MAY. 153 
many of the white varieties are recommended for open air culture. The 
white is the sweeter Grape, and is largely grown in the south of England, 
where one may see the Vine trained in front of the houses, and the 
bunches sometimes covered with paper cones. This Grape resembles 
much those of Fontainebleau. The Vine is of all plants the most 
manageable: it may be grown in the open air against a wall, with a 
southern aspect, or, like the Raspberry, in what is termed bush culture, 
or traimed along the ground. It will, in fact, assume any form or shape 
the grower desires. ‘The vineyard, if not planted against the face of a 
rock, may be against dwarf walls made from stones, collected in the 
clearing of the land. Grapes grown on the bush are larger, ripen better, 
and are protected from hail and rain by the leaves. The reason for 
their ripening sooner by this mode of culture is, the sun’s heat is 
reflected from the ground, and this heat is partially contained in the 
soil during the night, and keeps the plant warm, thereby pushing it into 
quicker growth. Lakes should be avoided in our humid climate, and 
too close a proximity to the sea. Some 1500 years since, France, then 
known as Gaul, was subject to heavy falls of snow, and the Seine frozen 
over to a great depth, presenting the same appearances as Russia does 
the present day. Such was the climate of Gaul and the Rhine when 
the Romans planted their vineyards there. Since then, the clearing 
away of forests and draining of lands in Germany has made the climate 
warm and genial. May we not fairly assume that the present tempera- 
ture of the south of Ireland is as well adapted to the culture of the Grape 
as the Rhine and France were when planted by the Romans. What 
advantage, either, did or does the Rhine possess to the south of Ireland? 
In parts of the Rhine the common sorts of wine are harsh and unpalat- 
able: one gives you the idea of a wild cat scampering down your throat, 
and the other pulling it up by the tail; while, on the contrary, the wines 
made in the south of England were mild, and resembled those of France. 
Why is it that in past ages no efforts have been made to establish vine- 
yards in the south of Ireland? The solution is to be found in the 
unhappy history of this country. The Rhine and Gaul, being Roman 
provinces, were well protected. Ireland had no government powerful 
enough to secure to the grower a return for his industry, and the country 
has had no chance until within the last ten years. I have no doubt 
but that the hardy kinds of Vine might be cultivated on the sheltered 
and southern slopes at the base of some of the mountains in the south 
of Ireland, where the heat, reflected from the rocks, will considerably aid 
the ripening of the fruit; and in this respect the locality has greater 
advantages than the level and flat plains of England. We have the best 
evidence of the mildness of the climate from the fact of early Peas, 
Strawberries, and Potatoes being sent thence to the Dublin market long 
before they are produced by the market gardeners here; no doubt, 
partially pushed into early growth by the soft winds which pass over 
the gulf stream washing the southern coast. Some persons may brand 
my proposition as visionary, and assert it to be impossible. In the 
lexicon of life there should be no such word as impossible. The experi- 
ment is inexpensive—the benefit resulting from success, immense. 
