where the granite no longer presents that durability, and that 

 unalterable appearance which form the general character of 

 that primitive rock. It appears crumbled and dusty, and only 

 presents the eye with the semblance of dry sand, of a coarser 

 or finer description. It is on these mouldering remains 

 that in many parts of France they cultivate vineyards ; and 

 when a favourable exposition unites to aid their advancemem% 

 the wine is of superior quality. The famed Hermitage wine 

 is produced from a soil of this description. It is easy to de- 

 cide, in accordance with the principles which we have laid 

 down, that a soil similar to the one just described cannot fail to 

 be congenial to the production of good wines. Here are found 

 at once that lightness of the earth which readily allows the roots 

 to extend, the water to pass through, and the air to penetrate ; 

 the gravelly surface which moderates and arrests the solar heats ; 

 that valuable combination of the elements of earth whose union 

 appears so advantageous to every species of vegetation. 



From the result of various observations, it seems that all 

 light soils, whatever be their colour, when porous, fine, and 

 friable in their composition, and which allow the water to run 

 freely off, both from the surface and the substratum, are the 

 most suitable for the plant and for the quality of the wine. 



The agriculturist, therefore, who is more anxious in regard 

 to the quality than to the abundance of his vintage, will estab- 

 lish his vineyard in light and gravelly soils, and will not select 

 a rich and strong soil, except with the intent of sacrificing ex- 

 cellence to quantity. 



But notwithstanding the principles that have bee.n advanced 

 are proved by nearly all the observations and experiments yet 

 known, there are nevertheless particular exceptions which ap- 

 pear to controvert in some degree their universal application ; 

 for Latouche observes, in the Memoir of the Society of Agri- 

 culture of the Seine, that the esteemed vineyards of Aix, Eper- 

 nay and Hautvilliers on the Marne, have the same exposures, 

 and the same soil, as the grain fields which surround them- 

 It has however been remarked, that there probably exist dif- 

 ferences of importance not discoverable at first view, but which 



