THE VINE AND CIVILISATION. 53 
same pains taken as in France, very superior wines would be 
the result, since the climate is matchless. 
‘* Some of the best wines of Italy are found in the vicinity 
of Naples, the soil there being voleanic, and eminently adapted 
to the vine. The Lachryma Christi (Christ’s Tears) is an ex- 
tremely rich variety, of a red colour, and exquisite flavour, 
and is said by some to be the Falernian of Horace. It was of 
the Lachryma that a Dutchman exclaimed: ‘‘ O Christ, why 
didst thou not weep in my country! ”’ 
‘* Redi wrote his Bacco in Toscano, and sang: 
«The ruby dew that stills 
U al d’Arno’s hills, 
Touching the sense with odour so divine, 
That not the violet, : 
It’s lips with morning wet, 
Utters such sweetness from her shrine.’ 
‘*The luxurious vines of Tuscany produce wines made in 
some places with considerable care. Without any excess, all 
classes in Tuscany enjoy their wine, fancying it makes good 
blood. 
***Tl buon vino fa buon sangue.’ 
‘* Various districts of Italy have their wines, of more or less 
repute for home consumption, but for some reason or other 
they will not keep for exportation. The red wine of Chianti, 
the wines of Marina, Carmignano, Ponciano and others, are 
several of them excellent.”’ 
Chianti wine has recently been imported to St. Louis; it 
comes in flasks of about a quart, slightly corked, with a little 
fine olive oil put into the neck, which keeps the wine effectu- 
ally from the air, as was the custom in ancient times. The 
Chianti is fine, mild and pleasant to drink, still there is a risk 
in keeping it any length of time in the climate of Missouri. 
