PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
327 
Odart says that he will not deny that there may exist through¬ 
out the world 700 or 800, perhaps even 1000 varieties; but 
not a third of these have any value.” —Darwin. These are 
the Grapes that are grown in our hothouses; some also of a 
fine quality are produced in favourable years out of doors. 
There are also a few which are grown as ornamental shrubs. 
The Parsley-leaved Vine ( Vitis lacinioso) is one that has been 
grown in England, certainly since the time of Shakespeare, for 
its pretty foliage, its fruit being small and few; but it makes a 
pretty covering to a wall or trellis. The small Variegated Vine 
(Vitis or Cissus heterophyllus variegatus) is another very pretty 
Vine, forming a small bush that may be either trained to a wall 
or grown as a low rockwork bush; it bears a few Grapes of no 
value, and is perfectly hardy. Besides these there are several 
North American species, which have handsome foliage, and 
are very hardy, of which the Vitis riparia or Vigne des Battures 
is a desirable tree, as “ the flowers have an exquisitely fine 
smell, somewhat resembling that of Mignonette.”— Don. I 
mention this particularly, because in all the old authors great 
stress is laid on the sweetness of the Vine in all its parts, a 
point of excellence in it which is now generally overlooked. 
Bacon reckons “ Vine flowers ” among the “ things of beauty 
in season” in May and June, and reckons among the most 
sweet-scented flowers, next to Musk Roses and Strawberry 
leaves dying, “ the flower of the Vines; it is a little dust, like 
the dust of a bent, which grows among the cluster in the first 
coming forth.” And Chaucer says : “ Scorners faren like the 
foule toode, that may noughte endure the soote smel of the 
Vine roote when it flourisheth.”— The Persones Tale. 
Nor must we dismiss the Vine without a few words respect¬ 
ing its sacred associations, for it is very much owing to these 
associations that it has been so endeared to our forefathers and 
ourselves. Having its native home in the East, it enters largely 
into the history and imagery of the Bible. There is no plant 
so often mentioned in the Bible, and always with honour, till 
the honour culminates in the great similitude, in which our 
Lord chose the Vine as the one only plant to which He con- 
