v r n 
V I o 
V I o 
$50 
which should be received in a vessel by itself, 
js tinged green by a little copper which passes 
along 1 with it; but when distilled over again 
in a gentle heat, it is obtained perfectly co- 
lourless and transparent. The acid thus ob- 
tained is exceedingly pungent and concen- 
trated. ft was formerly distinguished by the 
names of radical vinegar, and vinegar of 
Venice. 
This acid is transparent and colourless like 
water. It has a peculiar aromatic smell when 
in the state of acetous acid ; but concentrated 
acetic acid, when procured in the usual way, 
has an einpyreumatic odour, mixed with the 
natural smell of vinegar, owing to a small 
portion of oil formed during the process. 
A much easier method of obtaining acetic 
add than that commonly used has been lately 
pointed out by Mr. Badoilier, apothecary at 
Chartres. All that is necessary is to distil a 
mixture of equal parts of ace! at of lead and 
sulphat of copper in a glass retort. The acid 
comes perfectly pure on the application of a 
moderate heat. 
The specific gravity of distilled vinegar 
varies from 1.007 to 1.0095; but radical 
vinegar is much more concentrated. In that 
state^ it is extremely pungent and acrid ; and 
when it is applied to the skin, it reddens and 
corrodes it in a very short time. It is ex- 
ceedingly volatile ; and when heated in the 
open air,' takes fire so readily, that one would 
be tempted to suspect the presence of ether 
in it. it unites with water in any proportion ; 
and when concentrated, the mixture evolves 
a good deal of heat. See Acid, Chemistry, 
&c. 
VINEYARD, a plantation of vines. See 
VlTIS. 
The best situation of a vineyard is on the 
declivity of an hill, lying to the south. For 
the planting of a vineyard, observe the fol- 
lowing method : In the month of July, while 
the outermost coat of the earth is very dry 
and combustible, plough up the sward ; den- 
shire, or burn-beat it, according to art, and in 
January following, spread the ashes. The 
ground being thus prepared, cut your trenches 
across the hill from east to west, because the 
vines being thus in ranks, the rising andsetting 
of the sun will by that means pass through the 
intervals, which it would not do if they were 
set in any other position, neither would the 
sun dart its rays upon the plants during the 
whole course of the day. 
Afterwards strain a line, and dig a trench 
about a foot deep *, place your sets in it, about 
three feet distance one from another ; trim off 
1h 1 superfluous roots, leaving no more than 
three or four eyes or buds upon that which is 
above ground ; and plant them near half a foot 
deep, sloping, after the manner the quick is 
commonly set, so that they may point up the 
bill. That done, take long dung or straw, 
and lay it on the trenches in a convenient 
thickness to cover the earth, and preserve the 
roots from the dry piercing winds, which 
would otherwise much annoy them, and from 
the excessive scorching heats in summer ; 
keep them well hoed, and free from weeds, 
and water them as occasion serves ; the be i 
time to plant is in January. 
The first pruning of the new-set vine ought 
not to be till January, and then you should 
cut off all the shoots as near as you can, spar- 
ing but one of the most thriving, on which 
vou are to leave only two or three buds, and 
2 
so let all rest till May. the second year after 
planting. Take care then from time to time 
to destroy the weeds, and clear the roots of 
all suckers, which do but rob and draw out 
the virtue of your sets. The same method is 
to be followed fhe third year; then dig your 
whole vineyard, and lay it very level, taking 
care in this operation not to cut or wound any 
of the main roots with your spade. As for 
the younger roots, it is not so material, as 
they will grow the thicker ; and this year 
you may enjoy some of the fruits of your 
vineyard, which, if answerable to your expec- 
tation, will put you upon providing props for 
your vines of about four feet long, which 
must be placed on the north side of the 
plant. In May, rub off such buds as you 
suspect will produce superfluous branches. 
When fhe grapes are about the size of bird- 
ing-shot, break off the branches with your 
hand at the second joint above the fruit, and 
tie the rest to the prop : here it is most ad- 
visable to break, and not cut, your vine ; be- 
cause wounds made with a sharp instrument 
are not apt to heal, but cause the plants to 
bleed. See Pruning. 
The fourth year you will be likely to have 
three or four shoots to every plant; and, 
therefore, in December, cut off all the 
branches, except one of the strongest and 
most thriving, which leave tor a standard 
about four feet high, paring away the rest 
very close to the body of the mother-plant, 
which tie to your prop till it is large enough 
to make a standard of itself. Neither must 
you suffer any shoot to break out, but such as 
sprout at the top, four feet from the ground ; 
all which sprouts the French usually prune off 
every year, and absolutely trust to the new 
sprouts that are only bearing shoots. 
