214 



as imbibe moisture : the tops of the jars must 

 be covered over, and pitched, to keep out the 

 air. 



The process of drying grapes into raisins 

 is usually performed, by tying two or three 

 bunches together before they are cut from 

 the vine, and dipping them into a hot lixi- 

 vium of wood ashes, with a little olive oil in 

 it : they then shrivel, and partly dry ; and in 

 a few days they are cut from the vine, and 

 dried in the sun. We procure the finest 

 raisins from Damascus. Sun raisins are 

 brought from Spain, and are so called to 

 distinguish them from those that are scalded, 

 or dried, in ovens. Large quantities are also 

 imported from Malaga, Calabria, Muscadine, 

 Smyrna, &c. 



The vinous latitude is said to extend 

 between the 25th and 51st degree in the 

 northern hemisphere. 



It has been observed, that all the vine- 

 yards in Germany, beyond the 51st degree, 

 are dubious. This leaves the southern coast 

 of England within the latitude for vines; 

 and 1 have often been surprised that the 

 culture of them should have been so little 

 attended to, where the shelter of the hills, 

 and the soil, seem to offer so promising a 

 situation. 



