8 THE GBAPE. 



quantity of potash does not .exist in the soil, in 

 addition to those other ingredients, which are equally 

 necessary, the vine will not flourish. Further, with 

 respect to the nature of the soil, the components of the 

 ash, which are necessary to a successful development 

 of the plant, must be found in it in sufficient quantity. 

 The first condition necessary to the obtaining of good 

 grapes is, that the plant should be well developed, 



"We need not, however, confine ourselves to this 

 general direction, but can point out, with great accu- 

 racy, in many isolated cases, the important services 

 which the incombustible constituents render. 



With respect to the wine, we may observe, first, 

 that certain of its peculiar properties, both of colour 

 find taste, are connected with the quantity of the 

 potash, soda, lime, magnesia, iron, manganese, sul- 

 phuric acid, phosphoric acid, and chlorine, which exist 

 in it in larger or smaller proportions. The different 

 proportions of these inorganic matters exert a very 

 great influence upon the quality of the wine. If, for 

 example, a good deal of phosphoric acid is contained 

 in the grape juice, and a smaller proportion of lime, 

 during the fermentation of the juice, a good deal of 

 lime and magnesia (the latter as phosphate of 

 ammonia and magnesia) will be thrown off. 



The sulphuric acid and the chlorine are not with/ 

 drawn, they combine with potash and soda, with 

 potash, which formed part of the cream of tartar in 

 the grape juice. The tartaric acid then appears in 



