and the Method of maling Wines, ti.*J 



\a fat moift foil, well dunged, that it ought to be cultivated. 

 But we are taught by experience that the goodnefs of wine i^ 

 never proportioned to the force of the vine. We may there- 

 fore fiiy that nature, dcfirous to allign to each quality of foil 

 a peculiar produftion, has referved dry light foil for the vine,' 

 and has entrufted the cultivation of corn to fat and well nur- 

 tured lands : 



Hie fcgctes, illic veniiint fclicius uvae. 



It is in confequence of this admirable diftribution that agri- 

 culture covers with its varied productions the furface of our 

 globe; and nothing is neccilary but to avoid deranging the 

 natural order, and to apply to each place the proper cultiva- 

 tion to obtain almoft every where abundant and varied crops: 



Nee vero terrs ferre oranes omnia poffunt : 

 Nalcuntur fttrilcs faxolis montibus orni ; 

 Littora myrthetis l«tiHima: dcniquc apertos 

 Bacchus amat colles. 



Strong argillaceous earth is not at all proper for the culli^ 

 Tation of the vine; for not only are the roots prevented from 

 extending ihemfelves in ramifications, as is the cafe in fi\t 

 and conipaft foil ; but the facility with which thefe ftrata are 

 penetrated by water, and the obftinacy with which they retain 

 it, maintain a permanent ftate of humidity, which rots the 

 root, and gives to all the individuals of the vine fymptoms of 

 vveaknefs, which foon end in their deflruftion. 



There are fome kinds of ftrong earth which do not poflefs 

 thofe hurtful qualities that belong to the argillaceous foil above 

 mentioned. Here the vine grows and vegetates in freedom ; 

 bat this ftrength of vegetation ftill effentially hurts the good 

 quality of the grapes, which can with difficulty acquire ma- 

 turity, and gives the wine neither fpirit nor flavour. Thefe 

 kinds of foil, however, are fometimes fet apart for the vine, 

 bccaufe its abundance makes up for its quality, and becaufe 

 it is often more advantageous for the farmer to cultivate the 

 vine than to fow corn. Befides, thefe weak but abundant 

 wines furniflj a beverage fuited to labourers of every clafs, 

 and are attended with advantage in regard to diftillation, as 

 the vines require little culture. 



T>% It 



