in the North-west of France. 
99 
grape that amber colour which is preferred bj the drinkers of 
champagne. 
All vines are liable to certain pests, such as O'idium, Phyl- 
loxera, and others ; but in Champagne there are dangers peculiar 
to the locality which the vine-grower has specially to combat. 
In the first place, owing to the northern latitude of the Cham- 
pagne district, the quantity of solar heat from which the plant 
can annually derive benefit is very small as compared with that 
which prevails in more southern districts. Therefore, a special 
mode of cultivation is necessary in order to bring the grapes to 
a satisfactory degree of maturity. The method now universally 
adopted is to keep the grapes as close as possible to the arid 
soil, which thus during the night exhales on the fruit the solar 
heat which it had absorbed during the day. 
In order to ensure the success of this practice, the vines are 
pruned very hard, only two eyes being left, and every year the 
main stem is a little more covered with earth by the spade, so 
that only a small portion of old wood is left projecting above the 
ground. 
From time to time it is necessary to fill up gaps caused by 
the decay of old plants. This is done by a process of layering 
to a depth of 9 or 10 inches, not only old wood but also a certain 
number of eyes on the wood of the year. The layer is covered 
by a mixture of earth and manure, and thus grows Avith con- 
siderable vigour, giving not only a good crop in the course of a 
short time, but also furnishing slips which may be used to fill 
up other gaps. 
This practice is not unattended with inconveniences. In the 
first place, to ensure the success of the layering it is necessary 
to select vigorous plants which have strong shoots ; and as the 
layering cannot be done at a very great distance from the parent 
plant, and often at very variable distances, the lines of vines 
become gradually more or less confused, and the proper cultiva- 
tion and cleaning of the vineyard more difficult and expensive. 
During recent years many experiments have been made to 
preserve the lines of vines, with the triple object of being able 
to use movable means of protection against spring frosts, to use 
a horse-hoe and thus reduce the cost of successive hand-hoeings, 
and finally to enable the vines to be periodically manured in 
their turn. This mode of cultivation is pursued in most of the 
vine-growing districts of France, and it has the undeniable 
advantage of admitting more sun, more light, and more air to 
the plants. Nevertheless, in Champagne as almost everywhere, 
any innovation upon ancient usages is sure to be condemned by 
the majority, who are wedded to old practices, without giving a 
new idea a fair trial. At the same time, it must be observed 
H 2 
