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on English Vines and Vineyards in 1670 ‘Our English Wines 
are known to us and distinguished most properly by the names. 
of deeper and paler coloured Clarets. White Wines are of two. 
sorts, either sweeter or more sharp or austere—also a small 
Frantinick Wine—these are the Wines which this Climate 
most affords”—( Hughes, p. 63). The general evidence on the. 
English Wines shows that they were of a poor quality. I should 
suppose they were no better than the Wines still occasionally 
made in old-fashioned farmhouses. Many of you must at times. 
have been compelled to drink such Wine, as I have been, and 
have had to put a great strain on our consciences to pronounce it- 
good, and often a great strain on our palates to drink it. 
'. Ihave put together these few notes on the Vineyards of our: 
neighbourhood in the hopes that the members of the Field 
Club will add to the many other points, which they observe in 
their walks, tie evidences of ancient Vineyards—such evidences. 
being looked for either in the names of fields, or in the actual 
remains of Vineyards still existing—or in notices of them in old 
records—I shall consider it a kindness if any member making 
any such discovery will kindly inform me of it. 
In conclusion, I ought shortly to notice that some writers have- 
asserted that the so-called Vineyards were only Orchards. Though 
some of these writers were good Antiquaries, I must say that. 
I see no proof whatever for such a statement. Our ancestors 
knew the difference between grapes and apples, and were not. 
likely to confuse a Vinea with a Pomarium. 
