157 



causes, and with a hope that some practical cure for the diseased 

 vines grown in the open air may be discovered, I record the results 

 of my own observations of the progress of the vine-malady in the 

 Alto-Douro. 



The Port-wine District extends eight leagues west and east from 

 the Serra do Marao (an elevation of 4400 feet* from the level of the 

 sea) to the Quinta do Baleira, near Sam Joao da Pesqueira, and 

 four leagues north and south, between Villa Real and the city of 

 Lamego j. 



The winter streams, tributaries to the Douro, on the right bank, are 

 the Sermenha, Corgo, Ceira, Pinhao, and Tua ; and, on the left, the 

 Varoza, Temilobos, Tedo, Tavora, and Torto. 



At Baleira, the Douro runs at an elevation of not more than 250 

 feet ; whence some opinion may be formed of the nature and inequality 

 of the country, and of the numerous abrupt mountain ridges, on the 

 inclines of which the vines are grown. The Wine-Districts of the 

 Alto-Douro form a long irregular basin, girt by the granite chains 

 of the Tras-os-Montes and Beira; and this being for the most part 

 of schist formation, and protected from the bleak winds, is parti- 

 cularly adapted for the cultivation of the vine. The strata of the 

 margins of the Douro differ from the higher and middle grounds 

 in character, " being composed of strong clays, more or less 

 micaceous." 



The extreme northern and southern boundaries from the Serra 

 do Marao to Favaios, and from the Serra do Monte Muro (near 

 Lamego) to Sam Joao da Pesqueira are undulating mountain 

 plains of still heavier soil, and more suitable for the growth of firs 

 than vines. In former years, this fact was clearly defined by the 

 Royal Wine Company, who divided the districts into two, one 

 being termed Feitoria (where the most superior wines were produced 

 and classified for exportation), the other Ramo, where only very 

 inferior wines, for the consumption of the country and for distilla- 

 tion, were produced to a small extent. Now, the two districts have 

 become one ; the plantations of pines on the heights and the corn- 

 producing valleys having alike been converted into vineyards ; the 



* " Considera9oes geraes sobre a Constitui9uo Geologicao do Alto-Douro." By 

 Dr. J. P. Rebello. Porto, 1848. 



t See map of the Wine-Districts of the Alto-Douro. By J. J. Forrester. 



Q2 



