INTRODUCTION. 15 



declared, in describing the peaceful and flourishing 

 state of the kingdom of Israel during the reign of 

 Solomon, that " Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every 

 man under his vine and under his fig-tree, from Dan 

 even to Beersheba." The source of enjoyment thus 

 mentioned to record the happy state of the Jewish 

 nation, may be, with reference to the vine, literally 

 possessed by the greater portion of the inhabitants of 

 this island. 



The native country of the vine is generally con- 

 sidered to be Persia, but it has been found wild in 

 America, and is now become naturalized in all the 

 temperate regions of the world. In the northern 

 hemisphere, it forms an important branch of rural 

 economy, from the 21st to the 51st parallel of lati- 

 tude ; and by an improved method of culture, very 

 fine grapes may be annually grown on the surface of 

 walls, in the open air, as far north as the 54th parallel, 

 and even beyond that in favorable seasons. 



The vine is supposed to have been introduced into 

 Britain at the commencement of the Christian era ; 

 and history amply proves, that for a long series of 

 ages, vineyards were very common in the southern 

 parts of this island, and that the quantity of wine 

 produced from them was so great as to be considered 

 one of the staple products of the land. From some 

 cause or other, however, they have fallen into general 

 neglect, although good grapes might be grown on 

 vines trained as espaliers, or in the same manner as in 

 the vineyards abroad, from which excellent wine 

 could be made, at a cost that would not exceed that 

 of moderately strong beer. Why vineyards should 

 have so completely disappeared, it is difficult to say, 

 since there are many thousands of acres of poor land, 

 that are of little value in an agricultural point of view, 

 but on which vines would flourish, and produce abun- 

 dant crops of grapes, and yield thereby a most profita- 

 ble return. 



Vines are now cultivated in this country, only 



