STATURE OF THE VINE. 



187 



duced most abundant crops, and of large and well- 

 perfected bunches. 



At Valentine, near Ilford, in Essex, the seat of 

 the late Sir Charles Raymond, Bart., there is a Vine 

 now growing, whose branches extend and furnish 

 the entire roof of a Pine-stove, which is seventy- 

 feet long by eighteen feet broad. And moreover, 

 some of the branches are trained downwards, and 

 also cover great part of the back wall of the said 

 building. The Vine, which is the Black Ham- 

 burgh, was planted in the year 1758, and grows 

 entirely in the inside of the stove. The girth of 

 the main stem, at two feet from the ground, is 

 about thirteen inches. 



The gardener informed me, that for some years 

 past he, upon an average, has made about one 

 hundred pounds per ann. of the produce of this 

 tree. But at the time I saw it in the year 1788 

 (and just before the grapes were ripe), the crop 

 was so very moderate, that had the whole been 

 sold at the high price of five shillings per lb. it 

 could not possibly have made a sum equal to half 

 that amount. The bunches, however,. in general 

 were singularly fine, and composed of large and 

 well-swelled berries. 



This extensive Vine was exceedingly robust, 

 and under a very judicious management. The 

 worthy gardener that planted it has, from that 

 time, had it entirely under his own care. 



My esteemed and learned friend, the Rev. 

 Mr. Philip Lawrents, head-master of the school 



