Chap.V. ON THE WEATHER. 485 



livres 10 fols, or 6 livres. From 30 to 40 (heaves were rcquifitc to 

 make a inine of 80 pound weight. 



The grapes did not begin to turn till the end of this month, and 

 fome kijids of them were greatly hurt by their burfting. 



September. 



The air was cold during all this month, which was rather wet 

 than dry. The rains did great injury to the grapes, which, in fevcral 

 places, rotted or dropt off before they were ripe; and in others, the 

 vines loft their leaves, and the grapes withered: fo that, towards the. 

 end of the month, nothing was more common than to fee grapes of 

 different degrees of ripenefs; which made thofe who were fufficiently 

 provided with proper veiTels, determine to make their vintage at 

 two different times. Towards the- 20th, great numbers offtarlings- 

 and thrurties appear'd. I know not for what reafon they were 

 not fo fat this year, as they generally are when there is plenty of. 

 grapes.- 

 ,(, . , October.. 



During this month, the weather was very fharp; but the air was 

 clear, and we had no wet.. 



The vintage was begun about the 6th; and thofe who could cut 

 their grapes at different times began xS^ith the red, the fruit of which 

 was fufficiently coloured, hut not fo fweet as it fliould have been. 

 This wine was pale, but is the beft of the year. 



The vintage was not yet finifhed, when the faffron began to blol- 

 Ibm : but as the air was Iharp and dry, the flowers did not open all 

 together, fo that people had time to gather them, and none were 

 loft. Their chives> which are the ufeful part of this flower, were of 

 a good quality. _ ' 



Our farmers began to fow on St. Denis's day, and, their grounds 

 being in good order, finifhed that work by the end of this month,, 

 when the tirft fown wheat had already rifen. 



Nqvejmber.. .>.:...-,>.■-/? 



The air was very cold all this month, and the fky almoft^co^nti** 

 nually cloudy. 



Some few groutids which had been left un-fown laft month, were 

 Ibwn in the beginning of this, 



December, 



