334 Vineyard Culture. 



of the farmer during the latter years of his lease. By 

 cutting down the necessary expenses of cultivation, 

 and forcing the produce of the plants beyond bounds, 

 the farmer may leave the vineyard in such a state that 

 several years will be required to restore it to its original 

 healthy condition, and even, in some cases, require it 

 to be renewed by an entirely new planting. These 

 abuses, it is true, the owner may try to prevent by 

 the clauses of the lease, but the details of this partic- 

 ular culture are even less easily regulated than those of 

 other branches of agriculture, so that such clauses 

 would, in most cases, prove of no force, and their rigid 

 execution would give rise to contests which would be 

 perpetually renewed between the owner and the farm- 

 er. In short, the drawbacks we have just pointed out, 

 as attending the system of renting vineyards, are so se- 

 rious that this method of working them is seldom re- 

 sorted to. 



LETTING OUT ON SHARES. This system of work- 

 ing is a species of partnership between the owner of 

 the vineyerd, and the person cultivating it. The owner 

 furnishes the land, and a greater or less number of the 

 cattle, implements, seeds, etc. The lessee furnishes his 

 labor and the balance of cattle, implements, etc., re- 

 quisite in the working of the vineyard. For the rest, 

 the proportion in which the owner and the lessee con- 

 tribute the cattle, implements, etc., is very variable, ac- 

 cording to the locality. There are certain poor districts 

 in which the lessee only furnishes his labor. The pro- 

 duct of the working is then divided between the owner 

 and the cultivator, in proportion to the contributions of 

 each. 



