230 GREAT OR VINEYARD CULTURE. 



The manner of cultivating the vine presents in general 

 great differences ; but in every district, whatever may be the 

 exposition and situation of the soil, the cultivators follow esta- 

 blished practices. All the methods adopted, notwithstanding 

 their variations, may be nevertheless essentially good, but it is 

 impossible at the same time that they should suit every coun- 

 try, I will not^ therefore undertake here to describe the whole. 

 From the high state of perfection to which the vineyards are 

 carried in Provence, Duhamel has adopted the course of 

 management there practised as one proper to impart general 

 instruction, and from the last edition of his work published 

 in 1825, I shall extract what is deemed most important to 

 my purpose. 



The culture having a powerful influence upon the epoch of 

 maturity, and upon the quality and size of the fruit, it is to 

 the choice of a judicious system in its operations, that we 

 should bestow our particular attention. The principal object 

 of a vigneron, is that the grapes may acquire the saccharine 

 matter, which is the true principle required in the fermentation, 

 and this is only to be obtained by using all possible means to 

 complete the maturity of the grape. The heat which accu- 

 mulates in the earth during the summer, begins to exhale from 

 it as soon as the nights become cool, which is very frequently 

 before the grape is completely mature. It is therefore advise- 

 able to keep the vines trained low, so that the grapes may 

 be much nearer the earth in a cold climate, and may re- 

 ceive the benefit of that heat. This influence of heat from 

 the earth varies much in several respects. It is greater in 

 black soils because they absorb more of the solar rays, and 

 also in vineyards where the plants are distant from each other, 

 because the rays can then penetrate to a greater degree ; and 

 upon declivities and sloping lands, because they receive more 

 of the sun's heat, and on dry soils, because the heat is not car- 

 ried away by the influence of water. This heat continues 

 longer on the hills and against walls and places sheltered from 

 winds, than on the summit of mountains and in plains. The 

 great quantity of leaves, stalks, and poles, form a covert, which 



