AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



THE culture of the vine, as now practiced, exists under 

 circumstances which have necessarily influenced the 

 Various processes of which it is composed. In those regions 

 which are at a distance from the great centers of consumption, 

 such as at Languedoc, 1'Aunis, Saintonge, the want of a mar- 

 ket and the difficulty of transportation have reduced the price 

 of wine to the minimum. Hence it has become necessary to 

 reduce the expenses of cultivation as much as possible. The 

 vines are not staked, but cover the ground with their shoots ; 

 to diminish the expense of transportation to market, the wines 

 are distilled into brandy. 



Burgundy, Bordelais, Champaign, Maconnais, Beaujolais, 

 etc., are more favorably situated as to outlets for their products ; 

 they have a denser population, and their climate is more favor- 

 able for the production of wines of high quality, commanding 

 a better price. Here it is justifiable to expend more capital 

 in the culture and management of the vineyard, the vines are 

 set more closely, and are trained upon stakes. 



However, within a few years, the circumstances that existed 

 at the introduction of vine planting, and which then modified 

 its arrangements, have been materially changed in several 

 respects. The price of labor is not only exorbitant, but in 

 many localities hands can scarcely be obtained. Hence the 

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