AMPELIDEjE, OR GRAPE TRIBE. 405 



ness of their fruit. It has &ot been found generally worth 

 while, however, to make wine from the juice of British grapes ; 

 since those produced in hot-houses are by far too valuable for 

 such a purpose ; and those grown without artificial heat do not 

 contain enough sugar, to enable the fermented liquor to rival 

 that obtained from the vineyards of warmer climates. Some 

 centuries since, however, when foreign wines were less readily 

 obtainable in Britain, large quantities of wine were made in the 

 southern part of our island. Even so late as the year 1763> 

 sixty pipes of wine resembling Burgundy were made from the 

 produce of a vineyard belonging to the Duke of Norfolk, near 

 Arundel Castle on the south coast of Sussex ; and at the present 

 time there are still two or three vineyards near the south coast 

 of Devon, from which wine in small quantities is commonly 

 made. 



570. The culture of the vine as an article of husbandry 

 extends over a zone stretching from about the 21st to the 50th 

 degree of north latitude, and consequently about 2000 miles in 

 breadth ; and reaching in length from the western shores of 

 Portugal to the North of India. The best wines are made about 

 the centre of the zone ; those of the north being harsh and 

 austere ; whilst the juice of the grapes of the south too soon 

 passes into the acid fermentation, so that they are better adapted 

 for being dried as raisins. Hence in Spain and Greece, the vine- 

 yards of the higher grounds produce the best wines ; whilst the 

 grapes produced upon the low hot shores have always to be dried. 

 On the other hand, in Madeira and the neighbouring islands, in 

 which the near proximity of the sea on every side tends to 

 prevent intense heat, some of the most highly-prized wines are 

 produced, although they are much nearer the southern border of 

 the zone. " A vineyard, associated as it is with all our ideas of 

 beauty and plenty, is in general a disappointing object. The 

 hop plantations of our own country are far more picturesque. In 

 France, the vines are trained upon poles, seldom more than three 

 or four feet in height. In Spain, poles for supporting the vines 

 are not used ; but cuttings are planted, which are not permitted 

 to grow very high, but gradually form thick and stout stocks. 



