130 



CHAMPAGNE. 



me, that he knew instances of four arpents giving 100 

 pieces, 1,100 gallons per acre. The manure is always 

 added to the plants which have been buried; a handful 

 of earth is first put over the plant, and the manure above. 

 They are, however, extremely cautious as to the quality 

 of the manure. In some places I observed dung from the 

 farm-yard mixed with soil, but in general it was only 

 strong soil from the valley below, mixed with ashes, and 

 other amendments of a mild description. 



I here closed my examination of the vineyards of 

 France, there being no point unexplained of sufficient im- 

 portance to induce me to wait another day for the purpose 

 of seeing M. Ruinart's steward. Next morning the 

 maitre vigneron brought me three small bundles of plants, 

 which he said were the only varieties cultivated in the 

 vineyards which produce good wine. The black and 

 white Pineau, according to M. Ruinart's statement, 

 and as is generally understood, are the varieties of vines 

 cultivated in Champagne, as well as in Burgundy. The 

 vigneron brought me two black varieties, which he called 

 the plant vert^ and plant dore, and one white. The plant 

 dore, he said, was introduced into the vineyards of M. 

 Ruinart only a few years ago, and was not common in 

 the country. It is much more productive than the other 

 two varieties. These plants were all rooted, having been 

 cut from stocks that had been buried the preceding sea- 

 son ; they had each two branches, and are sold in the 

 country at the rate of a halfpenny each. These plants were 

 very abundant this season, for a vast number had been 

 destroyed by the severity of the winter 18£9-30, and it 

 was necessary to provide plants to replace them. To such 

 an extent were the vineyards injured during that season, 

 that in some places the quantity of wine produced did not 



