156 TRAVELS IN 
is unquestionably the vine, the culture and nianagement of 
which are however very little understood. 
The vineyards, instead of being pruned down to the ground, 
so that the bunches of grapes frequently rest upon it, should 
be led up props or espaliers, or trailed, 'as in Madeira, along 
the surface of lattice work. The strong Spanish reed that 
grows abundantly in the colony is well suited for this purpose, 
which would not only free the grapes from the peculiar earthy 
taste that is always communicated to the wine, but would 
cause the same extent of vineyard to produce more than 
double the quantity of grapes. A family or two from the 
island of Madeira, to instruct them in the process of making 
wine, would be of essential use to the colony. 
A better system of the tillage of corn lands could not fail 
to be productive of a considerable increase in the returns of 
grain. The breed of horses has so much improved since the 
capture by the English, that these may soon be substituted 
for oxen in all the purposes of husbandry, and small English 
plouglis made to supersede their present unwieldy machines, 
requiring each from ten to sixteen oxen. 
"With respect to the country boors, it will require a long 
time before any effectual steps can be adopted for the im- 
provement of their condition. Content with the possession 
of the mere necessaries of life, they seek for none of its com- 
forts, which, however, are sufficiently within their reach. 
Their cattle alone, if any care were bestowed upon them, 
would procure for their families every convenience, and enable 
