216 BOTANY. 



Tannin. 



A bitter astringent substance procured from plants, 

 bark, &c. that contain charcoal. It is soluble in 

 water and alcohol, but not in ether. The character- 

 istic of tannin is its action on solutions of isinglass 

 or jelly. 



When skin is exposed to solutions containing 

 tannin, it slowly combines with that principle ; its 

 fibrous texture and cohesion are preserved, it is ren- 

 dered insoluble in water, and is no longer liable to 

 putrefaction. 



Indian Rubber. 



Caoutchouc, gum elastic, or Indian rubber, is 

 soluble in ether, but not in alcohol. Birdlime (a 

 substance procured from the holly) is very analogous 

 to gum elastic in its properties. 



Wines, where produced. 



Wines of Champagne. Ay, Epernay, Hautvillier, 

 Sillery, &c. The varieties of pink Champagne are 

 either tinged by the husk of the grape, or by a 

 colouring matter composed of elder-berry juice and 

 cream of tartar. 



Wines of Burgundy. Romane, Conti, Clos Vou- 

 geot, and Chambertin. White Burgundy, from 

 Mont Rachet, la Perriere, and Chablis. 



Wines of Dauphine, the Lionnais, and Avignon. 

 Hermitage from Tain on the banks of the Rhone, 

 about seven miles from Lyons. 



Wines of Languedoc. Frontignan, Lunel, and 

 Beziers. 



Wines of Rousillon. Rivesaltes (two leagues east 

 of Perpignan) and Salces. These are sweet or mus- 

 cadine wines. 



Gascony and Guienne. The vineyards of the Bor- 

 delais are those of Medoc, Graves, Palus, and Vignes 



