102 THE CULTURE OP THE GRAPE. 



had it been permitted, when in its greatest vigor, to extend 

 itself, it might have covered three or four times that area. 

 The circmnference of the trmik, or stem, a httle above the 

 surface of the ground, is three feet eleven inches. It is sup- 

 posed to have been planted one hundred and fifty years, but, 

 from age and injudicious management, it is now, and has long 

 been, in a very dechning state." — Speedily. 



" In the town of Bridgenorth, Shropshire, there is a vine, 

 which has been planted about sixteen j^ears, which covers a 

 wall twenty yards wide and sixteen yards high, and had on it, 

 in November, 1847, from two to three hundred and fifty 

 pounds of unripe grapes." — Crard. Chronicle, 1847, p. 734. 



The vine at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Park, is sup- 

 posed to be the largest cultivated vine in the world. " In 

 1843, it bore a crop of two thousand three hundred and fifty 

 bunches, averaging one pound each ; the vine, at that time, was 

 one hundred and thirty-eight feet long and sixteen feet wide, 

 and covered two thousand two hundred and eight superficial 

 feet of wall. It was then forty years old." This account of 

 the Cumberland Lodge vine I found in some English publica- 

 tion, some years since, but did not minute where, as the 

 memorandum was made for my use, without reference to pub- 

 lication. 



Chaptal says : " I have found, in the notes I have received 

 upon the age and size of the plant, that the frost which in- 

 jured the vines in the department of Doubs, in the autumn of 

 1739, while the grapes were yet on the vines, was of such 

 intensity as to kill a remarkable vine of the White Muscat 

 variety. This vine was exposed to the south, and protected 

 from the cold winds ; it was in the Rvie Poiture, at Bcsan^on. 

 The age of this vine was unknown, but the stem was about 

 six feet in thickness, the branches extended to about forty- 

 six feet high, and spread over a wall more than one hundred 

 and thirty-three feet. The death of this remarkable vine 

 caused a painful sensation through the whole province." — 

 Chaptal, Traite sur la Culture de la Vigne, p. 144. 



