ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. On the Vine. 

 By William Kenrick, Newton. 



The vine is a native of tlie temperate regions. Its history is 

 traced to a very ancient date in Persia. It is cultivated most exten- 

 sively, for wine, in every part of Europe favorable to its growth. 

 Also, in South Africa, and the African Isles of the Atlantic, and in 

 Greece. It is also cultivated in Barbaryand Egypt, and in all those 

 parts of Asia which are possessed of a suitable climate ; but not, how- 

 ever, so much for wine, its use being forbidden to the disciples of 

 Mohammed. It does not flourish within the tropics ; it may, indeed, 

 grow there, but produces but little fruit, except in the mountainous 

 elevations. Yet, in some tropical countries, as at Bombay, they 

 give to their vines an artificial winter, by arresting at once their 

 growth, that the wood may thus be ripened, and become productive. 



The vine is extremely long-lived : it is stated that some have lived 

 six hundred years ; and that there are vines in Burgundy four hun- 

 dred years old. The native vines of America, as of other countries, 

 ascend to the summits of the highest trees of the forest ; growing, 

 sometimes, of enormous dimensions. And vine timber is stated to be 

 of very great durability : of this fact, the long life to which the vine 

 tree will attain, might alone be deemed sufficient evidence. It is 

 too valuable to be applied to common purposes, its use being con- 

 fined almost exclusively to furniture, statues, etc. 



The grape has been highly prized, in all ages, as a delicious and 

 wholesome dessert fruit. They are used as preserves and in cook- 

 ery. Sugar is also made from the juice of the grape, good, but coarse 

 grained; and the imfermented juice, when boiled to the consistence 

 of honey, is esteemed a delicious article of food, being used, both in 

 Europe and in the Mohammedan countries, either with or without 

 sugar, as butter or honey is used. 



Raisins are prepared from the matured fruit of the grape. The 

 clusters, without being separated from the branches, are dipped in a 

 ley of wood ashes, containing a small portion of sweet oil, and then 

 dried by exposure to the sun. By another mode, though not so good, 

 they are dried in a oven. Raisins are deemed a wholesome and nu- 

 tritious food, when used in moderation. They are of extensive use, 

 both for the dessert and in cookery. A good wine may also be pre- 

 pared from them. 



