Page 14 [14]
OCR
264 TOK AY. trod tothe bottenr 6fit, fo that the branches, where they are inferted in, the ftump,;are-under ground, and the remaining part is laid down. and covered with the foil mixed with a little dung, fo that their points only reach a few. inches above the fuxface of the foil. ‘To each «pf. thefe branches, which with time becomes a new vine, a ffick is given. Then follows the fevereft labour of the vineyard,.the dig_ ging or turning up the foil: this is repeated three or four times before the vintage. Soon after the firft digging, the fticks are driven in, to which the fhoots, when they are about two feet long, .are lightly bound: when they are grown to five feet they are better -bound, once pretty faft above, and once loofer in the middle. Weeds by this time again begin to grow, and the foil is again turned up to ‚deftroy them, and to keep it light: but during the flowering of the vine, nothing is done; Nature is left entirely to herfelf. This being over, the flicks are driven firmer.in the ground; the vines which may have come untied.are better fecured,; the too luxurious growth is taken away, and the vines are fo ordered that they may require no farther care till the vintage; only the foil is once more turned up. Now the hufbandman’s toil is over, and he waits for -the bleffing of Providence in a fine vintage—with anxiety—for -very uncertain are his profits. Though in-warm feafons the earlieft grapes are ripe in the middle ‚of Auguft, it is the latter end of September before the greater part are eatable ;. and.as..the grapes for, prefling.muft.be fully. ripe, the vintage 12
