74 GRAPE. 



one hundred years old. That at Hampton Court, nearly of 

 the same age, occupies above one hundred and sixty square 

 yards ; and that at Valentine, in Essex, above one hundred 

 and forty-seven square yards. The size to which the trunk, 

 or stem, sometimes attains in warm climates, is so great as 

 to have afforded planks fifteen inches broad, furniture, and 

 statues; and the Northallerton vine, above mentioned, in 

 1785 measured four feet in ciicumference near the ground, 

 and one branch of the Hampton Court vine measures one 

 hundred and fourteen feet in length. Vine timber is of great 

 durability. 



The varieties of the Grape in countries where it is grown 

 for the wine press, are as numerous as the vineyards ; for as 

 these for the most part differ in soil, aspect, elevation, or 

 otherwise, and as the vine is greatly the child of local cir- 

 cumstances, its habits soon become adapted to those in 

 which it is placed. When it is considered that a vineyard 

 once planted will last two or three centuries, it will readily 

 be conceived that the nature of a variety may be totally 

 changed during only a part of that time. The varieties 

 mostly in esteem for wine making are small berries, and 

 bunches with an austere taste. The Burgundy, as modified 

 by different soils arid situations, may be considered the most 

 general vineyard Grape of France, from Champagne or 

 Marne, to Marseilles or Bordeaux. 



The best wine in Italy and Spain is also made from Grapes 

 of this description ; but in both countries many of the larger- 

 berried sorts are grown on account of their producing more 

 liquor. The sweet wines, as the Malmsey, Madeira, Con- 

 stantia, Tokay, &c., are made from sweet-berried Grapes, 

 allowed to remain on the plants till over-ripe. That wine 

 is the strongest, and has most flavour, in which both the 

 skins and stones are bruised arid fermented. The same 

 thing is the case in making cider; but in both processes 

 bruising the stones or kernels is neglected. The vine was 

 formerly extensively cultivated in Britain for the wine press, 



