178 THE CULTUKE OF THE GRAPE. 



yet wc must do all these things if we would grow wine 

 as good as even that of the environs of Paris. 



" The fact is, that the vine cannot he profitahly culti- 

 vated in vineyards beyond 50° north latitude, and only 

 so high as tliat latitude in very favorable inland situa- 

 tions. 



" Great Britain is, therefore, wholly heyond-.its limits. 

 In saying this, we by no means intend to assert that, by 

 the'selection of such inferior but early varieties as the 

 Black Cluster, or Miller's Burgundy, (not Black Musca- 

 dine,) grapes cannot sometimes be imperfectly ripened in 

 vineyards in England ; no doubt they sometimes will 

 come to that sort of maturity which persons, who do not 

 distinguish correctly between sugar and vinegar, are ac- 

 customed to call ripeness ; as for exami:)le last year. But 

 we have no hesitation in expressing a decided opinion 

 that to expect a profit from ripe grapes in English vine- 

 yiirds, on even an average of years, is hopeless." — Gar- 

 deners' Chronicle^ 1847, page 403. 



Trowell, Chapter on the Vine, page 91, says : " Tliey 

 require a light sandy ground to be planted in ; if it is a 

 little stony, it will thrive in it, if lying to the south, or 

 southeast, and if the bottom is chalky or gravelly under 

 the surface, where no springs are. It cannot be well too 

 hot or dry, if it is not addicted to heath ; but if bram- 

 bles, it is a good sign. Where that shrub grows, such a 

 ground is the most proper for a vineyard ; and the de- 

 clivity of a hill still better." 



Thus much for the situation and soil in the natural 

 state. He then goes on to say : " If your land is too 

 rich, it only permits the roots to shoot out the branches 



