BOTANIC GARDEN. 



85 



size of some of the stocks, with the vigour of their 

 numerous shoots, affords ample evidence that whatever 

 may be the quahty of its produce, the plant itself is no 

 enemy to a rich soil. Notwithstanding the apparent 

 richness of the soil, I observed them every where digging 

 in large quantities of dung, and this, as w^ell as the mode 

 of pruning, indicated that they were more anxious for the 

 quantity than the quality of the produce. The wines of 

 this district are almost universally converted into brandy. 

 The soil had the appearance of being calcareous the whole 

 way from Beziers to Montpelier, in some places almost 

 resembling the albarizas of Xeres, but on trial I found it 

 argillaceous. 



Notwithstanding the great luxuriance of the vines, and 

 the strength and length of their shoots, still no supports 

 nor props were used. Here and there I observed the 

 shoots of three neighbouring vines tied together to afford 

 each other support, but even this practice was rare com- 

 pared to the whole, which are allowed to spread as they 

 will, and cover the ground in such profusion as to make 

 it in most places difficult to penetrate amongst them. 



Thursday, 24th. — I this morning proceeded to the 

 Botanic Garden, in the hope of finding some one who 

 would give me information of the nature I required. My 

 expectations w^ere also a good deal excited by having 

 heard from an Englishman whom I met at breakfast, that 

 the Professor of Botany had there a collection of vines. I 

 was not long in discovering this collection, which was 

 numbered up to 560 varieties. I did not hesitate a mo- 

 ment to inquire for the Professor, and to make known to 

 him the object of my visit. He received me with great 

 kindness, and asked many questions respecting the Aus- 

 tralian settlements, in which he appeared to take a great 



