ANCIENT VINEYARDS, 



the numerous hills of the Rhone, the shores of the Saone, and 

 all that famous coast formed of small mountains, which traverse 

 Burgundy, from the meridian to the north, thence extending 

 by the country of the Sequanois, (Franche Comte, or Jura,) 

 upon the left bank of the Rhine, on the hills of theMarne, of the 

 Moselle, and of those which border on the Sielle. The second 

 branch directed itself towards Languedoc, Gascony, and Gui- 

 enne. It is probable that from these two principal branches, 

 ramifications may have extended to the interior, according to 

 the relative situations of the different provinces, and to the 

 connections which existed between the inhabitants. There is 

 no doubt, also, that the inhabitants of the contiguous districts, 

 procured their vines, and a knowledge of their culture from the 

 vignerons of Guienne, and that the inhabitants of Auvergne, 

 Bourbonnois, Nivernois, and Berri, received theirs from the 

 people of Lyons, and transmitted them in like manner to those 

 of Tours, Anjou, and their environs. The inhabitants of 

 Gatinois, Orleans, and the Isle of France, received theirs from 

 the vineyards which formed the ancient boundaries of Burgundy 

 and Champagne. The vine was planted and its culture com- 

 municated with an inconceivable rapidity, when contrasted 

 with the difficulty which exists at the present day, in causing 

 the best precepts and the best modes of culture to be adopted, 

 It is true, that in reverting to former periods, we perceive that 

 the proprietors of extensive domains did not disdain to devote 

 themselves personally to rural pursuits, and that sovereigns 

 themselves were not strangers to agricultural employments. 

 The first dukes of Burgundy established vineyards on their 

 own account ; and we learn from their Ancient ordinances, how 

 much they prided themselves on the possession of the finest 

 wine country in Christendom, and the duke of Burgundy was 

 often designated by the title of " prince of good wines." Nei- 

 ther were the kings of France unmindful of the advantage of 

 extending the culture of the vine in their dominions. The 

 edicts of Charlemagne furnish proof that vineyards were at- 

 tached to each of his palaces, with a press and every instru- 

 ment necessary in the making of wine ; the sovereign himself 



