CHAPTER I. 



USES OF THE LEAVES AKD THE SAP. 



The Leaves. — The leaves of the vine are greedily devoured by ail 

 cattle, especially the cow, sheep and hog, which are excessively fond 

 of them. They are a great resource during a dearth of fodder. But 

 it should not be forgotten that the wood will not ripen without the 

 leaves; and that they are a great protection against the frost; as 

 well as an essential towards a mature and plentiful crop. They 

 should not be plucked; but, as they fall, should be gathered, heaped in 

 a dry place, or salted and packed hard in barrels. They may be pack- 

 ed alternately with straw or hay, which soaks the taste of the leaves 

 and becomes a new delicacy to the cattle. 



In some of the southern departments they actually admit the herds 

 or flocks into the vine-yard itself, to browse, as soon as the vintage is 

 over. At Alais and Anduse (Gard) they prune off the leaves as soon as 

 the grapes are gathered ; this method is preferable, as it preserves the 

 stock, and keeps a leaf to the eye that is in want of shelter against 

 next year. 



Tears of the Vine.— Few plants are more abundant in sap than 

 the vine at the moment of budding. It bleeds extravagantly for the 

 slightest wound. The bleeding at the bud does the plant no harm ; it is 

 a needful evacuation ; but the sap from a cut or wound at this season 

 is often a fatal injury. To this very limpid liquor many healing pro- 

 perties are attributed in various country parts. 



To collect it, an empty bottle must be buried in the ground, and a 

 stem, the end of it cut, must be bent over, without breaking, and in- 

 serted into the neck of the bottle. In a few days the bottle will be 

 fiUed.* 



* In Missouri it has been noticed that the tears of the native grape 

 are an excellent substitute for gum arabic, and scarcely distinguishable 

 from it, in taste or appearance. — Translator, 



