O F T H E V I N E. 85 
Vine, and more particularly when it is under glalTes. The 
iituatlon of Vines, trained In pine-floves, may be confidered 
exadlly In a fimilar flate with Vines growing in very hot cli- 
mates. Near the tropics, for inftance, we are told that at the 
Madeiras they do not attempt to plant vineyards, even where 
both foil and fituation are the moft defirable, without a com- 
mand of water", the Vines there requiring a conftant fupply 
of 
'■ “ The great produce of Madeira is the wine, from which it has required fame 
and fupport. Where the foil, expofure, and fupply of water will admit of it, the 
Vine is cultivated. The ihclofures of the vineyards confift of walls, and hedges of 
prickly pear, pomegranates, myrtles, brambles, and wild rofes. W alks of about 
five or fix feet wide interfedf each vineyard, and are included by ftone walls two feet 
high. Along thefe walks, which are arched over with laths about feven feet high, 
they eredl wooden pillars at regular diftances, to fupport a lattice-work of bamboos, 
(a fort of cane) which Hopes down from both fides of the walk, till it is only a foot 
and a half or two feet high, in which elevation it extends over the whole vineyard. 
The Vines are, in this manner, fupported from the ground, and the people have 
room to root out the weeds which fprlng up between them. In the feafon of the 
vintage they creep under this lattice-work, cut off the grapes, and put them into 
bafkets : Some bunches of thefe grapes I faw, which w'eighed fix pounds and up- 
wards. This method of keeping the ground clean and and ripening the 
grapes in the fhade, contributes to give the Madeira wines that excellent flavour and 
body for which they are remarkable. 
“ The water is condudlcd by wears and channels into the vineyards, where each 
proprietor has the ufc of it for a certain time’, fome being allowed to keep a con- 
ftant fupply of it, fome to ufe it thrice, others twice, and others only once a week. 
As the heat of the climate renders this fupply of water to the vineyards abfolutely 
neceflary, it is not without great expence that a new vineyard can be planted ; for 
the maintenance of which, the owners mufl: purchafe water at a high price.” 
Forjler s account of Cook's voyage^ vol. i. page 23. 
A 
