THE VINE AND CIVILISATION. 43 
‘¢It is as far north as Coblentz that the soil first becomes 
particularly well adapted to the cultivation of the vine. The 
right bank descending is most noted for its wines, but the vine- 
yards in many parts cover both banks. The Rhinegau is a 
district about fifteen miles in extent, and here the most cele- 
brated wines of Germany are grown, including the far famed 
Hochheimer. ‘The true Hochheimer is grown to the eastward 
of Mentz, at Hochheim, between that place and Frankfort. 
Each acre contains four thousand plants. The whole produce 
in a tolerable year is twelve large casks, which sell for about 
750 dollars each. It was once the property of General Keller- 
man, and since, of Prince Metternich. 
‘‘ Liebenfrauenmileh is a fine bodied wine grown at Worms, 
and was formerly reported to grow one hundred and fifty 
fuders (40 gallons each), within the territories of the city ; the 
small spot producing the choicest wine had been the garden of 
the convent of the Liebfrau, or beloved Virgin. 
‘‘ The grapes that are preferred for general cultivation are 
the Riessling, a small white species, harsh in taste, but in hot 
seasons furnishing a remarkable good wine, having a fine 
bouquet. This and the Traminer, with the Kleinberger, are 
considered the best for producing the finest wine. The vintage 
does not take place until the grapes are quite ripe, in fact, 
_ until they are soft from perfect maturity, and on the verge of 
change. They are carefully gathered, the bad fruit picked 
out, and with the stalks put aside. The wine of the pressings 
is separated ‘most vom erster druck,’ ‘vom nachdruck.’ The 
most celebrated of these wines are all fermented in casks, and 
then after being repeatedly racked, are suffered to remain for 
years in large fuders (a common fuder is about 250 gallons) 
to acquire perfection by age. The wines mellow best in large 
vessels, hence the celebrated Heidelberg tun, thirty-one feet. 
