INTRODUCTION. 59 



those of Tarteguin, Mont, and Fechy. I found, 

 on examining these vineyards, that the soil, like 

 that of La Vaux, was a stoney gravel, and before 

 seeing them, had been at some loss to under- 

 stand, whence arose the great difference in the 

 quality of the different wines, the situation of 

 both, having been represented to me as similar, 

 and the soils alike. On visiting the vine grounds 

 of La Vaux, the cause of difference was at once 

 apparent. The vineyards of the coast occupy a 

 range of hills, stretching along the shores of the 

 lake, in a slight variation from the straight line, 

 whilst the shores of La Vaux are marked by 

 bold headlands and deep indentations, forming 

 the most picturesque and romantic glens. In 

 these protected recesses, the planter has judi- 

 ciously established his vineyard, and seized and 

 appropriated the immense advantage of a triple 

 reflection of the rays of the summer sun. 



The wines of La Vaux are generally good, 

 but it is almost impossible for the stranger to be- 

 lieve that a difference so striking in quality 

 could exist, as that between the wines of such 

 a position, and those of the same neighbourhood, 

 when the vineyard does not not possess the like 

 advantage. 



The district of Paleyres, in the neighbourhood 

 of Lausanne, produces a fair wine, which has 

 the advantage of improving by time, (a fea- 

 ture by no means characteristic of the Swiss 

 wines) and is recommended by the physi- 

 cians of the country, as salutary and invigo- 

 rating to the feebleness of ^age. I remarked 

 in this district no peculiarity in the treatment or 

 cultivation. The vines occupy the inclination 



