180
AGRICULTURE ON THE RHINE.
northern latitude upon these two requisites—reflected
heat and richness of soil. The vine has a tap-root that
shoots perpendicularly into the ground to so great a
depth, where the soil admits, that it finds moisture in
the hottest summer. A stony surface is useful for
two reasons, in causing the rain water which the plant
does not need for nourishment to roll off, while stones
and slates often retain the heat of the summer sun long
after it has gone down. It is, however, a mistake to sup-
pose that a rocky district is more favourable to the
growth of the plant than alluvial deposits, as we shall
abundantly prove as we go along. Many travellers are,
at first sight of the Rhenish vineyards, disappointed.
Being accustomed only to vines trained on walls or on
trelliswork, they cannot fancy the plant otherwise than
as a creeper gracefully festooning poles or the trunks of
trees or other lofty supporters. It must, however, be
remembered, that the hill-side on which the vine is in-
variably planted is intended to serve as a wall by reflect-
ing the sun’s heat. The numerous plants in a vineyard
(4850 are planted on an acre of land) represent the spread
of a vine upon a wall, with this difference, that the
sources of nourishment are so many more as there are
roots within an equal space. The luxuriant growth
which can thus be attained is, however, checked by pe-
riodical prunings of the young shoots and large lower
leaves that would keep off the rays of the sun. Not-
withstanding the bare appearance of the vine-planted
hills in the early part of the summer, when all around is
clothed in green, we have never been able to look at
them without associating ideas of cheerfulness and joy
with their view, and fancying that they were an index of
AGRICULTURE OK THE RHINE.
181
wealth and comfort for the district. This is far from
being everywhere the case, for the reason before assigned,
that considerable capital is requisite to make the cultiva-
tion of the vine a profitable occupation. A vineyard is,
however, an undoubted token for an Englishman that
sunshine is common where it is found, and sunshine
alone is a precious gift. The wanderer in the vale of
the Ahr will soon feel the satisfaction which all must
experience on finding that its inhabitants have a compen-
sation allotted to them for the general rudeness of the
soil and the severe climate of the valley in winter.
As we progress up the Rhine it is interesting to watch
the vineyards that seem to spring from bank to bank and
from precipice to precipice, according as a southern
aspect can be obtained. The wildest thickets alternate
with these vineyards, which bear appearance of the most
careful cultivation all along. Endless is the labour with
which the steep hill-side is carefully terraced, from the
top to the base, wherever the slope is so rapid as to
cause the soil to be washed dowτn by heavy rains. Al-
though the manure of which the vine is greedy has to be
carried up in baskets to the vineyards on these heights,
and the labour they demand is constant, yet the winzer
is indefatigable, and as little inclined to scrutinize closely
the true cost of cultivation as his neighbour the peasant
corn-grower in the lowland village. The years of dis-
appointment are also numerous. To one good vintage
there are estimated two of ordinary yield, two of poor
crops, and one total failure ; so that the hard Iabourin the
vineyard is accompanied by never-ceasing anxiety of the
owner for the result of his toil. This is best evinced by
the following official statement of the crops :—