CULTIVATION of the VINE. 



213 



which ought to be 



If one of the branches outgrows the 



The head of the vhie, properly fpeakuig, when It Is 

 formed near the ground, is compofcd of the but ends of 

 the branches, that are cut down to one good bud each, 



eight at leaft in number. Thefe 

 branches, the fccond year of the vine's growth, fhoot from 

 the foHd wood chiefly, and then is the critical time to pre- 

 pare for forming a proper head to a vine; therefore pre- 

 fervc eight of the beft fhort jointed branches, that grow 

 on all fides of the ftoclc, and much of a fize, and thefe 

 muft be carefully tied up fingly to the flakes, that the buds 

 may fill well, and that the wood may ripen, on which 

 greatly depends the future fuccefs of your vineyard, as 

 this is the foundation of the whole. If more than eight 



branches have grown from the head, the reft muft be ftruck 

 off with the finger. 



reft and appears more flourifliing, that in particular muft 

 be ftruck off. For if fuft'ered to grow, it will rob the reft 

 of their due proportion of nouriftiment, and ruin the vine. 

 Eight branches are fufficient for a thrifty young vine, four 

 of which are intended for bearing fruit, when that time 

 comes, and the other four are defigned for branches of re- 

 ferve. The third year, which is the firft year of the vine's 

 bearing, the lowermort good bud on the bearing branches, 

 will produce one or two clufters of grapes each. The 

 fourth year, two or three of the lowermoft buds will bear 

 fruit, and after that five or fix of the lower buds will bear 



fruit, but feldom more; fofliallyou have five or fix branches, 

 growing from each bearin:^- branch, producing fruit, which 

 makes twenty or four and twenty bearing branches upon 

 one vine, and each of thefe branches yielding: two three 

 or more clufters, according to the fruitfulnefs of the year, 

 and the due ctdtivation of your vineyard. 



Nay if your vines are well chofen, as I have diredcd, 

 and properly cultivated, and your foil kept clean and well 

 improved, you fliall, in a fruitful year, fee fome of the 

 fecondary branches and even the tendrils bearing fruit. 

 This happened to fome of my vines in the year 1767. I 

 Vol. L E e - had 



