THE FRUIT GARDEN. 



493 



VINES. 



Vine, Vitis Vinifera, Linnaus, — belongs to the class and order Pentandria Motio- 

 gynia, and ranks in tlie natural order Viticeee. 



The vine is supposed to be a native of Persia, and to have migrated from Persia 

 'nto Egypt, Greece, and Sicily. From the latter country it ic thought that it found 

 ts way into Italy, Spain, and France ; and is supposed to have been there cultivated 

 in the second century. In America they possess their varieties of vines, but they 

 are believed to be varieties of Vitis Vulpina, or Vitis Labrtuca. From the reports that 

 have been received of them, they are not likely to be of much advantage either for 

 the table or the press. It is a native of most of the temperate parts of the world. 

 In very cold regions it will not grow ; and within from 25° to 30° of the equinoctia[ 

 line it seldom succeeds so as to produce good fruit. In the northern hemisphere, 

 the proper vine country, is from 25° to 51° north latitude, or from Schiraz, in 

 Persia, to Coblentz on the Rhine ; but some vineyards are to be met with as far 

 north as Dresden, and in Moravia. The juice of the grape was vvell known to the 

 ancients, and if not to the antediluvian world, it was soon after; for Noah, a short 

 time after the deluge, planted a vineyard, and made wine. Vineyards were abundant 

 and some of them of great magnitude, in the days of the patriarchs ; Solomon had an 

 extensive one at Baalhamon, which he let. The Canaanites, and other nations through 

 which the Israelites passed on their march towards the promised land, had vineyards, 

 as we find mention frequently made of them in the treaties and provisions made by 

 the Israelites for leave to pass through certain countries. Canaan was productive of 

 grapes of an enormous size ; as we find Caleb and Joshua bringing a bunch sup- 

 ported upon men's shoulders, to testify of the fruitfulness of the land. It has in 

 all countries, and in the postdiluvian ages, been a favorite fruit of mankind, not 

 only as a delicacy, but as an article of food. In temperate climates, it was eaten 

 with bread, either fresh from the tree, or dried as raisins ; and in these countries, 

 from the fermented juice, wine was made, which is supposed to be of all other 

 liquors the most stimulating for the stomach and exhilarating for the spirits of man. 

 The medical properties of the vine are numerous ; but whether it has been produc- 

 tive of most good or most harm to man, will for ever remain one of those mysteries 

 which the reasoning of man can never solve. The vine is very rich in its products. 

 The celebrated Hampton Court Hamburg, has been known in one year to produce 

 2,200 bunches, of nearly a pound each, making in all nearly a ton weight, and is 

 above a hundred years old, and covers a space of above 116 square yards ; 

 another at Valentine's, in Essex, covers 147 square yards, and has produced 

 a weight of fruit nearly equal to that at Hampton Court. There is one of the 

 same variety as that first mentioned in our catalogue, in the royal gardens at 

 Cumberland Lodge, of nearly the same dimensions, and produces crops equally 

 abundant. The durability of the timber is great, and instances have occurred of 

 the stem acquiring a size sufficient to admit of planks being cut out of them fifteen 

 inches broad ; and one lately dead in Yorkshire, measured four feet in circum- 

 ference. The branches also grow both rapidly, and extend to a great distance from 

 the stem. In the hedges in Italy, and other wine countries, they overtop the 

 highest growing trees. The fruit, under good management, acquires a great size 

 and weight; bunches of the Syrian, one of our largest grapes, have been grown in 

 this country, weighing nearly twenty pounds ; and the same variety in Syri.i has 



