

CULTIVATION of thk VINE. 



205 



near the end, two branches iaftead of one; fo prone is the 

 vnie to fhoot and extend itfclf, thefe alfo muft be nipped 

 at the fame time the lateral or fecondary branches 

 e looked to and nipped ofF, if any of them are flioot- 



olT, 



muft 



as foon as the leaf begins to 



ing out anew. 



In the fall of the year^ 

 wither and fall off, which happens earlier or later, accord 

 ing to the weather, cut the branches down again to one 



y 



ood bud each, and take away the earth round the heads 

 of the viueSs as before dire^fled, and cut away the day roots, 

 and manage them jufl in the ilime manner as you did the 

 fall before. Now as fome of your forward vines will bear 

 fruit the third from the planting, which is the next year, 

 and as it is natural for yoil to defire fruits and efpecially to 

 know what fort of fruit, and how good? your diiFerent 

 vines will bear; to fatisfy your curiofity) I would advife 

 you to fet afide two or three at moft, of each fort of your 

 moft thriving vines for that purpofe^ and inftead of cutting 

 down all their branches to one bud each, like the reft, leave 



two branches on each of thefe vines, with two or three 

 good buds each, which will flicw fome fruit to your fatis- 



fadion. But be perfuaded to prevent the reft from bear- 

 ing fruit till the fourth year, and the weaker vines till the fifth 

 year, and your vineyard will make you ample fatisfadion, 

 for this piece of felf denial For it greatly weakens a 



vine to bear fruit when fo young; and however fond moft 

 men may be of their vines bearing much fruit, the over- 

 bearing of vines is allowed on all hands, to hurt thcui 



greatly. To prevent which, in wine countries, where it 

 is common to leafe out vineyards to hufbandmen, whom 

 they call Vignerons, tliey have very ftrid laws, obliging 

 them to leave four, fix, or eight bearing branches on a 

 vine, according to the age of the vineyard, the ilrength 

 of the vines, arul the goodnefs of the foil, and according 

 to the cuftom of different countries where good wines are 

 held in repute, to prevent their hurting the vines, and the 

 reputation of their wines. Thefe Vignerons are likewife 

 Vol. I D d obliged 





