dni the Method of making W^nes, 1^3 



getatlon. Wood cut down in a part of a foreft looking to-- 

 wards the north, is far lefs combuflible than that which 

 grows towards the fouth : odoriferous and favoury plants lofe 

 their perfume and favour when reared in fat foil expofed to 

 the north. Pliny had obferved that the v\T)od on the fouth 

 fide of the Appenines was of a better quality than that which 

 grew in any other expofure : and every body knows what the 

 cfFe6ls of expofure are in regard to pulfe and fruits. 



Thefe phaenomcna, which are perceptible in regard tb all 

 vegetable produftions, are particularly fo In regard to grapes. 

 A vine turned towards the fouth produces fruit very different 

 from thofe which look towards the north. The fur face of 

 the foil planted with vines, by being more oriefs inclined, 

 though with the fame expofure, prefents alfo modifications 

 without end. The fummit, the middlcj and the bottom of a 

 hill give produ61;ions very different. The fummit, being 

 uncovered, continually receives the impreffions of every 

 change and of every movement that takes place in the at- 

 mofphere; the winds harafs the vine in evdry direftion ; a 

 more conftant and more direct itiipreflfion is made on it by 

 fogs; the temperature is more variable and cold. AH thefe 

 circumftances united, caufe the grapes there to be lefs abun- 

 dant ; they come with more difficulty, and in a lefs cbrripletd 

 manner, to maturity ; and the wine arifmg from them is of 

 an inferior quality to that furniflied by the fides of the hill, 

 which by their pofition are flieltered from the gredter part of 

 the fatal effc6ls of thefe caufes. The bottom of the hill, ort 

 the other hand, prefents very great inconveniences : the con- 

 ftant coolnefs of the foil, no doubt, gives the vines great 

 vigour; but the grapes are never fo faccharine, nor have 

 fuch an agreeable flavour as thofe which grow towards the 

 middle region : the air there being conftantly charged with 

 moiflure, and the foil always impregnated with water, enlarge 

 the grapes, and force the vegetation, to the detriment of tha 

 quality. 



The mofl favourable expofure for the vine is between the 

 caft and the fouth. 



Opportunus ager tepldos qui vergit ad seftus. 



Small bills rtfing above a plain interfedted by a ftream of 



Q 2, pan^ 



