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Of the Manured Vine

The Description.

THe trunke or body of the Vine is great and thicke, very hard, covered with many barks, which are full of cliffes or chinks; from which grow forth branches as it were armes, many wayes spreading; out of which come forth jointed shoots or springs; and from the bosom of those joints, leaves and clasping tendrels, and likewise bunches or clusters full of grapes: the leaves be broad, something round, five cornered, and somewhat indented about the edges: amongst which come forth many clasping tendrels, that take hold of such props or staies as stand next unto it. The grapes differ both in colour and greatnesse, and also in many other things, which to distinguish severally were impossible, considering the infinite sorts or kinds, and also those which are transplanted from one region or clymat to another, do likewise alter both from the forme and taste they had before: wherefore it shall be sufficient to set forth the figure of the manured grape, and speak somwhat of the rest. There be some Vines that bring forth grapes of a whitish or reddish yellow colour; others of a deep red, both in the outward skin, juice, and pulpe within.

There be others whose grapes are of a blew colour, or something red, yet is the juice like those of the former. These grapes doe yeeld forth a white wine before they are put into the presse, and a reddish or paller wine when they are trodden with the husks, & so left to macerate or ferment, with which if they remain too long, they yeeld forth a wine of a higher colour. There be others which make a black and obscure red wine, whereof some bring bigger clusters, and consist of greater grapes, others of lesser; some grow more clustered or closer together, others looser; some have but one stone, others more; some make a more austere or harsh wine, others a more sweet: of some the old wine is best, of divers the first yeres wine is most excellent: some bring forth fruit foure square, of which kindes we have great plenty. The Time.

Columella saith Vines must be pruned before the young branches spring forth. Palladius writeth, in Februarie: if they be pruned later they lose their nourishment with weeping.