308 ON SOIL. 
soil, propagation, and culture of the vine, so as to produce 
an extra crop in the smallest given space. We will then con- 
sider, first, the 
ASPECT. 
As our climate gives us plenty of heat for the maturation 
of the vine, we have, therefore, more scope in aspect than 
any other country. However, the most preferable is one 
from south to east, or west. Shelter from high and often- 
recurring winds is a prime consideration. Our western and 
southwestern gusts of wind are very destructive to the vine 
when it is in the full vigour of growth ; it dissipates all the 
accumulated secretions of the foliage, and closes its pores, 
thereby totally deranging the vital functions of the plant, 
which (although in the height of the growing season) has 
been known to be suspended for weeks. There are fre- 
quently many local circumstances affecting the -shelter of 
walls and other buildings, which, where they exist, must de- 
termine the best aspect for training the vine. But if there 
be no such local circumstances, we have no hesitation in stat- 
ing that an eastern aspect is the best. On such the sun 
shines with full force during the morning, at which time there 
is something highly favourable to vegetation in his rays, which 
seems to stimulate the energies of plants in an extraordinary 
degree, and to excite them to a vigorous exertion of all the 
functions appertaining to vegetable life. 
ON SOIL. 
The soil most congenial to the growth of the vine and the 
maturity of its fruit is a rich, sandy, turfy loam, about two 
feet deep, on a dry, gravelly, rocky, or sandy bottom ; the 
roots run with avidity into such sub-soils, lying secure from 
the excess of moisture, which always accumulates in clayey 
or compact soils. The excrementitious matter discharged 
from the roots of a vine is very great, and if this be given 
out in close and retentive soils, they quickly become delete- 
rious, and a languid and diseased vegetation ensues ; this is 
the great reason that so many failures exist. It may hence be 
