THJE VINE. 



Vitis vinifera Lin. and other species. AMPELIDACEAE. 



Maltese dtelja. Italian vite. French vigne. 



The European Vine (Vitis vinifera Lin.) is native 

 of Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa, and also 

 of Tibet, China and Japan, and has been cultivated in 

 these regions from immemorial times both for use as 

 fresh fruit and for the production of wine. It grows 

 wild or half-wild in our valleys and rocky places, and 

 agrees very well with our soil and climate. It is 

 practically certain that its cultivation in these Islands 

 must have been introduced by the first Phoenician 

 settlers, who along with improved forms of the vine 

 must have introduced from the east also their method 

 of cultivation which in the course of ages has had 

 apparently but slight variations as it still bears unmistake- 

 able signs of its Phoenician origin. The English name 

 vine is often used genetically for perennial climbers, and 

 the Maltese name dielja (pron. deelya), literally shade 

 maker or trailer, has reference to the shade thrown by 

 the plant, the vine being par excellence the classic plant 

 for pergolas, and to this day the vine covered pergola 

 is the favourite contrivance to shade off the sun in the 

 yards and gardens attached to country residences. 



The European vine agrees well xvith all soils and 

 all situations, but requires a well drained subsoil free 

 from stagnant humidity. On deep porous soils, moderately 

 moist, with a broken and open subsoil, the vine grows 

 very vigorously and yields heavy crops, but thrives 

 well even on rocky ground and in comparatively dry 

 situations. It is largely grown in France, Italy and 

 Spain, but it is also cultivated extensively along the 

 Rhine, in Southern Germany, Austria, Hungary, the 



