No. 129.] 459 



The metallurgy of the circle of Dusseldorf is remarkable. Its 

 workshops work up in one year fifteen million pounds of steel 

 and twenty-four million pounds of iron. They make 500,000 

 swords, sabres, rapiers and bayonets; 600,000 dozen of knives 

 and forks, and almost as many scissors. The blades of Soliugen 

 were already renowned during the crusade and the middle ages. 



The manufactures of linen and woolen cloths are very exten- 

 sive. The wines are well mentioned. The Rhingau is one of 

 the most fertile, smiling, and beautiful spots in the world. This 

 delicious garden is justly called the paradise of Germany. It is 

 so protected from the north winds, that its climate is like that of 

 Italy or Spain, has a rich and powerful vegetation. The vines 

 grow from the valleys up the sides of the mountains — numerous 

 forests of fruit trees — population full of animation. The wines 

 of this happy region are celebrated. The Johannisberg flatters 

 at once the eye, the smell, and the taste: the eye, by its fine, 

 golden, yellow color, and by the pearls which mount through it; 

 the smell, by its delicious bouquet, Avhich causes you to drink it 

 slowly ; and what a delicious taste ! The vintage of the moun- 

 tain Johannisberg is fifteen days later than in any other part of 

 the Rhingau. The first quality of the Johannisberg sells there 

 at $2 a bottle, with the exception of the vintages of 1779, 1793, 

 and 1801, which are worth from S5 to $6 a bottle. 



The vineyard producing it, contains about sixty-three acres. 

 It lies under the balcony of the Chateau, which is on the top of 

 the mountain. Out of this vineyard not above two or three acres 

 ever yield what is called there the first quality, the flower of the 

 field. About a league distant from Johannisberg lies Mount 

 Strahlenberg, celebrated for its famous Markebruuner. This 

 wine, which owes its name to a spring which rises from the 

 mountain, vies in strength, taste, and bouquet, with M. de Met- 

 ternich's (the Johannisberg). Around the imposing ruins of the 

 castle of the Scharfenstein, the terror of the old dukes of Mayence, 

 extend noble vineyards, producing one of the most precious 

 wines, most in request, and most delicious (the Graivenberger). 

 Not far off lies the old Abbey of Eberbach, whose monks hardly 

 knew the riches of their place ; their Steinberg wine is now con- 

 sidered to be the best of all the wines of the Rhine, even the 



