316 DIFFICULTIES ATTENDANT ON VINE CULTURE. 



to the promise in the early part of the season. As a protection 

 of the vine against the ravages of insects, and injury by mil- 

 dew, I have found the sulph'ur wash, now generally known, 

 effectual. Nor is the use of it, as far as I can perceive attend- 

 ed with any injurious consequences to vegetation. The grape, 

 with such care as I bestow, and so much I think neither bur- 

 thensome nor expensive, is as sure a crop as any other of 

 the more delicate fruits. Shelter from cold winds is impor- 

 tant, and I would by no means venture to express so much 

 confidence as to the certainty of the crop in our climate, 

 without this advantage. My own garden is protected by hills 

 on the north and east. My vines are all of the imported 

 kinds except one of the Isabella, which I have planted as a 

 curiosity on account of its singular 'productiveness.'* 







Difficulties attendant on the vine culture Natural causes Errors 

 in management Political causes Ability of the proprietor 

 Attacks of insects, <SfC. 



First, in regard to natural causes, the vine is subject to 

 numerous accidents, which often render it unproductive during 

 several successive years, it being necessary nevertheless to be- 

 stow on it the same attentions as if it had yielded its crops. 

 Added to which when there happens a season of great abun- 

 dance, the price of the wine declines so much that the sale of 

 the crop will not always reimburse the advances of previous 

 years. 



Errors of culture relate to cases where the vineyards are 

 badly located as regards soil and exposure, where the vines 

 are badly selected, or where the tillage, the pruning, and the 

 training of the vines are so badly executed, that they do not 

 yield sufficient to reimburse the expenses they occasion. It 

 might also be added that the passion for vineyards is such 

 that in some districts of France, there are not people enough 

 of other professions to consume the produce, or conveniences 

 sufficient to allow of its export, which cause the wines to be 

 sold at a very low rate. 



Political causes consist in the regulations with regard to 



