12 GEOLOGICAL REPORT. 



practised in India and the countries bordering upon the Medi- 

 terranean ; to inquire how far the varieties there cultivated, 

 and the culture there adopted, will succeed in other localities ; 

 to determine whether some new varieties may not succeed bet- 

 ter in other climates and soils ; and what modifications of cul- 

 ture will secure the highest degree of success in the various 

 soils and climates to which we would introduce the vine. 



It is obvious that the success of the grape depends upon the 

 mutual adaptation of both soil and climate. In places where 

 the soil has all the requisite properties, the climate may be such 

 as to prevent full success ; as in many parts of New England, 

 where the climate is too cold ; and in England, where it is too 

 moist. In many localities in Southern Europe, the soil is such 

 as to prevent the full success of the vine, though the climate is 

 all that could be desired. 



Soil. According to Virgil* and the best authors who have 

 followed him, the soil should be warm, light, dry, and rich in 

 alkalies and alkaline earths, especially potash, soda, lime and 

 magnesia. The best vines have been grownf upon soils of this 

 description ; and when any of these qualities have been want- 

 ing, the most skillful vine-growers have supplied the de- 

 ficiency by artificial means. Hence Virgil directs to place "po- 

 rous stones and rough shells" in the trenches the stones and 

 shells to loosen the soil and perfect the drainage, the shells to 

 supply the deficit of lime. 



The vine has ever succeeded the best, other things being 

 equal, in a calcareous soil. The best vineyards upon the Rhine, 

 the Ohio, and the Missouri, are upon soils rich in lime ; and, ac- 

 cording to D'Orbigny, the wines from such vineyards in France 

 are " more lively and spirituous." 



The chemical composition of a plant also gives us sure indi- 

 cations of the mineral ingredients of the soil required for its 

 perfect development. The following table, from Johnston's 

 Agricultural Chemistry, contains the compositions of five vines, 

 grown on five different soils. The result shows most conclu- 



* Geor. Lib. II., lines 217 221 and 262. " Optima putn arva solo." 

 t The great vine at Windsor Park was planted fifty years ago. " In 1850," 

 says Prof. Lindley, " it produeed 2,000 large bunches of magnificent grapes, filled 

 a house 138 feet long and 16 feet wide, and had a stem two feet nine inches in 

 circumference. The border in which it grows is warm, liyht, dry and shallow." 



