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Generally speaking, however, we find its culture dis¬ 
regarded, except as an article of luxury in our stoves, 
or blended with woodbine and other climbing plants as 
an ornament to our houses and cottages. Milton gives 
us a beautiful sketch of it in this position: — 
To hear the lark begin his flight. 
And singing startle the dull night. 
From his watch-tower in the skies, 
Till the dappled morn arise : 
Then to come in spite of sorrow. 
And at my window bid good-morrow 
Through the sweet-brier, or the vine, 
Or the twisted eglantine.” 
No plant, perhaps, has so much classical fame as the 
vine. It has been the favourite theme of poetry in all 
ages and in all countries. We select the following from 
Homer’s multitudinous store: — 
“ Depending vines the shelving caverns screen, 
With purple clusters blushing through the green." 
And from Virgil: — 
“ For now the year in brightest glory shines, 
Now reddening clusters deck the bending vines. 
