CLIMATE. 31 



*" 



in succession the operation and effect of these different agents, 

 and then deduce the natural consequences, both in respect to 

 the nature of the soil in which the vine is cultivated, and to 

 the kind of culture which appears most suitable to it. 



The general principles which we shall establish in speaking 

 of -each of these causes separately, will allow of many excep- 

 tions : this will be easily perceived when we reflect that the 

 operation of one of these causes may be perhaps counteracted 

 by the union of all the other agents, which prevent or destroy 

 its natural effect. In another case the excellence of the soil, 

 the appropriateness of the climate, and the quality of the vine, 

 may counterbalance the effect of exposition and afford good 

 wine in a situation where, if we considered the exposition 

 alone, we should judge the produce would be of bad quality. 

 But the principles are not the less established ; and the only 

 importance that can be attached to these apparent contradic- 

 tions is, that in order to ascertain the true result in every case, 

 it is necessary to take into account the operation of all the in- 

 fluential causes, and to consider them as the necessary ele- 

 ments of the calculation. 



Climate. 



The vine is now considered as a native or as naturalized in 

 the temperate climates of both hemispheres. The culture of 

 vineyards in the old world extends from the twenty-first to the 

 fifty-first degree of north latitude, or from Schiraz in Persia, 

 to Coblentz, on the Rhine : some authors, however, only ex- 

 tend its southern limit to the twenty-fifth degree of latitude. 

 Vineyards are also to be found near Dresden, and in Moravia ; 

 and the above limits also include the southern coast of Eng- 

 land within the vine region. The vineyards of Germany, 

 situated beyond the fifty-first degree, are, however, considered 

 dubious in regard to their product. 



It is affirmed by some writers that it seldom flourishes within 

 twenty-five or even thirty degrees of the equinoctial line, so as 

 to produce good fruit ; but this statement would exclude it 



