AGKICULTURE ON THE RHIKE. 197 



plied, cannot be indulged in ; and until bread and cheese 

 cheapen and become more accessible than at present, the 

 fine sites of the Rhinegau, that cannot meet the treatment 

 they deserve, must lie neglected. 



At Erbach, where also choice wine is grown, the road 

 once more branches off to the left, and continues as- 

 cending for more than a mile and a half until the traveller 

 reaches the border of the forest-covering that tops the 

 Taunus, here at its greatest distance from the Rhine. 

 A narrow glen, like a cleft in the hill, leads him to the 

 ancient Abbey of Eberbach, in former times one of the 

 most important clerical foundations of Germany. Since 

 its confiscation the building has been made to serve as a 

 house of correction. But a very large edifice is now 

 erecting in the vicinity to supply its place. The Abbots 

 of Eberbach were prouder of nothing amongst their ex- 

 tensive possessions than of the " Steinberg" vineyard, 

 which may be called the diamond of the Rhinegau, if the 

 Johannisberg be entitled its pearl. This vineyard lies 

 at the greatest elevation of all in the district, being up- 

 wards of 200 feet above the level of the Rhine, whereas 

 the Johannisberg castle stands 150 feet above the river. 

 The whole vineyard comprises 100 morgens, of which 

 80 are under cultivation, and is surrounded with a stone 

 wall 12 feet high, which renders it conspicuous from the 

 Rhine, although at a distance of two miles from the 

 river. The vineyard has varioue slopes, however, that 

 are only perceptible on entering it. That which has 

 the most southern aspect is named the " golden cup," 

 another is called the " Rosegarden ;" then come the 

 *' Friedrichshohe " and the " Pflanzer." The last-named 

 slope furnished, in 1819, the celebrated pipe of wine 



