the twelfth century, informs us in his book, “ De Pontificibus,” that the vale of Gloucester used to produce 
as good wine as many of the provinces of France. From the date of the Conquest to the period of the Re- 
formation, vineyards appear to have been attached to all the abbeys and monastic institutions in the southern 
parts of the island. But about the time of the Reformation, when the ecclesiastical gardens were either 
neglected or destroyed, ale, which had been known in England for many centuries, seems to have super- 
seded the use of wine as a general beverage. In the “ Museum Rusticum,” it is stated, that a vineyard was 
planted at Arundel Castle in Sussex, about the middle of the last century ; and that of its produce, there 
are reported to have been in the Duke of Norfolk’s cellars, sixty pipes of wine resembling Burgundy. 
Bradley informs us, that R. Warner, a gentleman of Rotherhithe, made good wine from his own vineyards, 
and Barry, in his “ History of Wines,” gives an account of one formed by the Hon. Charles Hamilton at 
Pain’s Hill, in Miller’s time, which succeeded for many years, and produced excellent champagne. Although 
there can be no doubt, as Professor Martyn observes, that vineyards would succeed in the southern and 
western parts of England in proper soils, and produce wine equal to much that is imported from abroad ; 
yet, in a national point of view, we may conclude with Mr. Loudon, that “ the culture of the vine as a branch 
of rural economy, would not be a profitable concern here, on the broad general principle, that it cannot be 
worth while to grow any thing at home, which we can get cheaper from abroad.” 
The vine grew plentifully in Palestine, and was particularly fine in some parts of its districts ; one of 
which has been thus celebrated : — 
“ In yonder vale, where Eshcol flows along, 
Behold, a mountain rising to the skies ! 
Above it towers the sun — sublimely high ; 
While its bright beams its lofty top makes bare. 
To its steep side the vine, luxuriant cleaves ; 
Tender in shoot ; yet large in leaf, and high. 
Its purple fruit, delicious to the taste, 
Producing wine to cheer the heart of man, 
To heal the sick, and to support the weak — 
To comfort all.” 
The bunch of grapes which was brought by the spies to the camp of Israel astonished the people, and 
we are assured by travellers that in the valley of Eshcol, there were bunches of grapes of ten and twelve 
pounds weight. One of them even states, that he was informed by a person who lived many years in Pa- 
lestine, that there were bunches of grapes in the valley of Hebron so large that two men could scarcely carry 
one. The prediction of the lot of Judah, in the partition of the Promised Land, included abundance of vines, 
so hardy that a colt might be bound to them ; and in some parts of Persia, it was formerly the custom to 
turn the cattle into vineyards after the vintage, to browse on the vines, some of which are so large that a 
man can hardly compass the trunks in his arms. The same custom, too, appears to have prevailed generally 
in Lesser Asia. Galilee would now be a paradise were it inhabited by an industrious people, under an en- 
lightened government. Vine stocks are to be seen here a foot and a half in diameter, forming, by their 
twining branches, vast arches, and extensive ceilings of verdure ; “ A cluster of grapes, two or three feet in 
length, will give,” says Schutze, “ an abundant supper to a whole family.” In France, the vines are trained 
on poles, seldom more than three or four feet high; in Spain, poles are not used, but cuttings are planted, 
which, not being permitted to grow very tall, gradually form thick stout stocks ; in Switzerland and the 
German provinces, the vineyards are as uninteresting as those of France ; but in Italy, the vine surrounds 
the stone cottage with its girdle, flings its plant and luxuriant branches over the rustic veranda, or turns 
its long garland from tree to tree. In Greece, the shoots of the vine are either trained upon trees, or sup- 
ported, so as to display all their luxuriance. In Persia, they cause their vines to run up a wall, and curl 
over on the top ; and, in some parts of the east, the stairs leading to the upper apartments of the harem 
are commonly covered with vines ; a lattice work of wood is often raised against the dead walls, for a vine 
or other shrubs to crawl upon ; and not unfrequently appears “ the fruitful bough by a well,” for a vine may 
be seen covering the trellis work surrounding it, and inviting the owner and his family to gather beneath its 
shade. 
The varieties of the vine are exceedingly numerous ; the lists of some of our nurserymen at the present 
day containing more than 250 names. 
The age to which the vine will attain, is supposed to equal or even surpass that of the oak; it spreads 
also to a great extent, and when supported, rises to a considerable height. Pliny speaks of a vine which had 
existed six hundred years ; and Bose says, there are vines in Burgundy upwards of four hundred years of 
