Alteration of a Season from a dry to a wet, will occasion an alteration in
a Plant. There is one Instance particularly, which I cannot help
mentioning, relating to Vines, and the neccessity of keeping their Roots
from Wet, which I observ'd this Year at _Twittenham_, at _John Robarts_'s
Esq. This Gentleman has several Vines laid up against the side of his
House, as full of Grapes as I have ever seen any; but at the bottom where
they grow, the Ground is paved with Bricks for about ten or twelve foot
from the Wall they are nail'd to. This Pavement, in the last wet Summer,
kept the Roots from imbibing, or receiving too much Moisture, and therefore
the Juices of the Vines were digested, and capable of producing Fruit this
Year; whereas such Vines as were not growing in dry places naturally, or
had their Roots defended from the violent Wet by accident, have few or no
Grapes at all. My Observations this Year, in some places where there are
Pavements, still confirms me in my Opinion; and where there was any
tolerable Skill in Pruning, I am persuaded every one will find that there
have been Grapes this Year, or now are on those Vines that have stood in
paved places, where the Pavement defended the Roots from the wet of the
last Year. And as I have already mention'd in this, and other Works, the
neccessity of planting Vines in dry places, for regular Seasons; and these
Instances showing us the advantage of doing the same in wet Seasons; I
think one may reasonably judge, that Pavements made over such places where
Vines are planted, as well as Rubbish and dry Ground to plant them in, is
the best way we can take for them. This way, particularly in a wet Year,
will keep our Vines from running into long Joints, and the Juices
consequently in digesting, as we find by experience; for no long-jointed
Shoots of Vines are fruitful as they ought to be, and rarely bear any Fruit
at all. 'Tis the short-jointed Shoots that will bear Fruit plentifully; and
where there is much Wet at the Root, you must expect very few short Joints,
and also very little Fruit: therefore, in this case, the Roots ought always
to be defended from Wet.