146 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



cultivation of the grape, are the same as those named as re- 

 quisite for general cultivation ; but when there is not a suffi- 

 cient supply of moisture, the vine will not prosper." Page 219. 



" The kind of earth regarded as the most suitable for the 

 cultivation of the vine varies with the climate in which the 

 culture of this plant is introduced. We do not speak here of 

 the superior layers of soil, which would make such an assertion 

 hazardous. Experience has demonstrated, that, in the south- 

 erly (meridionaux) departments, the vine flourishes in volcanic 

 earth, in the (freestone) grit, and in the granitic gravel, mixed 

 with vegetable earth and with some claj, (alumine) . Towards 

 the centre of France, they succeed in the schistes, (slaty) 

 and above all in the calcareous rock, which crumbles on ex- 

 posure to the air. At the north, they prefer the coarse gravel 

 combined with calcareous earth. But every where you may 

 make use of collections of earths and stones (almost mon- 

 strous,) of all kinds, provided that the mass be permeable to 

 water, and retain but little moisture. All agree that an essen- 

 tial quality for a good earth for the vine, is, that it should pos- 

 sess a mixture of quartz, of flint, and coarse gravel. The rays 

 of the sun penetrate these stones and furnish warmth during the 

 day, and distribute it to the plants by night. This is not all : 

 in earths exceedingly porous, they yet serve, by the effect of 

 their solidity and quantity, to diminish the too rapid evapora- 

 tion of the moisture. Besides, (finally,) it is by the vegeta- 

 bles that the soil produces that we can best judge of its qual- 

 ity, and of the temperature of the climate. Wherever the 

 cultivator shall see the peach tree prosper naturally, he may 

 conclude the situation is favorable for the culture of the vine." 

 Page 246.* 



" If the earth where you propose to plant a vineyard is 

 cultivated already, the best preparation for so doing is to 

 plant, for two or three years, the soil -flith vegetables, giving 



* The mildew, the rot, and the blight, to which all grapes are subject in the United 

 States, more particularly the European kinds, render this remark incorrect, as re- 

 gards this coiuitry. 



