46 INTRODUCTION. 



land some time at the chateau de Montcherand, 

 the vigneron of which cultivated five acres of 

 inferior vine land, half the produce of this was 

 his whole support though he had a family. 



It will not, I presume, be supposed that a vine 

 dresser in any of the good vine districts of 

 France, the neighbourhood, for example, of Bor- 

 deaux, receives a moiety of the crop as a remu- 

 neration of his labour in the vineyard. The 

 wines of that country are in great demand for 

 European consumption, and are sold at an ex- 

 travagant price. The vigneron of those districts 

 is employed at a stipulated consideration. Go- 

 vernment in France mixes with the business of 

 the wine making, and appoints in the different 

 departments, the day on which the work shall 

 be commenced, and the duration also of the ope- 

 rations of the wine press. It must all be per- 

 formed within the given time, as, for example, 

 three or more certain days. In France, where 

 they have no fences, and where frequently the 

 only mark of demarcation between neighbouring 

 vineyards is a small footpath, of the width about 

 eighteen inches, the protecting influence of such 

 a measure, is one of the reasons assigned for the 

 adoption of it, as on those certain days (and on 

 no other) the grapes are all gathered. 



Every proprietor is in the field, and takes care 

 that his neighbour respects the line of partition. 



The spirit of freedom existing among us, and 

 which causes us to revolt at the interference of 

 authority with our pecuniary or personal con- 

 cerns, will always prevent such a controlling re- 

 gulation. But it is the theory of many of the 



