THE VINEYARDS OF THE WORLD. 51 



Madeira are the principal vineyard Islands 

 which produce excellent wines, some of 

 which are sent to this country every 

 year. 



This rapid survey of the Vineyards of 

 the World teaches us that the vine is not 

 only one of the most ancient of the plants 

 we know, but that it is also one of the most 

 universal. It holds a unique place in the 

 marvellously ordained economy of our 

 wonderful world, being at the same time 

 the most fruitful of all plants or trees and 

 the only one which will grow and is meant 

 by nature to grow in the most barren 

 soils. This is so true, that it may safely 

 be asserted that the poorer the soil the 

 better will the wine be. A poor light 

 chalky soil such as at Cognac, Avize or 

 Jerez ; sandy, stony gravel, as in Medoc ; 

 decomposed granite as at Hermitage ; soft 

 or hard slate as on the banks of the Moselle ; 



