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GtTLTrVATION OF the VINE. 



215 



aefs, clofe along the lower fide of the vines, after the 

 ground has heen made loofe and mellow. Thefe flones 

 being broad, and not very heavy, do not prefs hard upon 

 the roots of the vines, nor pack the ground too clofe. They 

 reflcft great heat up to the vine and fruit, which helps to 

 bring it to full maturity; they prcferve the foil from warti-- 

 ing away, they keep the ground moill in the drieft times, 

 and hinder too much wet from penetrating down to the 

 roots near the head of the vine, which cliiefly occafions the 

 burfllng of the grapes when they are near ripe, after a fliovver 

 of rain. 1 o prevent this evil, is one reafon for cutting 

 away the day roots, which extend themfelves along near 

 the furface of the ground. But where fuch flat ftones are 

 not eafy to be had, I would recommend fliort flraw mixed 

 with chaff, the Ihives of flax and hemp, the chaff of flax- 

 feed, which is alfo an excellent manure, old half rotted fait 



hay, or bog hayvfree from grafs feeds, fpread thin between 



>4 «y^»«J^ *a44>» ^ 



e rows; if it be fpread thick, it keeps the ground too 

 long wet and cold in the fpring, which retards or keeps 

 back the growth of the vines.. Thefe I have experienced 

 to be profitable, and very much to hinder the foil from 

 .wafiung away. On the fide of fteep grounds, of hills and 

 mountains, ftones in proportion to the defcent, or logs of 

 wood, where ftones are not to be had, muft be laid alon^>- 

 the lower fide of the vines, to keep the foil from wafliing 

 away, which otherwife it will do, to the great damage, if 



not the ruin of your vineyard, and therefore when you be- 

 gin a vineyard, remember that this is one, and an elTen- 

 tial part of the coft, 



■ A vineyard will thrive the better, and the crops will be 

 niore fiirc, if it be well fcreened, by fome good fence, 

 buildings, mountain, orthickcopfe of wood at a fmall dif- 

 tance, from thofe points that lie to the north of the eaft, 

 and to the north of the north-weft; the winds from thofe 

 quarters, in the fpring of the year, being very unfriendly 

 to vines. But then a vineyard lliould be quite open to all 

 the other points of the compafs. For vines delio-ht much 



in 



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