40 SOIL. 



need a careful inspection to enable a correct judgment to be 

 formed ; and indeed we well know that the surface of the 

 earth often presents a very uncertain criterion by which to 

 judge of its formation at some distance beneath; and as it is the 

 subsoil that imparts the most influence to the roots of the vine, 

 so it is to that we are to look for the most important results on 

 its produce. 



It is observed by the same writer, that the primitive soil 

 in the vineyards which occuoy the first rank in Champagne, is 

 found covered over with aiSpmificial surface which is formed 

 by the cultivators, from a mixture of turf and very rotten ma- 

 nure, of common soil found at the foot of the hills, and some- 

 times of black putrid sands. These species of soil are trans- 

 ported into the vineyards at any periods of the year, except 

 during the time of vintage. 



Notwithstanding, however, the propriety of being circum- 

 spect in selecting soils, still there are frequent instances where 

 excellent wines and bad wines are produced from the same 

 kind of soil. 



In general where lands are of great value, those only should 

 be devoted to vines where the soil is thin and inappropriate by 

 nature or position for the production of grain, &c. because it 

 is in such as these that the vine finds the degree of humidity- 

 requisite to cause the grapes to attain to full size, and not so 

 much as to counterpoise the action of solar heat in the forma- 

 tion of saccharine matter, and in evaporation at the period of 

 maturity, on which depends the excellence of the wine. By 

 such course, a tract of land which would have yielded nothing 

 but bushes, on account of its being too hilly, or so stony as 

 not to be susceptible of ploughing ; or having a thin soil, inca- 

 pable of retaining during the heat of summer sufficient moisture 

 for the growth of other products is made to yield a large 

 revenue, often far greater than that produced by good soils 

 under other species of culture. 



A rich soil, as has been already stated, is advantageous 

 when great product is required, but not when the quality is 

 the object sought for; as the growth is so much prolonged. 



