foot of the mountains of Feristan, is tliouglit to be the most southern 

 position in which it thrives ; and Coblentz, at the confluence of the 

 Rhine and the Moselle, the most northern at which it yields in the 

 open ground. It is cultivated to the best advantage between tho two 

 points of limit mentioned, between which lie the finest vineyards in 

 Europe ; such as those of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, 

 Styria, Carinthia, Hungary, Transylvania, and a part of Greece. In 

 cold countries, by means of vineries, localities may be contrived that 

 will force the Vine, giving it in summer the degree of heat it receives 

 in climates naturally adapted to it. These shelters are so managed 

 as to refract the solar rays in proportion to their directness. The 

 exposure to the sun has so all-powerful an influence on vegetation, 

 that it should not be overlooked by the Vine-dresser. A northern 

 exposure is generally deemed the least suitable ; and an eastern oae 

 would be the best, if it did not expose the plants, in the first early 

 warm days of spring, to the Blast, fi-om the burning of the sun upoii 

 the small icicles which act as lenses. A southern exposure is in gene- 

 ral too hot in the summer ; and a western one has least to recom- 

 mend it, as it throws upon the plant a direct heat, after the early 

 hours of the day have abstracted its moisture ; and thereby dries and 

 burns it. As a general rule in southern regions, an eastern exposure 

 ejiould be preferred ; in northern ones, the Vineyards should face 

 tijp South. 



Sometimes this rule has its exceptions, owing no doubt to the 

 face frf the comitry influencing the com-ses of udnds ; as for instance, 

 the splendid Vine- grounds of the Marne ^nd the Hills of Rhehns : 

 those wliich supply the rich tuns of Jouy, ( Indre et Loire.): those 

 of both banks of the Cher ; of Saumur ; of Angers ; &c. are, in o-cneral. 

 open to the northeast, and the greater number face due North. They 

 are less subject to the disastrous attacks of late frosts in the sprino- ; 

 and their wmes are good, with a delicate and perfumed flavour. 



The Vine can be suited by a variety of soils : but never with any that 

 are soaked with stagnant or decomposing waters. The kind it prefers 

 is a dry, light, sandy soil. The vine dressers of the department of 

 Arriege ( at the foot of the Pyrennees ) cultivate it half way up their 

 highest mountains, in spots quite covered with large smooth stones ; 

 and if they w^ere a little more careful in their manner of making the 

 %vine, more choice in their selection of stocks, and niore attentive 

 to tillage and training, they might make their Vvdnes equal to those 

 of Tokay, which are also the growth of Vineyards covered with large 

 calcarious pebbles, and lying on the liighest flanks and ridges of s 



