,50 CLASS PENTANDRIA. 



the western coast of America, we find in latitude 50'' a similar cli- 

 mate to the 43d degree of latitude on the eastern coast. Thus, the 

 wine-grape may grow in 50° of latitude near the lakes, the Missis- 

 sippi, and Pacific Ocean ; while, in the eastern part of New York 

 and Now England, it would not thrive beyond the 43d degree of lat' 

 "tude. 



We find, on the eastern side of the Atlantic, the region of the wine- 

 grape, including France, and the southern countries of Europe, ex- 

 tending as high as latitude 50°. 



The southern limit of the wine-grape is traced from Raleigh, in the 

 United States, in latitude 35'', to Europe, where it passes between 

 Rome and Florence, in latitude 44° ; this line is the boundary be- 

 tween the grape region and that of the olive and fig, which require 

 a warmer climate. 



The banks of the Rhine produce excellent grapes, which are 

 brought down the river in great (quantities to the seaports. The fes- 

 tival of the Vintage, or the gathenng of the grapes, which, Uke our 

 Thanksgiving season, is intended as a manifestation of gratitude for 

 the fruits of the earth, was celebrated with much joy by the ancient 

 Romans, and is still observed by the people of Italy ; it occurs with 

 them about the beginning of September ; in France and the south of 

 Germany, it is later. 



The Falernian wine was the most celebrated among the Romans; 

 some of the Latin poets spoke of it oftener than we should expect 

 from those whose intellectual taste might seem to elevate them above 

 any very great attention to the gratification of the external senses. 

 The variety of wines in the days c*" Virgil was so great, that he said 

 jie might as well attempt to count the sand on the shore, or the bil- 

 lows of the ocean in a storm, as to make a catalogue of them. 



The vines of Italy are often trained upon trees, particularly upon 

 the lofty elm. In France, the vine is supported by short saplings, 

 about the length of bean-poles. The appearance exhibited by a lux- 

 uriant vineyard is truly rich and beautiful ; of those of France and 

 Italy, it may well be said, 



" The vine her curling tendrils shoots, 

 Hangs out her clusters, glowing to the south. 

 And scarcelj^ wishes for a warmer sky." 



It is said the Persian vine-dressers conduct the vines up the walls 

 of their vineyards, and curl them over on the other side; this they 

 do, by tying small stones to the extremity of the tendrils. This prac- 

 tice may illustrate a passage in Genesis : " Joseph is a fruitful 

 hough ; even a fruitful bough by a well ; whose branches run over the 

 wall.'''' " The vine, particvilarly in Turkey and Greece, is frequently 

 made to intwine on trellises around a well, where, in the heat of th> 

 day, families collect and sit under their shade." 



In this class and order is the violet, a genus which contains man} 

 native species. The garden-violet is the Viola tri-colour. It has a 

 variety of common names, as pansy, heart's-ease, &c. Pansy is a 

 corruption of the French petisee, a thought ; thus Shakspeare, in the 

 character of Opheha, says: 



" There's rosemary— that's for remembrance ; 



And these are pansies— 

 That's for thought." 



How does the climate of the western coast of America correspond to that of tha 

 eastern coast?— Crossing the Atlantic, where do we find the northern and southern 

 limits 9f the wine-grape1— Vintage— Wines— Vineyards— Illustration of a passage u:« 

 vlenesis— Violet. 



