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184 



CULTIVATION of the VINE. 



Whoever confiders the general climate of North-Amc 

 rica, the foil, the feafons, the ferenity and drynefs of the 

 air, the length and intenfenefs of the heat, the fair and 

 moderate weather, that generally prevails in the fall, M^heu 

 grapes are coming to maturity^ and arrive at their greateft 

 pcrfeftion; whoever compares the prefent date of the air, 

 with what it was formerly, before the country was opened, 

 cleared and drained, v/ill find that, we are every year fafl 

 advancing to that pure and perfect temperament of air, ht 

 for making the befl and richeft wines of every kind. 



Such has been the bounty and goodncfs of heaven, that 

 there are vines adapted to every country, to every region, 

 from fifty degrees both north and fouth latitude down to 

 the equator; and the countries beyond thefe may eafily be 

 fuplled by traffic, fo that all the fons of men may partake 

 of this general, this univerfal bleffing. 



It is not every vine, that is fit for every country: Some 

 are earlier, fome are later ripe ; fome are tender and delicate, 

 and wall not ftand the feverity of winter, others are hardy 

 and robuft, and will Hand any weather: Hereafter I fhall 

 range them in proper and diftindclafles, and adapt the dif- 

 ferent forts by name to the different climates in America, 

 where they may be propagated with fafety and to the befl 

 advantage. 



A vine, from a flick or cutting, begins to bear fruit the 



third year, the fourth year it bears more, and the fifth year 



you may make wine; and for your greater encouragement, 

 from that time until it attains the full age of man, it in- 

 creafes in value and yields a richer wine; and if from the 

 beginning, it be carefully pruned, duly manured and pro- 

 perly cultivated, it will gcncroufly reward you for all your 

 labour, ex pence and care, and will hold good above an 

 hundred years, as moft writers affirm. But then it mull 

 be tended by a careful and fleady hand. It will not bear 

 to be flighted, or negleftcd. If you do not manure the 

 ground and keep it In good heart, your vine will bear no 

 fruit; if you neglect to cultivate the foil and keep it clean, 



your 







