308 ON SOIL. 



soil, propagation, and culture of the vine, so as to produce 

 an extra crop in the smallest given space. We will then con- 

 sider, first, the 



ASPECT. 



As our climate gives us plenty of heat for the maturation 

 of the vine, we have, therefore, more scope in aspect than 

 any other country. However, the most preferable is one 

 from south to east, or west. Shelter from high and often 

 recurring winds is a prime consideration. Our western and 

 south-western gusts of wind are very destructive to the vine 

 when it is in the full vigor of growth ; it dissipates all the 

 accumulated secretions of the foliage, and closes its pores, 

 thereby totally deranging the vital functions of the plant, 

 which (although in the height of the growing season) has 

 been known to be suspended for weeks. There are fre- 

 quently many local circumstances affecting the shelter of 

 walls and other buildings, which, where they exist, must de- 

 termine the best aspect for training the vine. But if there 

 be no such local circumstances, we have no hesitation in stat- 

 ing that an eastern aspect is the best. On such the sun 

 shines with full force during the morning, at which time 

 there is something highly favorable to vegetation in his rays, 

 which seems to stimulate the energies of plants in an extra- 

 ordinary degree, and to excite them to a vigorous exertion 

 of all the functions appertaining to vegetable life. 



ON SOIL. 



The soil most congenial to the growth of the vine and the 

 maturity of its fruit is a rich, sandy, turfy loam, about two 

 feet deep, on a dry, gravelly, rocky, or sandy bottom ; the 

 roots run with avidity into such sub-soils, lying secure from 

 the excess of moisture, which always accumulates in clayey 

 or compact soils. The excrementitious matter discharged 

 from the roots of a vino is very great, and if this be given 

 out in close and retentive soils, they quickly become delete- 

 rious, and a languid and diseased vegetation ensues ; this is 

 the great reason that so many failures exist. It may hence be 



