326 PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
have been a capricious and uncertain crop. Hakluyt was one 
who was very anxious that England should supply herself with 
all the necessaries of life without dependence on foreign 
countries, yet, writing in Shakespeare’s time, he says: “ It is 
sayd that since we traded to Zante, that the plant that beareth 
the Coren is also broughte into this realme from thence, and 
although it bring not fruit to perfection, yet it may serve for 
pleasure, and for some use, like as our Vines doe which we 
cannot well spare, although the climat so colde will not permit 
us to have good wines of them” (“Voiages, &c.,” vol. ii. p. 166). 
Parkinson says to the same effect: “ Many have adventured to 
make Vineyards in England, not only in these later days but in 
ancient times, as may well witness the sundry places in this 
land, entituled by the name of Vineyards, and I have read 
that many monasteries in this kingdom having Vineyards had 
as much wine made therefrom as sufficed their convents year 
by year, but long since they have been destroyed, and the 
knowledge how to order a Vineyard is also utterly perished with 
them. For although divers both nobles and gentlemen have 
in these later times endeavoured to plant and make Vineyards, 
and to that purpose have caused Frenchmen, being skilfull in 
keeping and dressing Vines, to be brought over to perform it, 
yet either their skill faileth them or their Vines were not good, 
or (the most likely) the soil was not fitting, for they could never 
make any wine that was worth the drinking, being so small and 
heartlesse, that they soon gave over their practise.” 
There is no need to say anything of the modern culture of 
the Vine, or its many excellent varieties. Even in Virgil’s time 
the varieties cultivated were so many that he said— 
(l Sed neque quam multae species, nec nomina quse sint 
Est nurnerus; neque enim numero comprendere refert ; 
Quem qui scire velit, Lybici velit sequoris idem 
Discere quam multce Zephyro turbentur arense; 
Aut ubi navigiis violentior incidit Eurus 
Nosse quot Ionii veniant ad littora fluctus.”— Georgica, ii. 103. 
And now the number must far exceed those of Virgil’s time. 
“ The cultivated varieties are extremely numerous; Count 
