CULTIVATION of the VINE. 



221 



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none of thefe are to be found, you muft wound the vine 



in a proper place, foinewhere about the fhoulders, with a 

 bodkin or fliarp pointed inftrument, in twoor three places, 

 from whence it is uJiial for a branch to fhoot, if it be done 

 fometime in the fpring: But if all fliould fail, you then 

 will be obliged to raife your frame higher, and make ufe 

 of fome of the branches, that grow out of the arms, the 

 nearer to theihoulders, the better: But if you have been 

 drove to this necefhty before, and your frame has been al- 

 ready raifcd to a fufficient height, there then remains no 

 remedy but a defperate one, fince the difeafe is become def- 

 perate, that is, to cutfuch vines down even with the ground, 

 and from thefe flumps frcfli flioots will fpring and bear 

 fome fruit, the fecond year after, if a proper choice be 

 made : They muft be cut when you trim your vines. 



If any fruit fl^ould appear on any of the branches, that 

 grow from the lliouldcrs, which is often the cafe, let them 

 be taken away as fopn as they appear, for thefe being 

 branches of referve, they are defigned to bear fruit ihc 

 fucceeding year, the arms only are to be^r fruit the prefent 

 year: Thefe dlrcdions will ferve for the fourth, the fifth, 

 and the fucceeding years. 



In the fall of this third year, I have above direded you 

 to cut the four main branches, that grew from the four 

 buds, down to two good buds each, but this is defigned 

 for the ftrong vines only; thofe that are weak, muft be cut 

 down to one good bud, each branch, fo fhall they flourifli 

 and gather ftrcngth the better, and if any fruit fhould ap- 

 pear on the weak vines the fourtli or even the fifth year, 

 ftrike therai off as foon as they appear, and they will after- 

 wards make you ample fatisfadion for this prudent ma- 

 nagement of them when young and weak; and once for 

 all be perfuaded not to overload young vines with fruit; 

 if from a fondnels to outdo your neighbour, you run into 

 this error, your vines will pine and be at a ftand, and will 

 not recover for fome years; and then your neighbour, who 

 has cultivated his vines with more prudence and caution, 



Vol. I. 



Ff 



ill 



