40 



ON THE MANAGEMENT 



and indeed the soil in which I have known the 

 Vine to prosper in the most superlative degree 

 without artificial aid, was a kind of rich, sandy 

 loam, intermixed with thin beds of materials like 

 jointed slate, or stone, so very soft in its nature, 

 as almost to be capable of being crumbled between 

 the fingers. The roots of the Vine delight in these 

 beds of loam. 



I have been more particular in the above descrip- 

 tion, on a supposition that spots of such kindly 

 materials may sometimes be found ; and whenever 

 it so happens, I would, by all means, recommend 

 a plentiful use of such soil in preference to any 

 other, and especially for the part below ; for even 

 in the former case of the unfriendly soil, the Vines 

 would possibly succeed still better with a layer of 

 this sort between the compost-mould and bottom 

 floor. 



But where the soil, with fat'ning moisture fill'd, 

 Is cloth'd with grass, and fruitful to be till'd : 

 Such as in chearful vales we view from high ; 

 Which dripping rocks with rolling streams supply, 

 And feed with ouze ; where rising hillocks run 

 In length, and open to the southern sun ; 

 Where fern succeeds, ungrateful to the plough, 

 That gentle ground to generous grapes allow. 

 Strong stocks of Vines it will in time produce, 

 And overflow the vats with friendly juice ; 

 Such as our priests in golden goblets pour 

 To gods the givers of the chearful hour. 



Dryden's Virg. Georg. ii. 



