36 OPEN AIR GRAPE CULTURE. 



unsuited to any other culture, and in order to give an 

 idea of this, we may cite the ancient regulations of 

 Provence which prohibited the planting of the vine 

 until inquiry had been made as to the sterility of 

 the soil, and the permission of the intendant of the 

 j)rovince had been obtained. 



But if the vine can grow in all soils it behaves 

 very differently in each of them. In strong, argilla- 

 ceous, rich soils, it will acquire a great vigor of vege- 

 tation, the wood is largely developed, the product is 

 abundant ; on the contrary, in soils poor, light and dry> 

 the vine is less robust, more delicate ; it requires a 

 culture well contrived as to even the most minute 

 details, and the product is much less in quantity. 



" In general, if in any locality the vegetation of the 

 vine be more rich as the soil is more fertile, we 

 observe by the side of this result that the nature and 

 quality of the product is consequently in an inverse 

 ratio. In heavy land the vine is well developed and 

 furnishes abundant return ; in a light soil it gives less 

 and the product is of higher quality." 



Situation. — ^The situation of a vineyard should be 

 elevated, but not too high, otherwise the vines will not 

 only be exposed to high winds and their concomitant 

 evils, but will also be subjected to a lower tempera- 

 ture. On this latter point, but little is known — at 



