BOTANICAL DEKCKIPTIOJS. 



inches : the flowers are produced on the shoots of the same 

 season, which shoots generally proceed from those of the year 

 preceding ; they are of a greenish colour and fragrant odour, 

 are produced in the form of a raceme and expand in June. 

 The berries are of a variety of forms, of various colours, and 

 differing also in flavour, which is poignant, elevated, and 

 grateful. 



The flowers have each a five-toothed calyx, and five almost 

 colourless petals, which are caducous ; five stamens, and a 

 superior ovarium surmounted by a stile and obtuse stigma. 



Each berry should contain naturally five heart-shaped seeds: 

 but many varieties, originating from culture, have but three, 

 others but two, and sometimes one, and there are others which 

 have none. 



The tendrils are opposite to the leaves, and may be con- 

 sidered as abortive clusters, and can be made to produce fruit 

 by destroying the real clusters when they first show themselves, 

 breaking off at the same time the extremity of the shoot on 

 which they grow, so as to cause the sap to flow into them. 



The eye, or bud, is surrounded by three or four scaly 

 coverings, under which, especially on the upper part, there is 

 an adhesive substance of a white or red colour, which protects 

 it from the effect of rains and winter frosts. The fruit in its 

 wild state is black, very small,with large seeds, and without 

 flavour. 



CHAPTER I. 



Early history of the vine its origin and native country 

 Early use of wine among the Romans. 



Various historians have traced the culture of the vine to the 

 earliest periods, and the scriptures bear ample testimony of the 

 high estimation in which it has been held from the first ages 

 of the world. 



In the ninth chapter of Genesis, we read that one of the first 

 acts of Noah, after being saved from the deluge, was to plant a 



