186 lawson's history 



^ew planted colonies are generally attended 

 with a force, and necessity of planting tlie known 

 and approved staple and product of the country, 

 as well as all the provisions their families spend. 

 Therefore we can entertain but small hopes of the 

 improvement of the vine, till some skillful in dres- 

 sing vines shall appear amongst us, and go about 

 it, with a resolution, that ordering the vineyard 

 shall be owe half of their employment. If this be 

 begun, and carried on, with that assiduity and re- 

 solution which it requires, then we may reasonably 

 hope to see this a wine country; for then, when 

 it becomes a general undertaking ; every one will 

 be capable to add something to the common stock, 

 of that which ho has gained by his own experience. 

 This way would soon make the burden light, and a 

 great many shorter and exacter curiosities, and real 

 truths would be found out in a short time. The 

 trimming of vines, as they do in France, that is, 

 to a stump, must either here be not followed, or 

 we are not sensible of the exact time, when they 

 ought to be thus pruned; for experience has 

 taught us, that the European grape, suffered to run 

 and expand itself at large, has been found to bear, 

 as well in America as it does in Europe ; when at 

 the same time, the same sort of vine trimmed to 

 a stump, as before spoken of, has born a a poor crop 

 for one year or two ; and by its spilling, after cut- 

 ting, emaciated, and in three or four years died. 

 This experiment, I believe has never failed; for 

 I have trimmed the natural vine the French way, 



