THE VINE 251 



the vines start into growth. Nothing more is done to the vines until they 

 break into grow^th the following spring, when they' are disbudded as soon as the 

 bunches are distinguished on the shoots, and from three to four shoots are 

 left on a plant, after which the same process of tying, stopping, and keeping 

 the ground clean, as described above, is carried out during the growing season. 



From the time the first portion of the vineyard was planted, a piece was 

 added to it every year until the allotted space was completed. Cuttings I foot 

 long were made from the strongest and best of the prunings, and planted in 

 nursery rows as is done with gooseberry cuttings. In two years they made 

 good canes, and were planted out in their permanent quarters in the vineyard 

 the following spring. The first wine was made in 1877, and more or less 

 has been made every year since with two or three exceptions when the seasons 

 were bad. 



The vintage of 1881 was of excellent quality, and the whole of it was sold 

 (except a few dozens) at 60s. per dozen to a wine merchant at Cardifi^. Dr. 

 Lawson Tait, late of Birmingham, a noted connoisseur in wines, bought several 

 dozens of it from the wine merchant in question, some of which was sold by 

 auction at Birmingham the following year, and realised 115s. per dozen. 



The late Lord Bute was so pleased with the results of the experiment at 

 Castell Coch, that I was instructed by him in 1886 to make further experiments 

 with the cultivation of the vine in different parts of his Welsh estates where it 

 was thought there was a probability of its succeeding. A site was selected at 

 Swanbridge, about seven miles from Cardiff, close to the shore of the Bristol 

 Channel, as a most likely place for a vineyard. Both the soil and situation 

 have been found suitable. The vines grow well, and have produced excellent 

 crops of grapes almost every year since they were planted. The site is open and 

 less subject to mildew than Castell Coch, which is sheltered from the north by 

 a high wood. The vineyard, when planting is finished, will contain about nine 

 acres of vines. Three parts of it have been planted, and about three acres of 

 the vines are in full bearing. In good seasons as many as forty hogsheads of 

 wine have been made, and for some years past the yield has not been less than 

 twenty-five to thirty hogsheads. 



