VINE IN ITALY. 87 



tica," which is a compound of rich and luscious 

 flavour, rather cloying the appetite. It is in 

 high favour with the Tuscan ladies, and should 

 be considered as a cordial rather than a wine. 

 The country around the capital is mountainous, 

 and the soil a stony barren. The plain on which 

 the city stands is extremely fertile. Yet such is 

 the temperature of the summer climate that the 

 pruning is the same in the vineyard of the hills, 

 as in that of the valley of the Arno, the extend- 

 ed level immediately circumjacent to Florence. 



The labour of the vineyard is principally by 

 the hand, the daily wages given to a workman 

 being from one and a half to two Tuscan pauls. 

 The paul is worth about eleven cents, our 

 money. 



It is almost incredible how little work a la- 

 bourer of the vineyard of that country performs, 

 when compared with the Swiss operative. But 

 fortunately for the Italian proprietor, his vines 

 require less labour; his wines are infinitely supe- 

 rior, and of greater variety. Finer wines ripen in 

 his genial climate, and it does not cost him more 

 than half the price which a Swissproprietor is oblig- 

 ed to pay for the daily labour of the vineyard, 

 though, as I have before said, the work of both 

 countries is by the hand. It is, unquestionably, 

 a safer cultivation, and exposes the roots of the 

 plant to fewer chances of injury. 



The ox and horse devour with avidity the 

 young foliage, and unless muzzled, inflict a se- 

 rious mischief on the young and tender branches. 



From Florence, southwardly, the country on 

 both sides, is studded with olive yards and vine 



