mixtures of 

 good earth, ashes, gravel, sand, iron dregs, rubbish, 

 brick dust, oyster shells, vine leaves, and grape husks, 

 with a little ilung. If the ground is rich of itself, it re- 

 quires more ashes, sand, and other loosening manure. 

 If poor, more earth and dung. 



35. But the very best manure for vines are volcanic 

 ashes, which might be imported on purpose in ballast, 

 from Naples, Sicily, Portugal, the Canary or Azore Isl- 

 ands. Puzzolana above all, which is a kind of it, useful 

 also for water cement. These ashes might highly im- 

 prove our wine. Next to them are crumbling iron stone 

 and granite ; also the gravel dregs of forges, or tlie pow- 

 dered dross. The residue of the grapes, after mashing 

 them for wine, the lees of the wine itself, and even the 

 decayed leaves of the vines are also excellent manures. 



36. A regular vineyard ought to be in rows, if to be 

 worked with a plough ; but in Europe, where the hoe is 

 more commonly used, they often plant the vines checker 

 wise. The hoe is better than the plough, because more 

 vines can be planted on one acre, the whole ground is 

 kept better open, and the produce is greater ; but with 

 us the plough is preferred as cheaper. 



37. The rows from 5 to 1 feet apart, and each vine 

 from 2 to 5 apart: thus allowing from 1200 to 3000 vines 

 on one acre. The more on the acre the greater the ex- 

 penses at first, but also the greater the produce after- 



