69 



The principal points respecting which information should be 

 sought in either of the three regions are : 



1st. Suitability of the soil, both from a physical and a chemical 

 point of view, as already set forth (page 23). 



2nd. Suitable rainfall. In an approximate manner it may be said 

 that localities with an annual rainfall of under 10, or over 40 inches, 

 are unfavorable for vine-growing purposes. If recourse can be had to 

 irrigation, of course vines can be profitably cultivated in districts 

 where the rainfall is even less than 10 inches. A good deal depends 

 upon the distribution oftthis water. If it be spread evenly over all 

 the months of the year a lesser rainfall will be necessary than would 

 otherwise be the case. The following table, giving the annual rain- 

 fall of some of the best known wine districts of France, may be of 

 interest to intending planters : 



Champagne ... ... ... 18'7l 



Burgundy ... ... ... 29'35 



Beaujolais ... ... ... 37'27 



Bordeaux ... ... ... 23'09 



Bas Languedoc ... ... ... 25'65 



Avignon ... ... ... 23'42 



Aries ... ... ... ... 16-67 



Marseille ... ... ... 20'17 



Champagne is situated in the north of France ; Burgundy, Beaujolais, 

 and Bordeaux in the central portion ; whilst the Bas Languedoc, 

 Avignon, Aries, and Marseille are in the south. It will be seen that 

 Victoria and France are very similarly situated as regards rainfall. 



3rd. Liability to late spring frosts occurring after the vines have 

 come into leaf. 



4th. Liability to violent winds occurring in the very early summer, 

 at which time the shoots, being neither long enough to be tied up 

 nor strong enough to resist the action of the wind, sustain considerable 

 damage. 



5th. Frequency of injurious hailstorms. These are of very local 

 occurrence, and concern the site of the vineyard itself rather than a 

 whole district, especially in hilly country ; they are often confined to 

 certain ranges and valleys. It is common to observe two places only 

 a mile or so apart, one of which is devastated by hail nearly every 

 year, whilst the other enjoys comparative immunity from it. The 



