CHAPTER FIFTH.
Of Labouring and Munuring the Soil for Vines.
THE advantage of labouring the soil, where vines are planted, has been recognised in every wine district, and its value appreciated, not only as disposing the soil for the more free circulation of air and moisture, and making it more penetrable for the numerous fibres of the roots, but also, as destroying that numerous tribe of parasitical plants, which spring up in all places where the greatest care is not taken to eradicate them.
These weeds, besides depriving the plant of a part of those juices which it ought to appropriate, and often keeping around it a degree of humidity, which exposes it to danger from the frosts of autumn, frequently send forth emanations, with which the fruit is imbued so strongly, as not to be freed from it by fermentation, the wine retaining a disagreeable, and often repugnant taste, which is generally imputed to other causes.
Though very frequent labours are considered dangerous, three diggings or hoeings, are con-
