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^02 



CULTIVATION of the VINE 



In the month of September, when the leaf begins to 

 Wither and fall off, which is the beft tune for trimming 

 of vines, as I have already obferved, cut down all the 

 branches, to one good bud each, and always remember 

 that the lowermoft bud next the old wood, is called the 

 dead eye, and is never reckoned among the good buds. 

 When your vines are thus trimmed, let a careful hand 

 take away the dirt from the foot of the vine, about four 

 inches down, and cut away all the upper roots that appear 

 above that depth, Thefe are called day roots, and muft 

 be taken away every fall, the firft three years. The beft 

 way is, not to cut them off clofe to the body of the vine, 

 but about a ftraw's breadth from it, fo fhall they not be fo 

 apt to grow again. Thefe upper or day roots greatly 

 weaken the vine, and hinder the lower roots from extend- 

 ing themfelves, and from firmly fixing themfelves below, 

 on which greatly depend the ftrength, firmnefs and dura- 

 blenefs of the vine, and alfo its fruitfulnefs. Befides by 

 thefe roots running deep, the vine is preferved from pe- 

 rifhing in long tedious droughts. Let the foot of the vine 

 be left open, after the day roots are cut away, that it may 

 dry and harden, till the hard frofts come. Then the holes 



are to be filled 



again. 



and the head of the vine covered 



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with chaff and fhort ftra w mixed, or with bog hay, or fait 

 hay, or with horfe litter, that is free from dung and grafs 

 feeds; for thefe fliould be carefully kept out of a vineyard, 

 which will fave the labour of rooting out the grafs that 

 would fpring from them. Some cover the head of the 

 vine with the ground when they fill up the holes; but this 

 is wrong, it greatly endangers the vine, as I have found by 

 experience, for I have loft many of them by this manage- 

 ment, before I difcovered the danger. The ground, in 

 warm rains, moulds and rots the vine. For the fame rca- 

 fon, fuffer no dung to be among the ftraw, hay, or horfe 

 litter v/ith which you cover your vines. The heat of the 

 dung, in warm rains or muggy warm weather, will mould 

 and rot them ; the cooler and dryer they are kept, the 



better. 



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