318 ON SOIL. 



crop in the smallest given space. We will then consider, 

 first, the ' 



ASPECT. 



As our climate gives us plenty of heat for the matura- 

 tion of the vine, we have, therefore, more scope in aspect 

 than any other country. However, the most preferable is 

 one from south to east, or west. Shelter from high and 

 often recurring winds is a prime consideration. Our 

 western and south-western gusts of wind are very de- 

 structive to the vine when it is in the full vigour of 

 growth : it dissipates all the accumulated secretions of the 

 foliage, and closes its pores, thereby totally deranging the 

 vital functions of the plant, which (although in the height 

 of the growing season) has been known to be suspended 

 for weeks. There are frequently many local circum- 

 stances affecting the shelter of walls and other buildings, 

 which, where they exist, must determine the best aspect 

 for training the vine. But if there be no such local cir- 

 cumstances, we have no hesitation in stating that an east- 

 ern aspect is the best. On such the sun shines with full 

 force during the morning, at which time there is something 

 highly favourable to vegetation in his rays, which seems to 

 stimulate the energies of plants in an extraordinary degree, 

 and to excite them to a vigorous exertion of all the func- 

 tions appertaining to vegetable life. 



ON SOIL. 



The soil most congenial to the growth of the vine and 

 the maturity of its fruit is a rich, sandy, turfy loam, about 

 two feet deep, on a dry, gravelly, rocky, or sandy bottom ; 

 the roots run with avidity into such sub-soils, lying secure 

 from the excess of moisture, which always accumulates in 

 clayey or compact soils. The excrementitious matter dis- 

 charged from the roots of a vine is very great, and if this 

 be given out in close and retentive soils, they quickly 

 become deleterious, and a languid and diseased vegetation 

 ensues: this is the great reason that so many failures exist. 



