364 Prof. Schouw on the Geographical Distribution of the Vine . 
in Van Dieman’s Land, they certainly do not go beyond the 
40th degree of south latitude. 
The vine, therefore, occupies two belts on the earth’s surface, 
both in the warmer regions of the temperate zones ; its distri- 
bution in these, however, is by no means universal, but from 
deficiency of cultivation in different countries, from the cus- 
toms, manner of life, and civilization of the people, and other 
causes, is subject to many interruptions. The elevation above the 
level of the sea occasions also gaps, and, in this respect, De Can- 
dolle * * * § determines the highest limit in 45° of latitude, at 2460 
feet ; according to W ahlenberg -f-, it amounts, in the north of 
Switzerland, to not more than 1700, and in Hungary only to 
900 J. According to my own observations, 2000 may be assu- 
med for the southern declivity of the Alpine range ; for the 
Apennines and Sicily at the utmost 3000 feet. On Teneriffe, ac- 
cording to Von Buch §, the vine does not ascend above 2500. It 
is wanting in the high lands of tropical America ; and, with re- 
spect to the particular spots within the tropics where it occurs 
insulated, the heights have not been accurately ascertained. 
Do we, on the other hand, wish to ascertain those parts of the 
earth’s surface, where the produce of the vine, as well in re- 
spect of quantity as quality, attains its maximum, then we have 
only to look to the south of Europe, and western parts of Asia. 
Other causes, however, certainly contribute to this besides cli- 
mate ; especially that these regions have always been the prin- 
cipal seat of refinement, and that the vine is probably a native 
there. 
The degrees of latitude affect also the goodness of the grapes 
and the wine. In northern parts, the wine is more inclined to 
acidity than in the south, which is sufficiently shewn by a compa- 
rison of the Rhenish with the Sicilian or Grecian wines. The 
strength of the wines also increases as we approach the Tropics. 
In confirmation of which, Madeira, for instance, is stronger than 
that of the north. In this respect, however, the latter improves 
as it gets old. We have farther to remark, that particular lo- 
calities seem to exercise a decided influence. Thus, the various 
* Memoir es d' Arcueil , t. v. p. 277. 
•f Tentamen de Vegetatione et Climate in Helvetia Septentrionali, 1813 
X Flora Carpathorum , p. Ixvii. et 396- 
§ Allgemcine Ubcrsicht, p> 10, 
