CHAPTER XI. 



THE GRAPE. 



This is one of our most important and most 

 reliable fruits, and being very hardy is specially 

 adapted to garden culture. For the production 

 of grapes of the highest flavor, from which the 

 most costly wines may be obtained, it has been 

 considered necessary to seek the light calcareous 

 or limestone soils of high hills. Tokay wine is 

 the product of the poor, stony, granitic land of 

 the volcanic mountain of the same name. As 

 the descent is to richer soils, the growth of the 

 vine becomes more luxuriant, the fruit is larger 

 and fairer, but the quality is more watery. The 

 sharp slopes on either side of the river Rhine 

 have been famous for their vine products. This 

 soil is loose and gravelly, but has a considerable 

 percentage of clay to give it strength. Sharp 

 bluffs, bordering upon lakes, or flanking rivers, 

 where a uniform humidity is obtained, and the 

 sun pours in its warmth, aie found to be favored 

 localities. Vines trained over high rocks are 



