IN FRANCE. 43 



(schist,) which is deemed excellent, and they produce white 

 wines, whose saccharine and sparkling character assimilate 

 much to those of Cote-Rotie, St. Peray, &c. ; and similarly 

 situated are also the esteemed vineyards of Oberwesel, Kaub 

 Vogtsberg, and Kulhberg on the borders of the Rhine. 



Volcanic remains yield often, as has been already stated, 

 wines of the first quality, among which may be enumerated 

 a part of those of the Rhine, those of Vesuvius, Etna, and 

 Rochemaure ; but in some cases they afford very indifferent 

 ones, as those of Auvergne ; however, in the latter district 

 the climate is cold, on account of its elevation, which may 

 cause their want of excellence. Argillaceous soils tha^ retain 

 the water which falls on them, never produce any but indif- 

 ferent wines. 



There are many localities where, under a surface of mode- 

 rate thickness of clay and limestone, there are found beds of 

 rocks of moderate thickness, broken and split in every direc- 

 tion. These are deemed exceedingly favourable for the cul- 

 ture of the vine, as a portion of the roots insinuate themselves 

 into the interstices, and there find in the heat of summer, not- 

 withstanding the dryness of the surface, a degree of humidity 

 fully adequate to their growth. It is upon the same principle 

 that soils which contain the most stones are preferred in many 

 districts of France, and that Rozier was successful in his ex- 

 periment of causing his vineyard to be paved in the environs 

 of Beziers. 



Instances sometimes occur where a vineyard whose superfi- 

 cial soil is apparently the same in every respect, will produce 

 in different sections of it, wines of various qualities. Of this 

 description M. Dussieux cites the small vineyard of Morachet 

 or Mont Rachet, as a striking example, it being distinguished in 

 three parts, not by any variation in the soil, exposure, or varieties 

 of the grape, but according only to the difference in the quality 

 of the produce ; and whilst the wine from one section sells at 

 twelve hundred francs the piece, that from the second com- 

 mands but eight hundred, and from the third but four hundred. 

 This variation is attributed no doubt justly to the nature or 



