THE VINTAGE. 325 



Remarked by the French, that the Corinth grape may perhaps be 

 naturally more inclined to be abortive, on account of its hav- 

 ing no seeds ; but I have found that variety to be particularly 

 fruitful. The most skilful vignerons cannot always counteract 

 this blight, it is nevertheless sometimes caused by pruning too 

 much/; by working the vineyard at an* improper period ; or by 

 manuring too abundantly. There is but one vineyard known 

 in France where they pinch off the ends of the bunches before 

 flowering, in ordtr to prevent the coulnre and increase the size 

 of the berries, and it may be reasonably questioned whether 

 these means produce the result. A proper attention and an 

 appropriate discretion in the pursuance of the various rules 

 and directions laid down' in this work, will be calculated to 

 obviate this, as well as the other difficulties particularly inci- 

 dental to the vine culture. The foreign vines are in this 

 locality so late in expanding their foliage and flowers, that I 

 apprehend no difficulty in any case on that head ; and indeed 

 their bloom is produced at a later period than that of most of 

 our native varieties, of which the Scuppernong is one of the 

 most tardy, both in the development of its foliage and of its 

 flowers. 



The vintage. 



The vintage is a season of mirth in all wine countries, and 

 appears to have been equally so in the earliest ages. Isaiah's 

 prediction concerning Moab is particularly characteristic on 

 this point. '" And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the 

 plentiful field, and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, 

 neither shall there be any shouting ; the treaders shall tread 

 out no wine in their presses ; I have made their vintage shout- 

 ing to cease." ' 



In some parts- of France the vintage of the white grapes 

 does not commence until that of the black ones is nearly or 

 quite over. The former are left to hang as long as possible 

 before gathering, because thereby the wine obtained from them 

 is stronger and of better flavour. It even sometimes happens 

 that snow is on the ground before they are gathered. This 



