VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



The Vine — Viiis vinifera. 



Of all the berries, the grape has in every age been 

 held the most in esteem. As is the case with the cere- 

 alia, the early histor\ of the vine is involved in obscu- 

 rity ; for the oldest profane writers that mention it 

 ascribe to it a fabulous origin. The cultivation of the 

 grape was, probably, amongst the earliest etForts of hus- 

 bandry. " And Xoah began to be an husbandman, 

 and he planted a vineyard*." According to the tra- 

 dition of the Egyptians, Osiris tirst paid attention to 

 the vine, and instructed other men in the manner of 

 planting and using it. The inhabitants of Africa 

 ascribe the same gift to the ancient Bacchus. We 

 find mention of the fermented juice of the grape as 

 early as that of its cultivation. Wine was among 

 the first oblations to the Divinity-. " Melchizedek, 

 King of Salem, brought forth bread and wine, and 

 he was the priest of the Most High Godf." We 

 may trace through all the most ancient records of the 

 human race, a conformity between the chief articles 

 of subsistence, and the sacrifices to heaven. In the 



Genesis^ ix. 20. 



f Genesis, xiv. 18. 



