160 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



the first warm days of spring, to be blasted by the burn- 

 ing rays of the sun operating upon the small icicles, each 

 of which acts as a lens. A southern exposure (he con- 

 tinues,) is generally too hot in a warm cli.Tiate, and a 

 western one is least to be desired, as the plant there re- 

 ceives a direct heat after the early hours of the day have 

 abstracted the moisture, and, therefore, dries and burns 

 it ; and he recommends, as a general rule, that, in south- 

 ern regions, an eastern aspect should have the preference, 

 and, in northern ones, that a southern exposure should be 

 selected." — Prince's Treatise^ page 46. 



Yet there are exceptions to these rules. Vineyards 

 with northern exposures have become celebrated, proba- 

 bly owing to favorable circumstances of soil. In the 

 southern part of the United States, it will be best to try 

 every situation, as the retarding of vegetation a short 

 time might be the means of saving the fruit, either from 

 being destroyed by a late frost, or from excessive rains, 

 at the time of inflorescence, or from rot, caused by too 

 much wet, at a later period. 



The plan pursued by American horticulturists in vine- 

 yard and garden culture, in some instances in their own 

 language, is described, and as it appears settled from 

 these accounts that our native grapes (different varieties 

 succeeding in various sections of the country,) answer 

 every purpose of vineyard culture, there does not appear 

 to be any occasion to try any others, excepting on a small 

 scale for the dessert. 



Mr. Iloare says, " In the choice of a good aspect, 

 therefore, shelter from high winds, and those aspects 

 that-'are the least exposed to their effects, and that receive 



