76 CULTIVATION OF THE 



him and his native fields, and generations have 

 faded since his forefathers were spirited from 

 their homes, he still bears on his front the burn- 

 ing memorial of the equator's sun. 



Not so with the vegetable world. The russet 

 brown of the Swiss vine is changed in the neigh- 

 bouring state for the yellow skin. The same 

 plant shows there another foilage ; vegetation is 

 more active; and another hue, and different cul- 

 tivation, are induced by a fertile soil and more 

 genial climate. Italy is justly styled the garden 

 of Europe. The rich exuberance of her olive 

 yards and vine grounds indicate the strength of 

 her soil and mildness of her climate, and the 

 rank luxuriance of vegetable life, is in striking 

 contrast with the wan cheek and enervate frame 

 of the cultivator of the modern Eden. Nature 

 has been prodigal of her bounty to this favoured 

 land, and where such is the case, man is in gene- 

 ral studious of ease. 



In passing from Switzerland, it is impossible 

 to overlook the effect which a difference of cli- 

 mate has exercised on the appearance of the two 

 countries. The agriculture of Switzerland is a 

 system of patient and persevering labour, and 

 the soil yields ungraciously her stinted crops. 

 The appearance of the Swiss peasant corresponds 

 with the bold and rugged outlines of his country, 

 and his robust and hardy bearing manifests a 

 contempt of forbearance, and a familiarity with 

 exposure. That this difference should be a fea- 

 ture in the agriculture of the countries, is a natu- 

 ral consequence, and accordingly we find that 

 though the cultivation of the vine in Italy, from 



