FRANCE. S 7 



good, in proportion to their drynefs; if they 

 are ftofly they are ufually good j fandy ones, 

 mixed with a dry good loam, are tolerable; 

 but all are inferior to the dry light friable 

 loamy gravel, which is the true Champagne 

 foil; on which fainfoine thrives to admiration. 

 Next to foil, the moft important circum- 

 flance in a vineyard is expofure. Delabee 

 (for that is the name of the vigneron) in- 

 formed <me, that a good expofure would 

 partly make amends for an indifferent foil. 

 The great object is the fun, and the bed 

 afpeft, full fouth ; the variation of eaft is 

 not amifs ; weft is inferior ; but as to the 

 north, there is not a vineyard in all Cham- 

 pagne that will bear it ; nor is the bearing 

 of the land alone to be confidered. The 

 declivity of the land is a point of much con- 

 fequence. The moft capital vineyards are 

 upon the fides of ftony hills, rarely upon 

 flats ; the more they hang to the fouth the 

 better; for it is to be confidered, that the 

 roots do not, like other plants, demand any 

 retention of water; if not a drop was to fall, 

 fo much the better, in refpecl: of moifture. 

 Herein again we find the furprifing fimili- 

 tude between the vine and fainfoine. With 

 G 4 that 



