404 AMPELIDE^:, OR GRAPE TRIBE. 



which these assume in autumn. Some species of these possess 

 astringent properties, in addition to the ordinary acid of their 

 fruit ; and in the Virginian Creeper there is a considerable 

 amount of acid in the leaves, which causes them, when bruised 

 and applied to the skin, to raise blisters. Hence, these plants 

 have been used medicinally in some countries; but not with 

 any peculiar advantage. 



569. Few plants have been more cherished, and more vitu- 

 perated, than the Vine. It must be confessed that, if mankind 

 could abstain frcm the abuse of its products, there is no tree 

 that affords more acceptable or refreshing fruit ; but the abuse 

 has been so prevalent wherever the use has extended, and its 

 consequences have been so pernicious, that it may be questioned 

 whether the evil dispositions of Man have not turned that to a 

 curse, which the Bountiful Creator certainly intended as a bless- 

 ing. The cultivation of the common vine, which is not native 

 to Europe, but which now grows wild near the coasts of the 

 Caspian Sea, in Armenia, &c., and which probably extended, at 

 an early period of the history of Man, over all parts of the earth 

 then tenanted by him, may be traced to a very high antiquity. 

 Its growth, and the preparation of wine from it, were probably 

 branches of antediluvian history ; for we read that, immediately 

 after the Deluge, Noah planted a vineyard, and drank of the 

 wine, even to intoxication ; so that the sin of habitual drunken- 

 ness is likely to have been one of those, which led to that signal 

 manifestation of the Divine displeasure. From Egyptian tra- 

 dition, the culture of the vine appears to have been practised in 

 that country, at the earliest period of its settlement. It was 

 gradually spread, with the progress of civilisation and of inter- 

 course between nations, from its native habitation in Central 

 Asia, to Greece, Sicily, and Italy; and thence to Portugal, 

 Spain, and France. Its introduction into Britain seems to have 

 been due to the Romans ; but the average temperature of this 

 country is too low for its successful cultivation in the open air. 

 With the assistance of artificial heat, however, aided by rich 

 manure, and trained by horticultural skill, the vines grown in 

 this country have surpassed ail others in the size and luscious- 



