342 On the Vine. 
natural character essentially alters the product. Thus the Vines of 
Greece, transported to Italy, no longer produce the same wine ; and 
those of Falernum, cultivated at the bottom of Vesuvius, have changed 
their nature. It is confirmed by daily experience, that the plants of 
Burgundy, transported to the south, no longer produce wine so agree, 
able and delicate. 
The characters by which certain Vines are distinguished, cannot be 
re-produced in different sites : for this purpose the constant influence of 
the same cause is necessary, and, as it is impossible to unite them all, 
the consequence must be, changes and modifications. We may there- 
fore conclude that warm climates, by favoring the formation of the 
saccharine principle, must produce wines highly spirituous, as sugar is 
necessary to the formation of such wines. But the fermentation must 
be conducted in such a manner as to decompose all the sugar of the 
grapes, otherwise the result will be wines exceedingly luscious and 
sweet, as has been observed in some of the southern countries , and in ^, 
all cases where the saccharine juice of the grapes is too much concen- 
trated to experience a complete decomposirion. 
The cold climates can give birth only to weak and exceedingly 
aqueous wines, which have sometimes an agreeable flavour: the 
grapes in which scarcely any saccharine principle exists cannot con- 
tribute towards the production of alcohol, which forms the whole 
strength of wines. But on the other hand, as the heat from the fer- 
mentation of these grapes is very moderate, the aromatic principle is 
preserved in its full force, and contributes to render these liquors 
exceedingly agreeable, though weak. 
Soil. — The Vine grows every-where, and if we could judge of the 
quality of it by the vigour of its vegetation, it is in fat and moist soil, 
well dunged, that it ought to be cultivated. But we are taught by 
experience that the goodness of wine is never proportioned to the 
force of the Vine. We may therefore say, that Nature, desirous to 
assign to each quality of soil a peculiar production, has reserved dry 
light soil for the Vine, and has entrusted the cultivation of corn to 
fat and well -nurtured land. 
" Hie segetes, illic veniunt felicius uvae." 
Strong argillaceous earth is not at all proper for the cultivation of 
the Vine, for not only are the roots prevented from extending them- 
selves in ramifications, as is the case in fat and compact soil, but the 
facility with which these strata are penetrated by water, and the obsti- 
nacy with which they retain it, maintains a permanent state of humidity, 
which rots the root, and gives to^U the Vines, symptoms of weakness, 
which soon end in their destruction. 
