42 THE VINE AND CIVILISATION. 
he cultivates his vines, let the grave burgher of Treves drink 
his wine of Augenscheimer, his Schamat, and of his Pitcher, 
out of his green glasses to four score years of age, provided 
he will allow the foreigner to share a little of his golden vint- 
age. From Bonn to Coblentz, and from the latter city to 
Mayence, the country is covered with vineyards. The Johan- 
nesberger of father ‘ Rhine,’ the Gruenhauser, or the Braune- 
berger of the Mozelle, and the Hockheimer of the Maine, each 
distinguish and hallow their respective rivers in the eyes of 
the connoisseur of wine. 
‘¢ Whoever has visited the noble Rhine must have been sen- 
sible of the beauty of its vineyards, covering steep and shore, 
interspersed with the most romantic views, towns ancient and 
venerable, smiling villages, and the rapid, broad German 
river, reflecting the rich scenery of its banks. Nowhere is 
the fondness for vine cultivation more evident in every grade 
and class of farmer, than in German wine districts. The 
humblest peasant has his square yard of vineyard; every ac- 
cessible spot on the declivities with an auspicious aspect, is 
decorated with the favourite plant. From Mentz, even to 
Bonn, the vineyards of the Rhine are observed to greater ad- 
vantage than any similar cultivation in other countries. Erbach 
enthroned on its vines; the Rhinegau, the Johannesberg on a 
erescent hill of red soil, adorned with cheering vegetation, 
every cranny cultivated that will carry a vine; Mittelheim, 
Geisenheim and Rudesheim, the last with its fine wine of strong 
body, the grapes of which bask on their promontory of rock 
in the summer sun, and imbibe its generous heat from dawn to 
setting; then again on the other side, Bingen, delightful, 
sober, majestic, with its terraces of vines, topped by the 
Chateau of Klopp. Landscapes of greater beauty, joined to the 
luxuriance of fruitful vine culture, can nowhere be seen. 
