138 MT VINETAED. 



Many ancient naturalists, as well as modern travelers, 

 agree in their accounts of the immense size and 'great age 

 which the vine attains in Eastern-countries. Pliny gives 

 an account of a vine six hundred years old. Miller, in his 

 work on the vines of Italy, says that they are considered 

 young at a hundred, and. that many have been in cultiva- 

 tion upwards of a hundred y«|irs. With us the vine does ' 

 not seem to attain so great a size as in Oriental countries. 

 It has, however, been observed of large proportions in the 

 rich alluvial soil of the Ohio Valley, several having been 

 measured which were three feet in circumference at the 

 base of the stem, with branches two hundred feet long, 

 encircling and festooning the' tops of huge poplars and 

 sycamores. An account has recently been given of a vine 

 in' California which has a trunk ten feet in circumference. 

 It is stated to have had seven thousand bunches of grapes 

 upon it at one time, the estimated yield of fruit being 

 eighteen thousand pounds. 



The grape attains its greatest perfection and complete 

 lusciousness in Syria and Persia, and upon the declivities 

 of the Himalaya and Caucasus mountains. It was in this 

 region, in the beautiM Garden of Eden, where Adam and 

 Eve first pruned the vine, and were doubtless 



* * * "bold 



To lop the disobedient boughs that strayed 

 Beyond their rank." • 



