68 CULTIVATION 



probably drank to the health of Nebuchadnezzar 

 when he captured Jerusalem, June 9th, 587 years 

 B. C. The next important event connected with 

 its history, was the succession of Domitian the 

 cruel and rapacious, who ordered its extirpation as 

 well as the extirpation of Christianity, Two hun- 

 dred years after, the wise and valiant Probus 

 restores to Gallia Antiqua, liberty to plant vines. 

 The remembrance of that culture, and of the great 

 advantage procured by it, was not yet all gone from 

 the memory of men; for tradition had kept even 

 the details most necessary in the art of vine-dressing. 

 The vines brought again from Sicily, Greece, the 

 Archipelago, and Africa, became the origin of those 

 innumerable species of grapes that now cover 

 France. It was a charming and grand spectacle 

 to see crowds of men, women and children sponta- 

 neously and eagerly devoting themselves with 

 enthusiasm, to that grand and sublime restoration 

 of liberty to replant vineyards. Effectually, all 

 could take part in it, for the culture has that pecu- 

 liar to itself, that it offers occupation to suit the 

 strength of both sexes of all ages. But let us look 

 at the present condition of the vine in Europe. A 

 few years ago there appeared a disease among the 

 vines of Madeira, which, up to the present time 

 has not ceased to exist, and so extensive have been 

 its ravafi:es, that entire districts have been com- 

 pletely Gripped not only of the grapes, but of the 

 vines themselves. Simultaneously the vines on the 

 Douro were affected ; the grapes of Medoc, in the 



