196 AGRICULTUKE OX THE KHIKE. 



present perhaps involving a pun upon the name, which 

 in German signifies Butler. In 1813 the castle was 

 taken possession of by Austrian soldiers, and was pre- 

 sented to its present owner, Prince Metternich, by the 

 late Emperor Francis. 



Adjacent to the castle stands the seat of M. Mumm, 

 an extensive wine-merchant of Mayence, who owns an 

 excellent vineyard on a rise behind the hill we have de- 

 scribed, and all around the slopes are covered with vines 

 that arrogate the name of the celebrated site, and the 

 product of M'hich, if treated with the same care, might 

 easily be raised to a high value. That this care is not 

 bestowed may furnish matter for a few observations in 

 passing rapidly by excellent sites at Winkel, Orstrich, 

 and, farther back in the bosom of the hills, Kiderich and 

 Grafenberg. The produce of all these vineyards sel- 

 dom meets the public under the real name, but is chris- 

 tened after the more select growths by wine-merchants 

 who are bound to follow their customers' whims, and 

 to furnish them with an excuse for decorating their 

 tables with the names at least of wines that never find 

 their way there. Why sufficient outlay is not bestowed 

 upon the adjacent growths to raise the whole value of 

 the Rhinegau to the value of which it is capable, seems 

 easily accounted for. The prices we have quoted show 

 that on the most favourite sites the choice \^ ine that can 

 be made is very dear. The market is consequently very 

 limited ; and by the increasing difficult}' annually ex- 

 perienced in all European lands of providing subsistence 

 for an increasing population, bids fair, without exchange 

 in our present systems, daily to diminish. Such wine is 

 a luxury that, until necessaries are superabundantly ap- 



