OF THE VINE. 
87 
If the foregoing direcftions have been ftridtly attended to, the 
bunches of grapes will, in general, be large and fair, with well- 
fwelled and high-flavoured berries. 
After 
annually exported. The fruit, after the rind is taken off, is given to the cows 
and oxen ; and the inhabitants of this town afl'ure me, that the beef, at that feafon, 
has a ftrongand difagreeable flavour of bero-amot.” 
00 O 
I (hall beg leave to make two obfervations on the foregoing accounts : 
Firft, I prefume that water is not admitted either into the orchards or vineyards 
during the winter, as a wet foil would prove highly injurious to thofe kinds of 
fruit-trees at that feafon. It is, on this account, 1 have dire£led drains for the 
purpofe of taking ofF the fuperfluous water at the bottom of the Vine-border. 
And fecondly, as too much water at the time of the ripening of the fruit would 
debafe its flavour, I conclude, that if Sir William Hamilton and Mr. Forfter had 
made inquiry, they would have been informed by the refpedtive inhabitants, that 
the waterings are lefs frequent at the time of gathering the fruit and the feafon of 
the vintage, than at an earlier period. , 
Since the foregoing notes were written, I have met with the following curious 
account, which fhews the neceflity and great importance of a plentiful fupply of 
water in vineyards, &c. in warm climates. 
“ Water is the great agent, the primum mobile of all produdions in this 
country ; every thing languilhes, and foon is parched up, without an ample fup- 
ply of it ; abundance of rain fecures both a plentiful harveft and a copious vintage. 
“ Whenever a fpring breaks out, the King’s people feize upon it, and allot to each 
landholder a proper hour for letting the water upon his grounds. It is of fo much 
confequence, that the value of a guinea has been paid for an hour extraor- 
dinary.” 
Suinbunte's Travels through Spain, page 1 1 3. 
As 
