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^33 



CULTIVATION of the VINE. 



they open, warm and fwceten it, by drawing out its cold 

 four bitter nature, and render it fit for the richcfl: produc- 

 tions, fo that liere the flrongeft and higheft flavoured 

 wines arc made. 



I have already mentioned the planting ofvhies at a 

 proper diftance, and in this I have exceeded the common 

 diftancc pradifed in moft wine countries; and that for 

 reafons which I fhall prefently ailign. 



Wlien 1 firft undertook a vineyard, I can without the 

 leaft fpark of vanity fay, I did it for the good of my coun- 

 try, and from a principle of love to mankind; I conlider- 

 ed that too many of the people of America were unhap- 

 pily drav/n into great exceffes in the ufc of diftiUed fpiritu 

 ous liquors, v^hich ruin their conftitutions, and foon ren- 

 der them unfit for the fervice of God and their country, 

 as well as for that of their own family and friends. 

 Wine on the contrary is a more homogeneous liquor, more 

 whokfome and much better adapted to the fpirit, and con- 

 ftitution of man; and although men will run into exceffes 

 in the ufe of it, yet it works itfelf off better, and does 

 not deftroy the natural vital heat and animal fpirits, in fo 

 great a degree and in fo fudden a manner, as fiery diftilled 

 liquors do; for thcfe reafons I went on, and endeavoured 

 to make myfelf mailer of the fubjeft, and by many expe- 

 riments to fatisfy myfelf of the truth of things. I was 



determined not to take up with things upon trull; for 

 thefe things are generally conduced according to the uiage 

 and cuflom of our forefithers, whofe method we fol- 

 low vf^ith the fame implicit faith, that too many do the re- 

 ligious tenets, cufloms and worfhip of their church, with-* 

 out examininir into the nature, rearonablenefs and found- 



nefs of them : But as reafonable creatures and free agents, 

 I think we have a right to examine things, to fearch into 

 the nature and reafon of them, and to judge and ad for 



r 



ourfelves; and ought not to be tied down to arbitrary 

 rules and rigid cuftoms which have been laid down and 

 cftabliflied in times of ignorance and fuperftition. To af- 



fumc 



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