HISTORY OF THE GRAPE VINE. 11 



" The vine was introduced by the Phoenicians into cultiva- 

 tion in Europe by the way of the Mediterranean islands, 

 Italy, and Marseilles." — ChajJtal. 



" From the remotest records of antiquity, the vine has been 

 celebrated as the type of plenty and the symbol of happiness. 

 The pages of Scripture abound with allusions to the fertility 

 of the vine, as emblematical of prosperity ; and it is de- 

 clared, in describing the peaceful and flourishing state of the 

 kingdom of Israel, duruag the reign of Solomon, that ' Judah 

 and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under 

 his fig tree.' It 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 the 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." — Clement 

 Hoare. London, 1837. 



Konisburgh, in north latitude, nearly 55°, is considered the 

 limit at which the grape will ripen in Europe. 



Humboldt has observed, that the best wines are produced 

 from vineyards situated in the interior, away from the sea- 

 board, and remarks, that the cause does not alone reside in 

 the lower summer temperature of the coasts, but attributes 

 the difference to the light, from a clearer state of the heavens. 

 He also says, " to have palatable wine, not only must the 

 mean annual temperature exceed 49° 55', but that the mean 

 winter cold must not fall quite to the freezing point, 33° 4', 

 and this must be followed by a mean summer heat of at least 

 64° 4'." 



