VINE IN ITALY. 77 



the great difference of the climate, varies essen- 

 tially from that of Switzerland, it has not receiv- 

 ed the same care, nor attained the same perfec- 

 tion in the former, as in the latter country. 

 Notwithstanding this, the wines of Italy are far 

 superior to those of Switzerland; and it would be 

 difficult to imagine, to what an exquisite perfec- 

 tion they might attain under the judicious atten- 

 tion of Swiss industry. But they are good 

 enough as it is, and some of them are not sur- 

 passed, if indeed they are equalled, by the pro- 

 ductions of any other part of vine growing 

 Europe. 



In quitting Switzerland for the south, two 

 principal roads cross the Alps, that of Simplon, 

 by Milan, and that of Mont Cenis, by Turin. 

 Both these roads traverse a country luxuriant of 

 vines ; and though I have twice passed each, the 

 passing of the latter was early in spring, whilst 

 both passages in going south were made during 

 the vintage, thus affording a better opportunity 

 of observing the character and cultivation of the 

 vine in Italy. 



We find on the Cenis road, on approaching 

 Chamberry, (the capital of Savoy) a country 

 fertile of wines, presenting to the eye the most 

 beautiful undulations of vine covered hills and 

 vales. 



Though the vine constitutes in Savoy a pro- 

 minent feature of the agriculture of the country, 

 the vineyards around Chamberry afford no pe- 

 culiarity in the history of the grape, the cultiva- 

 tion of which differs entirely from that of Swit- 

 zerland, and here, for the first time since quitting 

 G 2 



