54 



ON THE MANAGEMENT 



all likelihood the offspring would only produce 

 bunches much less ponderous. But the white 

 Muscat of Alexandria having larger berries and 

 longer foot-stalks, there would be a probability of 

 producing a kind between this and the Syrian 

 Grape that would exceed the original parents both 

 in size and flavour, Although the black Hamburgh 

 is a thick-skinned grape, with coarse flesh, yet it 

 has many good properties : it is a fine vigorous- 



fi We should probably have heard more of the enormous 

 clusters of grapes growing in these Eastern parts, if the country 

 ever since the seventh century, when Abubeker over-ran hv 

 had not been in the hands of the Saracens, who, being Moham- 

 medans, were not permitted the use of wine, and, consequently, 

 would entirely neglect the management and culture of the Vine. 



" But though the Mohammedans of Syria did not propagate the 

 Vine, nor drank any wine but by stealth and trespass, yet there 

 were always some Christians mixed amongst them, who took care 

 to cultivate the tree for their own use, though they made not 

 its juice an article of merchandise or of exportation ; and their 

 clusters of grapes were often, no doubt, of the very largest 

 size and dimensions. This may be inferred from what we find 

 in Huetius, ' that Crete, Chios, and other Islands in the Archi- 

 pelago, afford bunches of grapes of 10 pounds weight ; some 

 times of 36, yea of 40 pounds far exceeding the Duke of 

 Portland's bunch. 



" But still it is a most extraordinary phenomenon in this 

 country, that a Vine, though of the Syrian kind, should by care 

 2nd judgment, and proper cultivation, be made to produce a 

 cluster of 19 pounds and a half ; and it redounds much to the 

 honour, both of his Grace and Mr. Speechly, whose admirable 

 skill in his profession is otherwise so well known to the public. 



" SAMUEL PEGGE ? 



" Whittinglon, Oct. 10. 1781." 



