94 TRAVELS THROUGf* 



gathering, hoeing, trenching, dunging^ 

 digging, &c. is complex : then there is the 

 purchafe of dung, cafks, and flafks, the 

 prefs, and its repairs, with duties, and land 

 taxes, very high and multiplied. And add 

 to this, that all thefe expences are certain ; 

 whereas the produce is very hazardous.* in- 

 fomuch that fome years my friend has 

 known the produce only one piece, and 

 that fold only at 7!. which is enough to 

 ruin all but the great proprietors. Upon 

 the whole, he thought if the proprietor 

 paid all expences, and put fix guineas an 

 acre into his pocket as a nett profit, he 

 did well, even if his vineyard was on the 

 beft foil they had at Verzenay. Some make 

 5!. others 4!. and there are many fmall 

 vineyards, not well fituated for a prefs, 

 where not more than 3!. an acre are made. 

 But this is, in every cafe, reckoned on an 

 average of feverul years. 



The taxes run very heavy; for, befides 

 Import upon import, the King takes an 

 eighth part of the whole produce ; fo that 

 an acre of vines pays him far more than it 

 pays the landlord. This, however, is not 

 peculiar to vines ; .for it is doubtful whether 



it 



