194 



the vineyards in some parts of Italy hold good 

 above three hundred years. 



It is related, that Rhemnius Palaemon, 

 who was a renowned Roman grammarian, 

 bought a farm within ten miles of Rome, 

 for which he gave 600,000 sesterces. By cul- 

 tivation he so improved it, that the produce 

 of his vines in one year sold for 400,000 ses- 

 terces. Pliny says, " many people ran to see 

 the huge and mighty clusters of these grapes, 

 which his idle neighbours attributed to his 

 deep learning, while others accused him of 

 using magic and the black art/' 



We have, at the present time, some re- 

 markable vines in England ; for since the in- 

 troduction of stoves, no country can rival us 

 in the variety and perfection of this fruit, se- 

 veral kinds of which ripen well in the open 

 air. 



The vine, too, here her curling tendrils shoots, 

 Hangs out her clusters, glowing to the south, 

 And scarcely wishes for a warmer sky. 



The Duke of Portland has upwards of 

 a hundred kinds of grape-vines at his seat 

 at Welbeck; and in the year 1781, his grace 

 made a present to the Marquis of Rocking- 

 ham of a bunch of grapes that grew in his 

 vinery, which weighed nineteen pounds and 



