ON ASPECT. 43 



strong wind, there were to be seen at the same time, 

 on the same branches of this vine, and within nine 

 inches of each other, bunches of grapes, the lowermost 

 of which were perfectly ripe, while the uppermost were 

 quite green and hard, and not within seven weeks of 

 reaching the same state of maturity. 



These facts, which might be multiplied indefinitely, 

 sufficiently show the injurious effects of strong winds, 

 and the necessity of protecting vines as much as possi- 

 ble from their destructive consequences. Nor must it 

 be supposed that high winds are those only which injure 

 the vine. Every wind that blows on the foliage of a 

 vine deranges its functions, and thereby retards the 

 growth of the plant, and the maturation of its fruit, in 

 a greater or less degree, in proportion to its violence 

 and duration. 



In the choice of a good aspect, therefore, shelter 

 from high or often-recurring winds becomes a prime 

 consideration ; and those aspects that are the least ex- 

 posed to their effects, and that receive a full portion of 

 the solar rays, may accordingly be deemed the best. 

 There are, however, in general, so many local circum- 

 stances which affect the warmth and shelter of the sur- 

 faces of walls and buildings,Jhat these alone, where 

 they exist, must determine the best aspects for the 

 training of vines. But if there be no such local cir- 

 cumstances to influence the choice of aspect, then, I 

 have no hesitation in stating, from a careful observa* 

 tion of the qualities and flavour of the fruit of the dif- 

 ferent vintages for many years past, that the best as- 

 pects in which grapes can be brought to the highest 

 degree of perfection on open walls that the latitude 

 and climate of the southern parts of England will per- 

 mit, are those that range from the eastern to the south* 

 eastern, both inclusive, the last of which, indeed, may 

 be considered the very best* 



