It is well known, without being compelled to dwell any longer on this point, that the southern exposition is more proper than all the rest to accelerate vegetation, and we have shewn that this is also what is principally proposed when some plants are set in that exposition to pass through the winter, since, in addition, we are also obliged to make use of coverings to guard those plants which are very delicate from the frost. But we must add, that if there be some circumstances wherein the frost causes more disorders to the southern than to other expositions, there are also many cases which are favourable to this exposition: for example, in winter, when there is any thing to fear from the ice, it frequently happens that the heat of the sun, increased by the reflection of the wall, has sufficient force to dissipate all the humidity, and then the plants are almost perfectly secure against the cold. Besides, dry frosts often happen, which unceasingly act towards the north, and which are scarcely ever felt towards the south. In spring, likewise, we perceive that after a rain which proceeds from the south-west, or south-east, if the wind change to the north, the southern espalier being under the shelter of the wind, will suffer more than the rest; but these cases are very rare, and most often it is after rains, which come from the north-east or north-west that the wind changes to the north, and then the southern espalier having been under shelter from the rain by the wall, the plants there will have less to suffer than the rest, not only because it will have received less rain, but also because there is always less cold here, than in other expositions. It is likewise to be observed that as the sun dries much earth along the espaliers which are to the south, the earth transpires there less than elsewhere. It is well known that what we have just advanced must be considered as applying also to peach and apricot trees, which it is customary to put in this exposition and in that of the east. We shall only add, that it is not unusual to see peach trees frozen in the east and southern expositions, while those are not so which stand in the west or north; but notwithstanding this we can never rely on having many, nor good peaches in this last exposition, for great quantities of blossoms fall off entirely without setting; others, after having set fall from the trees, and those which remain with difficulty arrive to maturity. I have an espalier of peach-trees in a western exposition, a little declining to the north, which scarcely ever produce any fruit, although the trees are handsomer than those to the southern and northern. We cannot, therefore, avoid the inconveniences of the frost with respect to the southern exposition without feeling others that are worse.