celebrated wine districts of France, the epoch of the vintage was announced, with solemnity, and celebrated by public rejoicings. The magistrates, accompanied by the most intelligent and experienced agriculturists of the neighbourhood, visited the vineyards of the different cantons, to judge of the maturity of the grape, and no proprietor was allowed to proceed with his vintage, till permission was solemnly proclaimed. The reputation which the wines of the district enjoyed, was considered public property; and these precautions were taken that no unskilful or careless proprietor might injure this reputation, by the mismanagement of his own wines.
This system of forcing a man to do well, in spite of himself, has passed away; and, whatever opinion may be formed, of the soundness of the principles on which such regulations were formed, their having existed, proves, at least, how much it has always been accounted a matter of importance and difficulty, to determine aright the period of the vintage.
In a great majority of cases, this period is that at which the grape has attained its maturity, and this maturity may be ascertained by the reunion of the following signs:—
1st, The stalk of the bunch changes its colour from green to brown.
