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CULTIVATION or the VINE 



blinded. For fo glutinous is the fap, that it binds up the 

 bud it reaches, fo that the leaves cannot open and unfold 

 at the time of vegetation. In cutting off large limbs from 

 old vines, it fometimes happens that ants fall upon the 

 pith, eat their way in, and make a hollow, where the 

 water fettles and rots it. In this cafe the remedy is, to 

 cut fuch branches clofe down to where it is folid and green, 

 and it will bark over and heal. 



It is common for large buds to fhoot out two or three 

 branches each. One only on each fhould be fufFered to 

 grow; if you exped fruit on them, be not in a hurry to 

 ftrike them off 'till you know which is moft fruitful, and 

 fave that. Vines that are clofe planted in a vineyard, can- 

 not be expeded to bear fo much fruit, as fmgle vines, or 

 as thofe that are planted at a diftance. Their roots are too 

 much confined, fo that they cannot gather nourifhment in 

 fo fmall a compafs of ground, to fupport and bring to per- 

 fedion a large quantity of fruit; and this is a 

 reafon for reftraining them, and for limiting the number 

 of bearing branches, if you mean to make good wine, to 

 keep your vines in full vigour and to prefcrve them for 

 many years. Befides the deficiency is fully made up, by 

 a greater number of vines; and the planting them clofe, 



enables you the better to keep them low and within pro- 

 per bounds. 



Vines that bear black or red grapes generally flioot forth 

 a greater number of branches, and more vigorous than 

 thofe that bear white grapes, and therefore the latter require 

 more caution in trimming, and more care in the cultivation 

 and management of the foil, that it be kept clean and in 

 good heart. 



When vines have been covered with earth during the 

 winter feafon, let them not be uncovered in the fpring, 

 till the hard frofls are over, and then let it be done in a 

 fair, warm, drying day, that they may dry before night, 

 for if they fhould freeze before they are dry, it would 

 greatly hurt, if not ruin the crop. 



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