VINEYARD CULTURE IN FRANCE. 



51 



others on the same bunch retained their original character. It is 

 generally supposed that the effect of crossing is confined to the 

 embryo of the seed which has received an impression from the 

 strange pollen. It has indeed been asserted that the colour of 

 the seeds of peas and kidney beans has been immediately modified 

 the first year by crossing ; but Mr. Darwin, after a careful ex- 

 amination of the point, did not find the supposition confirmed ; 

 so that the facts related by M. Bouschet are without parallel. 



Amongst the numerous varieties which he has raised, it is stated 

 that some are so early as to make it always possible to have the 

 vintage in the South of France in August. The wine, too, which 

 they produce is of excellent quality, and in consequence obtained 

 the Silver Medal at Avignon in 1858. 



XIII. Vineyard Culture in France. 

 By the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, M.A., FX.S. 



The source from which our information on this subject is derived, 

 is the Comte Odart's 'Manual of the Vine Dresser' *, a small 

 volume, but containing a vast mass of information. We shall, 

 however, confine ourselves to that part of it which more immedi- 

 ately concerns the objects of the Royal Horticultural Society, 

 entirely neglecting all that relates to the mode of preparing or 

 preserving wine. The intelligent gardener may perhaps be able 

 to pick up a few useful hints, though he will now and then be 

 surprised at practices which contradict his preconceived notions, 

 and which he could not perhaps copy in his more limited area 

 without almost certain loss of credit, if not of produce. 



It is not necessary to dwell on the particular varieties of vine 

 which are grown in different districts, the choice of which some- 

 times depends upon caprice, but frequently on the necessities of 

 particular soil, climate, and aspect, or of the requirements of the 

 special kind of wine which it is the vine-grower's object to produce, 

 or for which his vineyard is best calculated. It may, however, be 

 observed that, with very few exceptions, notwithstanding the well- 

 known fact that they are almost if not entirely exempt from the 

 mildew which has been so disastrous for nearly twenty years, he 

 avoids the American grapes, which belong to an entirely different 

 species of the genus Vitis. The greater part of them have a foxy 



* Manuel de Vigneron, 8vo, pp. 358, Troisieme edition. 



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