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CULTIVATION of the VINE. 



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fo as not to hurt, or rub againft the lower buds, with the 

 back of the knife, -which is frequently done, by cutting 

 off the branches too near the germ or bud. For if the thin 

 bark, that covers the bud, be rubbed off, under which is 

 a foft warm garment of cotton, to preferve it from violent 

 colds, the wet gets in, freezes and deftroys the germ. The 

 four main branches, that fprung from the four buds, mud 

 now be cut down to two good buds each; the lower bud, 

 next the old wood is never looked upon as a good bud, it is 

 called a dead eye, or barren bud; becaufe it bears no fruit,' 

 at leaft not the firft year of its growth: And yet notwith- 

 {landing you will be obliged fometimes to make ufe of it, 

 as I fhall prefently fliew. In cutting off the main branches, 

 cut flanting upward, fo that the wound appears in the 

 fhape of the nail of a man's finger, and let the flope be on 

 the oppofite fide of the bud, that if it {hould weep, the 

 tears may drop free of the bud ; this is the rule, but I have 

 given my opinion on this precept before, to which I refer 



In cutting, approach not too near the bud, that is 

 left, but keep at two inches diflance from it, leaft you en- 

 danger it, by letting in the cold air and wet upon it, be- 

 fore the wound can heal. 



The chief point,' in managing thefc vines, is, the pro- 

 viding branches of referve for recruiting the arms in fuch 



manner, as to confine the vine within the compafs of yout» 



frame; for if you raife new arms from the old ones, your 

 vine will foon outfhoot the frame. You muft, therefore^ 

 feek for new arms from the ilioulders; If a branch grows 

 in a proper place, any where between the arms and the 

 head, and happens to be broken, clip it into a thumb, tluit 

 is, cut it down to two or three good buds, as foon as you 

 difcover it, and this is called a keeper, and very well fup- 

 plies the place of a branch of referve. Sometimes you 

 will be glad to make ufe of the half llarvcd branch, that 

 fprings from the dead eye bcforementioned ; nay fometimes 

 you are drove to the neceffity of nurfing up a Imall bud of 



d when 



you 



two leaves, era knob or wart for that purpofe: an 



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