181- On the Cultivation of the Vine$ 
it bums rather than vivifies* The good state of vines* 
and the good quality of the grapes* depend then on a just 
proportion — a perfect equilibrium between the water* 
which furnishes the aliment to the plant* and the heat* 
that can alone facilitate its maturation. 
5. Culture .— The vine grows naturally in Florida* 
America* and almost every part of Peru. In the south of 
France* even almost all the hedges abound with wild 
vines ; but the grapes they bear are always smaller* and* 
though they come to maturity* they never acquire the ex- 
quisite taste of the grapes that are cultivated. The vine 
then is the work of nature* but art changes its products 
by bringing the culture of it to perfection. The differ- 
ence which exists at present between the cultivated vine 
and that which grows wild* is the same as that establish- 
ed by art between the vegetables of our gardens and 
those of the same kind which grow accidentally in the 
fields.^ 
The culture of the vine* however* has its rules as well 
as its boundaries. The soil where it grows requires 
great care ; it must be often dug up ; but it refuses the 
manure necessary for other plantations. It must here be 
remarked* that all those causes which powerfully concur 
to give activity to the vegetation of the vine* alter the 
quality of the grapes ; and here* as in other delicate 
cases* the culture ought to be directed in such a manner 
that the plant may receive only poor nourishment if 
grapes of a good quality are required. The celebrated 
Olivier de Series says on this subject* that, u by a pub- 
lic decree* dunging is forbidden at Gaillac for fear of les- 
sening the reputation of the white wines* with which the 
* These observations are well worthy of attention ; since they will naturally 
lead to a due investigation of the merits of our native vines ; which have one 
great advantage over those of foreign origin, viz. their being uninjured by our 
coldest winters. Ed. 
