280 



THE GRAPE CULTUEIST. 



was two thousand years ago, and the same implements 

 are used in cultivation, and the vines are trained (or not 

 trained) in the same manner as they were in the days of 

 Cato, Varro, and Columella. Wherever we find that vine- 

 culture has not advanced, we also find- other departments 

 of industry in an equally backward condition. 



The following engravings I have copied from an old 

 work, to show the manner in which the vine is grown in 



Fig. 110. 



the Venetian provinces and Lombardy, as they are often 

 refeffred to as proof that systematic modes of training are 

 unnecessary. This mode of growing vines has probably 



Fig. 111. 



been in use in these countries for the last three thousand 

 years without a single improvement. Wine is made from 

 the grapes, but it is only celebrated for its inferior qual- 



