132 THE CULTURE OF THE GKAPE. 



At the entrance to Spae's Garden, Ghent, " is situated 

 an uncommonly large vine, the stem, a little above the 

 ground, measuring one foot nine inches in circumference. 

 We were assured that it is more than a hundred years 

 old, and, from its appearance, we could easily believe 

 that it may have seen even two centuries." — Hort. Tour., 

 EdinlurgTi, 1823. 



At Antwerp, "our attention was attracted by a very 

 large and ancient vine, apparently of the variety called 

 the Frankendale, planted in the centre of a front wall of 

 a large house, which it now covers. The pavement of 

 the street reaches close up to the stem, which is secured 

 from being injured by carts, &c. by means of a woodei. 

 box. 



" At the height of between two and three feet from 

 the ground, a branch had originally been trained, hori 

 zontally to each side, the whole extent of the house, or 

 about thirty feet in each direction. From these horizon- 

 tal branches, which are now very thick and resemble 

 trunks, many upright branches arise, which are trained 

 vertically even to the eaves of the roof, or between thirty 

 and forty feet high. Yery few bunches of fruit were to 

 be discovered, and it was evident that the vine was not 

 judiciously pruned." — Hort. Tour., c&c. 



Botanic Garden, Amsterdam. — " In front of the green- 

 house grows a large vine, about eighty years old, and 

 which spreads over the roof. It is of the Frankenthal 

 kind, and) by much the largest tree of this variety which 

 we have seen, the stem being two feet two inches in cir- 

 cumference at three feet from the ground." — Hort. Tour., 

 &c. 



