180 AGRICL'LTUKE OX THE RHI>;B. 



northern latitude upon these two requisites — reflected 

 heat and richness of soil. The vine has a tap-root that 

 shoots perpendicularly into the ground to so great a 

 depth, where the soil admits, that it finds moisture in 

 the hottest summer. A stony surface is useful for 

 two reasons, in causing the rain water which the plant 

 does not need for nourishment to roll off, while stones 

 and slates often retain the heat of the summer sun long 

 after it has gone down. It is, however, a mistake to sup- 

 pose that a rocky district is more favourable to the 

 growth of the plant than alluvial deposits, as we shall 

 abundantly prove as we go along. Many travellers are, 

 at first sight of the Rhenish vineyards, disappointed. 

 Being accustomed only to vines trained on walls or on 

 trelliswork, they cannot fancy the plant otherwise tlian 

 as a creeper gracefully festooning poles or the trunks of 

 trees or other lofty supporters. It must, however, be 

 remembered, that the hill-side on which the vine is in- 

 variably planted is intended to serve as a wall by reflect- 

 ing the sun's heat. The numerous plants in a vineyard 

 (4850 are planted on an acre of land) represent the spread 

 of a vine upon a wall, with this ditlerence, that the 

 sources of nourishment are so many more as there are 

 roots within an equal space. The luxuriant growth 

 which can thus be attained is, however, checked by pe- 

 riodical prunings of the young shoots and large lower 

 leaves that would keep oft the rays of the sun. Not- 

 withstanding the bare appearance of the vine-planted 

 hills in the early part of the summer, when all around is 

 clothed in green, we have never been able to look at 

 them without associating ideas of cheerfulness and joy 

 with their view, and fancying that they were an index of 



