164 Notes and Gleanings. 



unlike sherry, called Inruscon, is made. Probably no absolute rule can be given 

 for the best mode of cultivating the vine ; each climate and soil appearing to 

 demand a particular mode, and a particular variety to produce the most favorable 

 results. The vine seems to be a hardy plant, and to submit to any mode of train- 

 ing and pruning that fancy or judgment may dictate, and, when not too hardly 

 treated, to give a more remunerative result than any other culture. It is claimed 

 for the red table-wine of France, that, besides quenching thirst, it operates favor- 

 ably on the system, acting as a tonic, and promoting the activity of the organs. 

 The wines of ''haut Bourgogne and Medoc " are generally esteemed as the best 

 in France ; and there it is claimed the culture of the vine, and fabrication and 

 preservation of the wine, are best understood and practised. The first named 

 are produced in portions of what were formerly known as the States of Burgundy 

 near Dijon, and the latter near Bordeaux ; the Medoc country lying on the 

 banks of the Garonne, between that river and the sea. The best red wines of 

 Bordeaux are made in the Medoc country, and the whites come from territory 

 lying south of that city. But, although the wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy 

 are generally held in high estimation, those that are held in good repute are 

 produced in other parts of France. 



The soil and climate of France seem to me particularly well adapted to all 

 the hardier kinds of fruit ; and on a strip of its territory on its southern border, 

 along the shore of the Mediterranean, oranges thrive in the open air. Apples 

 are grown in large quantities, especially in the western part, in Brittany and 

 Normandy, both for fruit and to be manufactured into cider. Pears thrive in 

 all parts of the empire, and are produced in large quantity and vast variety : 

 the number of kinds that are met with in the market are, however, but limited, 

 and consist usually of the larger sorts : those who supply the markets probably 

 find it for their interest to confine themselves to but few varieties, and consult 

 the taste of consumers as to size. Peaches are plenty, and magnificent in ap- 

 pearance ; but, although often very good, their quality does not always corre- 

 spond with their beauty. Apricots are fine ; and green-gages and other plums 

 are, in their season, very abundant. Of some fruits, France seems to raise more 

 than is requisite for its own consumption ; at least, I inferred so from seeing 

 that the markets of London were in the early summer largely supplied with 

 strawberries from that country, and somewhat later with cherries and apricots. 

 So far as I have observed, it appeared to me that the favorite and most common 

 mode of growing pears was upon quince-stocks ; and I did not notice any strik- 

 ing peculiarity practised in the training or pruning of the trees. Witliout at- 

 tempting to assign any cause for it, — climate, soil, or mode of cultivation, — I 

 venture to say, that I think pears are, in France, generally smoother, fairer, and 

 more free from spots or blemishes, than in Massachusetts. Joseph S. Cabot, 



April 10, 1868. 



