THE VINE IN THE GIRONDE. 827 



The soil of drained marshes is mixed with mold, fine sand, and organical 

 particles of vegetable and animal matter; the subsoil is composed of 

 clay, sand, lurf, and sometimes marl. The nature of palus soil is simply 

 that of the marsh where the alluvial ground has been drained and im- 

 proved by culture. The best palus land is in the district of Lesparre, 

 in the cantons of Blauquefort, Barbon-blanc, Blaye, and Saint-Ciers- 

 Lalande, and borders the side of the Garonne, the Dordogue, and the 

 Isle. The wines of those vineyards possess color and vinosity, but lack 

 delicacy of taste. 



The highlands are those where the argils predominate ; they exact, 

 according to their nature, the assistance of manure, transports of light 

 earth, and constant plowing. These lauds are generally to be found on 

 the hills and hill-sides ; they have, in general, a calcareous or stony 

 subsoil; this kind of soil is particularly appropriate to the vine. 



The marly calcareous land covers a considerable part of the country ; 

 it agrees with the vine wheu sand, argil, or gravel forms an important 

 proportion of the grouud. 



Gravelous land is the most favorable for vine culture as regards the 

 quality of the production, and may be divided into two classes : (1) On 

 gravelous land composed of stones or quartz, being about 3 feet in 

 depth, and having a subsoil of clay and argil or alios, the best growths 

 of M6doc and Graves are cultivated ; (2) sandy, gravelous land, form- 

 ing a composition of sand and stones, based on an inert sand or upon 

 aliotic layers, is not propitious to the vine in consequence of the humid- 

 ity of the subsoil. 



The siliceous land covers nearly half of the department. It partakes 

 of the siliceous nature, mixed with clayish, calcareous elements, which, 

 when properly worked, is well suited to the culture of the vine. 



The batardes, or terres batards, present an intermediate state between 

 the rich land aud the siliceous sandy lands ; their fertility is more or 

 less great according to their situation ; the ordinary white plants grow 

 in these soils with facility. 



Subsoils. — The study of subsoils is also of importance to those desiring 

 to cultivate vineyards. They have a considerable influence upon the 

 success of the vine and upon the nature and quality of its production. 

 I shall divide them in six classes : Argillous, sablo-argillous, calcareous, 

 marly, gravelous or stony, sandy aliotic. 



Argillous subsoil, when it is composed of close or compact argil, is 

 hurtful to the vine, because it is moist, and in consequence the roots 

 are easily attacked by cold, and giving to the fruit a very definable 

 earthy taste. 



The sandy argillous subsoils are favorable to the vine, providing the 

 sand enters for about one-half into its composition, permitting the wa- 

 ter to pass through sufiQciently to exercise a salutary influence on the 

 roots— that is to say, refreshing them without leaving behind an un- 

 healthy humidity ; but then the vine on these soils is ordinarily mjre 



