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Art. XXL— -Om the Geographical Distribution of the Vine ? 
(Vitis vinifera.) By Professor Schouw *. 
rwi 
J HE circumstances of a local nature affecting a plant which 
supplies an important article of nourishment to the inhabitants 
of the earth, and the cultivation of which affords employment to 
a great number of individuals, cannot fail to be interesting, not 
merely to the student of botany and geography, but to the eco- 
nomist, the philosopher, and the statesman. As an example of 
the local relations of a cultivated plant, the vine has here been 
selected. 
Since a detailed account of the distribution of this plant would 
here exceed our limits, the reader is referred to the works which 
treat of its cultivation. 
The vine does not appear to have a decided preference for 
any kind of soil in particular. It may be said, however, in ge- 
neral, to succeed better in a dry than in a moist situation. With 
regard to the management, as is well known, different modes 
have been adopted ; the plant at one time resting on the ground, 
at another being fastened to stakes, or finding support from 
other natural objects, such as the mulberry or the elm. 
The difficulties which present themselves in ascertaining the 
* The geographical and physical distribution of plants, since the publication of 
Stromeyer’s early essay, has continued to occupy the attention of naturalists, and 
the works of Brown, Humboldt, De Candolle, Buch, Wahlenberg, Sec. are proofs 
of the interest it has excited amongst the most distinguished botanists of our time. 
Schouw of Copenhagen, an experienced observer, has, for several years, devoted 
liis attention to this important subject. In 1816, he published a curious essay, 
entitled, 46 Dissertatio de Sedibus Originariis Plantarum and an Essay on the 
Geography of Plants, by the same author, appeared in Sprengel’s u Neue Endeck- 
ungen for 1821.” In 1823, appeared his large work u On the Geography of Plants 
accompanied with a folio atlas, in which the distribution of plants over the globe 
is expressed by means of colours. We have read this interesting work with much 
satisfaction, and have no doubt that our readers will peruse with pleasure such 
extracts from it as bear on the popular and philosophical parts of this beautiful de- 
partment of botany. In the present number we have extracted the account of the 
distribution of the Vine ; but the coloured map representing the geographical dis- 
tribution of this plant, could not be got ready in time. In the following numbers, 
we shall continue to present our readers with further extracts, and, when necessary, 
accompany them with notes.=-~Er>iic 
