OP THE VINE. 67 



A blast or mildew attacks the fruit soon after it 

 begins to form, and increasing with its growth, 

 extends to the leaves, and soon covers the whole 

 vine, which speedily dies* The United States con- 

 sul for Portugal, Mr. Pike, writes to Mr. Marcy, 

 Secretary of State, January 7th, 1854. "I have 

 seen whole vineyards near Oporto in this condi- 

 tion, having the appearance of being dried by a 

 scorching sun. Many of the farmers in the vicinity 

 who made from twenty to thirty pipes of wine in 

 former years, have not been able to produce more 

 than five pipes the last vintage, and then by care- 

 fully picking the fruit. I have discovered the 

 fungus on the fairest and best fruit, which has been 

 carefully selected by myself for examination. 

 Many cases have come under my observation, of 

 sickness at the stomach and vomiting, after eating 

 the fruit that is diseased. Brandies and wines 

 have advanced in price one hundred per cent, and 

 are still advancing. As wine and oil are the princi- 

 pal products of this country, the consequences of a 

 failure of them will be a great calamity." 



An intelligent writer before quoted remarks : 

 " There is not an indigenous grape in Europe. 

 The stock is of Asiatic origin, and both history and 

 fable unite in attributing it to the Orient. The 

 Phoenicians introduced its culture on the islands of 

 the Archipelago, in Greece, in Sicily; lastly in Italy 

 and in the territories of Marseilles. Thence it 

 extended over the whole south of France, and the 

 Johnny Crapeaus had their claret and olives; and 



