THE ROOTS OF GRAPE VINES. 167 



soils of this description invariably produce the 

 finest flavoured grapes ; and if the roots of vines grow- 

 ing there under such circumstances can procure suffi- 

 cient nourishment to accomplish this, where the tem- 

 perature is so much higher, and where the expenditure 

 of sap through the medium of the leaves, in consequence 

 of the intensity of the solar rays, is so much gretiter 

 than in this country, how small a quantity of moisture, 

 in proportion, will be necessary to support a vine here, 

 where from the moisture of the air, and other obvious 

 circumstances, the leaves themselves collect a great 

 portion of the nourishment that maintains its vitality. 



For it must not be forgotten, that in departing northr 

 ward from the native country of the vine, the power of 

 the sun gradually diminishes, and the coldness of the 

 soil as gradually increases, evaporation is in conse- 

 quence greatly reduced, and a far less quantity of 

 moisture, therefore, is required by the roots in this 

 country to supply the demands of the leaves. It fol- 

 lows, then, that the nearer we approach the northern 

 limit of the vinous latitude, the drier ought the soil to 

 be in which the roots of vines are planted. 



From this general rule, therefore, may be deduced the 

 important fact, that as this limit is many degrees south 

 of Britain, a collection of stones, or of similar sub- 

 stances without any admixture of soil whatever, will 

 form the best border for the roots of vines in this coun- 

 try. This may appear to be scarcely credible ; such 

 however is the case, for theory distinctly points it out, 

 and practice amply confirms it. Many years' experi- 

 ence, indeed, has satisfactorily convinced me, that 

 there is scarcely any description of soil in this country 

 that is not naturally too cold, or that does not hold 

 water in suspension too long to be well adapted for the 

 successful culture of the vine. 



A slight further consideration of the disadvantageous 



