2 THE BOOK OF THE GRAPE 



" held up with poles and frames of wood, and by that 

 means it spreadeth all about and climbeth aloft; it 

 joyneth itself unto trees, or whatsoever standeth next 

 unto it." It is to be feared, however, that, though very 

 fair wine may now as formerly be made from grapes 

 grown in the open air in this country, the fact that better 

 wines can more easily be produced across a few miles 

 of sea will effectually prevent any considerable revival 

 of the English vineyard. The decorative value of the 

 grape-vine is so great, that one can but regret this 

 destiny. 



Few climbing plants surpass in beauty the various 

 species of vine which are found wild in Asia and North 

 America. 



In a " Catalogue of Plants "by a " Society of 

 Gardeners," issued in 1730, the list of decorative 

 vines then grown is as follows : The Parsley-Leaved 

 Vine, the Wild Virginia Vine, the Fox Grape, the 

 Blotched-Leaved Vine, the Strip' d-Leaved Vine. " These 

 sorts being cultivated by the curious in botany, we 

 thought proper to add in this place. The several sorts 

 cultivated in the vineyards, etc., we shall refer to a 

 proper work, and by leave to add another plant in this 

 place which, although not strictly agreeing with the 

 others in all its characters, yet being nearly allied to 

 them, and for want of a better place, may do well 

 enough in this the Virgin Vine or Common Creeper." 

 We seem to have lost the striped-leaved variety, but our 

 gardens now contain several additional species of great 

 and individual beauty. Still few surpass the common 

 grape-vine (Vitis vinifera) and its varieties, Apiifolia (the 

 Parsley-Leaved Vine) with delicately and deeply-cut 

 foliage, and Purpurea, with its leaves coloured deep 

 purple all through the summer and autumn, when they 

 are allowed to ramble at will over arches, trellises, or 

 out-buildings. A vine which has been grown in English 



