244 NEW AMERICAN ORCHARDIST. 



which are possessed of a suitable climate; but not, how- 

 ever, so much for wine, its use being forbidden to the 

 disciples of Mohammed. It does not flourish within the 

 tropics ; it may, indeed, grow there, but produces but little 

 fruit, except in the mountainous elevations. Yet in some 

 tropical countries, as at Bombay, where unceasing sum- 

 mer allows no rest to the vine, or its wonted repose, they 

 give them, by artificial means, a suitable season for slum- 

 ber; and the vine, thus recruited, becomes productive. 

 [See CULTIVATION.] 



The vine is extremely long-lived : it is stated that some 

 have lived six hundred years; and, according to Bosc, there 

 are vines in Burgundy four hundred years old. The na- 

 tive vines of America, as of other countries, ascend to the 

 summits of the highest trees of the forest, growing some- 

 times of enormous dimensions. And vine timber is stated 

 to be of very great durability ; of this fact, the long life to 

 which the vine tree will attain, might alone be deemed 

 sufficient evidence. It is deemed too valuable to be ap- 

 plied to common purposes, its use being confined, almost 

 exclusively, to furniture, statues, &c. 



USES. The fruit of the grape has been highly prized, 

 in all ages, as a delicious and wholesome dessert fruit. 

 They are used as preserves, in pastry and in cookery. 

 Sugar is also made from the juice of the grape, good, but 

 coarse-grained ; and the unferrnented juice, when boiled to 

 the consistency of honey, is esteemed a delicious article 

 of food, being used, both in Europe and in the Moham- 

 medan countries, either with or without sugar, as butter or 

 honey is used. 



Raisins are prepared from the matured fruit of the grape. 

 The clusters, without being separated from the branches, 

 are dipped in a ley of wood ashes, containing a small por- 

 tion of the oil of olives, and then dried by exposure to the 

 sun. By another mode, though not so good, they are 

 dried in an oven. Raisins are esteemed, not only as a 

 delicious, but a wholesome and nutritious food, when used 

 in moderation. They are of extensive use, both for the 

 dessert and in cookery. A good wine may also be pre 

 pared from them. 



The grapes which are imported from France and Spain, 

 are packed in alternate layers of saw-dust, which has been 

 thoroughly dried in an oven ; and we are assured, that 



