BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. 791 



but endued with a pleafant, vinous flavour. It ufed to furnifh the 

 hunters with refrefliment, and is no lefs grateful to the animals pur- 

 fued. It is alfo known by the name of ivater-withe ; for the vine is 

 fo full of juice, that a junk of three feet length will yield near a pint 

 of clear, taflielefs water, which has faved the lives of many who have 

 wandered long in the woods, without any other liquid for their fup- 

 port. For this reafon it deferves to be cultivated in all thofe parts 

 which are deftitute of fprings, as it is a natural refervoir, coUedling and 

 keeping a pure and falutary water in the driefl, hotteft feafons ; and. 

 has been obferved to thrive exceedingly well in the Red Hills, and 

 other rocky, mountainous diftridls, where fprings of water are moft 

 deficient. 



The vine produces a large quantity of fmall black grapes, of a rough 

 tafte, which would vmdoubtedly make an excellent red wine, under 

 proper management. 



139. Grape vine. — Vttis. 



The white and red grape vines, particulai-ly the mufcadine, have 

 been introduced here from Europe and Madeira, and feem to thrive 

 extremely well. The bunches grow to an extraordinary magnitude, 

 and the pulp is more flefhy, and lefs watery, than in the South of 

 France ; a difference to be naturally expeded from the greater heat of 

 climate, and richnefs of foil. The mufcadine anfwers better in the 

 lower fites than any of the other fpecies, ripens all its berries near at: 

 a time, and with due care might be brought to the utmoft perfe6lion. 

 The clufters are very large in the lowlands, the grapes mellow, and 

 might doubtlefs produce a fine mellow wine, if cultivated in any fuf- 

 ficient extent, and by perfons of competent fkill. The hills of Health- 

 fliire, of Liguanea, the -Long Mountains, the Red Hills near Spanifh 

 Town, feem all well accommodated to fome or other of thefe vines, 

 felefting the cooler and higher afcents for luch as are indigenous to 

 Europe ; but the mufcadine would probably fucceed beft in the lower 

 hills of Liguanea, which have a South afpeft, and a friable, gravely 

 furface. 



The method in which the grape vines are ufually cultls'ated here,, 

 ig.very abfurd. The tendrils are generally carried over frames, or 



arbours, . 



