OF THE VINE. 
43 
nal parents both in fize and flavour. Although the black Ham- 
burgh is a thick-flcinn’d grape, with coarfe flefli, yet it has 
many good properties : It is a fine vigorous-growing Vine, 
that will fl:and forcing, and is a very plentiful bearer. The 
bunches too are generally large, and furnilhed with well-fized 
berries, of a tolerable flavour. Thefe again having long foot- 
flalks, do not want much thinnings and, therefore, are not 
liable to decay, as is the cafe with mofl: clofe-growing kinds. 
If this fort were to be coupled either with the white Frontinac 
F 2 or 
“ racens, who, being Mohammedans, were not permitted the ufe of wine, 
“ and, confequently, would entirely negledt the management and culture of 
“ the Vine. 
“ But though the Mohammedans of Syria did not propagate the Vine, nor drank 
“ any wine but by ftealth and trefpafs, yet there were always fome Chrifti- 
“ ans mixed amongft them, who took care to cultivate the tree for their own 
“ ufe, though they made not its juice an article of merchandize or of ex- 
“ portation ; and their clufters of grapes were often, no doubt, of the very 
“ largeft fize and dimenfions. This may be inferred from what we find in 
“ Huetius, ‘ that Crete, Chios, and other Iflands in the Archipelago, afford 
“ bunches of grapes of lo pounds weight ; fometimes of 36, yea of 40 
“ pounds i’ far exceeding the Duke of Portland’s bunch. 
“ But flill it is a moft extraordinary Phaenomenon in this country, that a Vine, 
“ though of the Syrian kind, fhould, by care and judgment, and proper cul- 
“ tivation, be made to produce a duller of ig pounds and an half; and it 
“ redounds much to the honour both of his Grace and Mr. Spcechly, whofe 
“ admirable fkill in his profefllon is otherwife fo well known to the public.” 
IVhiitington^ Oci. 10, 1781. 
SAMUEL PEGGE. 
