I shall also set down a few Directions for the
making of Wine, which have not been hitherto mention'd in any of my Works,
or by Mr. _Evelyn_, or Mr. _Mortimer_.
As to the first, we are to observe, that the Situation of our Island
occasions our Seasons to be more uncertain than on the Continent, or
between the Tropics. The cold and wet Summer, 1725, prevented the ripening
of our later kind of Grapes; and indeed I did not meet anywhere with a
Grape that had its perfect Flavour, unless the Vines were forced; but yet
there were abundance. However, this Year, 1726, on the contrary, there are
very few Grapes, and those are likely to be very good, some being already
ripe against common Walls, without Art; such as the white Muscadine the
24th of _July_, and black Cluster-Grape. And at Sir _Nicholas Garrard_'s
Garden in _Essex_, I eat some of the black _Frontiniack_ full in
perfection, at the same time; and then the grisly and white _Frontiniack_
Grapes, which are the latest kinds, were transparent, and within a little
of being fit to gather: which is a Novelty so great, that has not been
observ'd in _England_ in my time; for the _Frontiniack_ Grapes seldom ripen
till the end of _September_, and then in a bad Year we cannot expect them
without Art.
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