176
Ageiculture on the Rhine.
The city of Mayence is one of the largest corn-markets
in Germany. Not only are large supplies of grain and
seeds collected by the merchants there to be distributed
amongst the numerous small markets, and to be sent down
the Rhine to the manufacturing districts, but a consider-
able exportation takes place by the Rhine to Holland
and to the adjoining districts of France. Mayence is
the capital of the province of “ Rheinhessen,” belonging
to the Grand Duchy of Hesse. This province is one of
the most populous districts of Germany, and the sole oc-
cupation of the inhabitants is agriculture. The soil is
for the most part of fair quality, and, under the cultiva-
tion of a great number of small proprietors, is made to
produce a great deal ; but, as usual, at the cost of all to
the peasant owners but the means of subsistence on the
footing of labourers. The high roads most frequently
travelled do not run through this part of the Grand
Duchy of Hesse. We prefer, therefore, enlarging on
the agricultural processes and prospects of the districts on
the UpperRhine when we come to the Duchy of Baden
( 177 )
CHAPTER IX.
W≡ must now call our readers back to the rise of the
mountain-tract that separates the Lower from the Middle
Rhine near Bonn. Here the cultivation of the vine has
its proper commencement, and even the little gardens of
Bonn are diversified by small patches of vines cut low or
trained over arbours, not merely to afford shade, but to
furnish grapes for the table. The abrupt steeps pre-
sented by the hills enclosing the vales of the volcanic
district on both banks of the Rhine are good sites for
ripening grapes, but the want of sufficient depth of soil is
shown by the less generous nature of the fruit the vines
produce as compared with those of the alluvial soils of
the Middle Rhine. The sides of the Drachenfels are
covered with vineyards that stretch from the river’s
bank up the base of the mountain to a considerable
height, where the aspect is south or south-east; and
nearly every such site is henceforward occupied as we
proceed up the stream. The produce of these vineyards is
however very indifferent, and it is not until we reach the
valley of the Ahr that we find names familiar to lovers of
Rhenish wine. The course of the Ahr being generally
east and west, the north bank presents a number of fa-
vourable exposures to the south, which have of late years
been turned to good account by skilful growers. With
the exception of the “ Rhinegau” vineyards, perhaps the
greatest care is bestowed upon the growth of these Ahr