In August, when the fruit begins to ripen, 
break off such shoots as you find too thick ; 
and if you perceive any plant bleed, rub 
some ashes on it ; or, it that will not do, sear 
it with a hot iron. When, upon stirring your 
vineyard, it appears to be poor, prune the 
vines as before directed ; and spread good 
dung, mixed with lime, over the whole 
ground, letting it lie all the winter to wash 
into the earth, mixing about ten bushels of 
lime with a load of dung ; and if some ashes 
and soot are likewise thrown on, it will do 
well. Turn iu this manure about February, 
with a slight digging, but not too deep, which 
should be done in a dry season, and not in 
wet weather, lest it should make the ground 
bind too much, and occasion the growth of 
rank weeds. 
VIOL, a stringed instrument resembling 
in shape and tone the violin, of which it was 
the origin ; that impressive and commanding 
instrument being httie more than an improve- 
ment of the old viol. This instrument former- 
ly consisted of five or six strings, the tones of 
which were regulated by their being brought 
by the fingers into contact with the frets with 
which the neck was furnished. The viol was 
for a long while in such high esteem as to 
dispute t'he pre-eminence with the harp, espe- 
cially in the early times of music in France ; 
and, indeed, being reduced to four strings, 
and stript of the frets with which viols of all 
kinds seem to have been furnished till the six- 
teenth century, it still holds the first place 
among treble instruments, under the deno- 
mination of violin. 
VIOLA, a tenor violin. This instrument 
is similar in its tone and formalon to the 
violin ; but its dimensions are sane what 
greater, and its compass a fifth lower in the 
great scale of sounds. Its lowest note is 0 
on the fourth space in the bass. The part it 
takes in concert is between that of the bass 
and the second violin. 
Viola, a genus of plants of the class syn- 
genesia, order monogynia ; in the natural 
system arranged under the 29th order, cam- 
panacea;. The calyx is pentaphy Ions ; the-. ] 
corolla five-petajlecf, irregular, with a necta-B 
ri um behind, horn-shaped; the capsule is- 
above the germe»,three-valved, in one locular. 
There are 43 species, six of which are natives, 
of Britain. The most important of these are : 
1. T’he palustris, marsh violet. The leaves 1 
are smooth, reniform, two or three on eaclfo 
footstalk; flowers pale blue, small, inodorous .1 
An infusion of the flowers is an excellent testa 
of the presence of acids and alkalies. 
2. The odorata, purple sweet violet, lias- 
leaves heart-shaped, notched ; flowers deep ; 
purple, single; creeping scions. The flowers, 
of this plant taken in the quantity of a dram 
or two. are said to be gently purgative or 
laxative, and, according to Bergius and some 
others, they possess an anody ne and pectoral! 
quality. There is a variety with white flowers J 
3. Tricolor, pansies, heart’s-ease, or three] 
faces under a hood. The stems are diffuse] 
procumbent, triangular ; the leaves oblong, 
cut at the edges; stipulae dentated ; the 
flowers purple, yellow, and light blue, in- 
odorous. This elegant little plant merits 
culture in every garden, for the beauty and 
great variety of it? three-coloured flowers ; 
and it will succeed any where in the open 
borders, or other compartments, disposed in 
patches towards the front, either by sowing 
the seed at once to remain, or by putting in 
young plants. They will begin flowering 
early in summer, and will continue shooting 
and flowering in succession till winter ; and 
even during part of that season in mild wea- 
ther. The common violet is propagated by 
parting the roots, sometimes by seed. 
VIOLIN, or Fiddle, a well-known string- 
ed instrument of brilliant tone and active 
execution. When, or by what nation, this 
important and interesting instrument was 
first invented, is not at present known ; nor 
can the form and character of the viol in used 
in England in the time of Chaucer, who men- 
tions it, be exactly ascertained. r I here is, 
however, much reason for supposing that 
from its first introduction it underwent con- 
tinual alterations and improvements, since 
even towards the end of fire sixteenth cei> 
tury its shape appears to have been vague 
and undetermined. It Ins, however, long 
attained its present excellence, and formed 
the leading instrument in concert. T he foui 
strings of which it consists are tuned in fifths 
from each other. The ptch of the lowest 
string is G, under the second ledger line in 
the treble stave ; consequently that of the 
next is D, under the first line of the stave ; 
the pitch of the next above that, A on the se- 
cond space ; and that of tie upper string, E 
on the fourth space. Dining the Protector- 
ship the violin was in little esteem, and gave 
way to the rising prevalence of the viol ; bul 
at the Restoration, viols began to be ouf 
of fashion, and violins resumed their for- 
mer consequence. The aitiquity of this irtj 
strument has long been a subject of dispute 
