ON PLANTS WHICH PRODUCE 



There is also great diversity in the degree of precocity 

 or tardiness of this plant. When it shoots early, there is 

 danger of its suffering from the frost in spring ; if late, it 

 may not have time to ripen its fruit in autumn. Care, 

 therefore, should be taken to choose the medium, espe- 

 cially in cold climates. 



Old plants produce the finest fruit, but in the smallest 

 quantity. It does not, therefore, answer, to continue to 

 cultivate the same plants, above a certain number of years. 



Caroline. So that they are not allowed time to meet 

 in the course of nature with their accidental death ? 



Mrs. B. Not often. The influence of climate on the 

 vine is very considerable. The greater the degree of heat, 

 the more sweetness is developed in the fruit, the greater 

 is the quantity of alcohol produced by fermentation, and 

 the astringent principle is proportionally diminished : 

 but this may be carried too far ; a certain admixture of the 

 astringent principle is both wholesome and palatable. 

 The grapes of Fontainebleau will not produce good wine, 

 from not possessing a sufficiency of this principle ; and, 

 accordingly, we find that the wines in highest estimation 

 are not those produced in the hottest climates, but in 

 countries situated between 30 and 45 of latitude. The 

 aspect most favorable must be determined by the locality 

 of the situation and the latitude. The vines ofEpernay, 

 which produce the finest champagne, have a northern as- 

 pect ; those situated on the two opposite banks of the 

 Rhone, in the neighborhood of Avignon, yield equally 

 good wine : but, in colder climates, the more vineyards 

 are exposed to the south the better they thrive. 



It is rather singular, that fine grapes may be produced 

 in almost every kind of soil, provided the vine be of a na- 

 ture to suit it. The vineyards of Bordeaux are planted 

 in a gravelly soil, and hence bear the name of Vin de 

 Grave; Those of Burgundy in calcareous clay; hermi- 

 tage grows in granite ; and Lacryma Christi is raised in 

 the volcanic soil of Mount Vesuvius. The vineyards of 

 Switzerland grow in stiff, compact, calcareous earth. 



1796. What is said of the precocity or tardiness of this plant! 1797. 

 Of old plants what is said! 1798. What effects are produced on this 

 fruit by the influence of climate'? ] 799. Where are wines of the best 

 quality produced! 1800. What is said of the vines of Epernay, the 

 banks of the Rhone, and Avignon! 1801. What is said of the nature 

 of the soil in relation to the culture of the vine! 



