CHAPTER VIIL 



OF THE IJ^FLUEJVCE OF THE WEATHER OA' THE VmE 

 AJVD ITS PRODUCTS. 



After having pointed out the effects on the Vine and its products 

 of the soil, the mode of culture, the tillage and manuring, it may be 

 most proper to state, what is the influence exerted by the state of the 

 atmosphere. A cold and rainy year, whether in southern or north- 

 ern latitudes is hurtful in every point ; the Vine is fond of a regular 

 heat, and it requires a hot sun to ripen the grape. When the atmos- 

 phere is cold and damp, the Vine languishes, and the fruit is neither 

 sugary, nor fragrant ; the wine is insipid, and sours easily, or soon 

 turns ropy. Winter rains, especially in places where the ground is 

 marly and liable to become miry, prevent the ploughing, pruning, and 

 other operations which the Vine requires. In the spring, at the bud- 

 ding season, great rains will cause a premature unfolding of the buds 

 and leaves, and lessen the production of fruit. When the bunch is 

 in flower, they blight the pollen of the blossom, especially if they are 

 cold and heavy ; when the berry is half-grown, they prevent its in- 

 crease ; when it is a little further advanced, they deprive it of the su- 

 gary savour peculiar to it, or make it ripen late ; or if they take place 

 at the vintage season they rot the grape, making it furnish, on fer- 

 mentation, only a tartish-tasted, watery beverage. 



High winds are always prejudicial ; they dry and harden the ground ; 

 they blast the young shoots; they prevent the fecundation of the 

 flower, and deprive the berry of its inherent moisture. 



Spring frosts and hail are two severe scourges of the Vine ; in one 

 moment they diminish or destroy utterly, the hopes of a whole year 

 of labours. 



Fogs are equally hurtful to the stock, the flower, and the fruit. Be- 

 sides their rendering them more apt to suffer from frosts, the clammy 

 moisture they deposit over every part of the plant, v/ets it more 

 completely than the earth, and exposes it, the sun drying in a mo- 

 ment this superficial humidity, to a heat the more injurious, because 

 so sudden. 



