Early Origin & Description of the Vine.

HE invention of wine, like the origin of

many other important arts, is enveloped in

the obscurity of the remotest ages of the

world; but in the history of ancient nations

it has been commonly ascribed to those

chiefs and heroes who contributed most to

advance and civilize their respective coun-

tries, and to whom divine honours were often

rendered in acknowledgment of the bene-

fits which they had conferred on mankind.

Without dwelling on the fabulous tradi-

tions handed down on the subject, it may be

sufficient to observe, that the use of wine

could not have remained long unknown

to those portions of the globe where the

vine freely grows. Bacchus, the son of Jupiter and

Semele, after his training by the Nysæan nymphs at their

mountain dwelling in Arabia, or as others suppose on the

banks of the Indus, is said to have traversed nearly the

B

Produce Payneham - Fairford - Clarendon Hazlehurst - Wattle-
ville Drying-ground-Approved Species- Character and Quality of na-
tive Growths - Progress in Australia Felix (Victoria) - Flemington-
Gardiner's Creek - Longfield - South Yarra - Brighton

-

SECTION XVI.

PAGE 285

The wild Vines of Ohio - Early Culture in Philadelphia Success
of Swiss Settlers - Extended Planting - Mexico; early Introduction
of the Vine 1 Cuba - American Champagne - South America - Vine-
grounds of Mendoza - Destructive Earthquake-Its calamitous Inci-
dents-Grapes of Peru and Chili- Their rich Flavour - Beauty of
the Clusters-American Blight.

ON THE CHOICE AND PRESERVATION OF WINE.

Pure Wine grateful and invigorating- Correct Judgment a rare
Faculty Taste a true Criterion - Inherent Difficulties of Selection
- Explanation of distinctive Terms - Influence of Fashion - Purity
indispensable - Blending, when admissible - Power of vinous En-
durance Selection of Wines and Management of the Dinner-table-
Vinous Preservation and Maturity - Vintage Characteristics - Cellar
Management Bottled Wines - Sensitive Nature of Wine - Preserva-
tive Rules Chemical Analyses - Wine regarded as a Medicine - Re-
gimen of Hippocrates - Use in modern Practice-Tonic Virtues of Port
Wine efficacious in
-Malt Liquors depressing in certain Cases
Fevers Opinion of Professor Liebig-Homage of Science

MODERN WINES ANALYTICALLY CONSIDERED.

Early Effects of the reformed Wine Duties - Novel Imports; their
Character and Quality-Elementary Properties of Wine-Official Wine
Survey-Analysis of the Exhibition Wines - Waning Taste for fervent
Wines - Medical Objections to factitious Wines - New Standard of
Taste- Diminished Consumption of Port-Novel Theory

Fermentation

Insect Scavengers-Palars of the
in and I

Commission: Mr. Bernard on the Wi
Ogilvie on the Produce of France
Hungarian Wines; and Mr. Davies
Strength of the Wines sent to the I
Meters French Excise Law

'Then took a goatskin fill'd with precious wine, Mellifluous, undecaying, and divine!

The gift of Maron of Evantheus' line,

Which, now some ages from his race conceal'd,

The hoary sire in gratitude reveal'd.

Such was the wine,-to quench whose fervent steam,
Scarce twenty measures from the living stream

To cool one cup sufficed: the goblet crown'd
Breath'd aromatic fragrancies around.'

ODYSSEY, b. ix.

LONDON

PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO.

NEW-STREET SQUARE

PREFATORY NOTE.

It is with feelings of great satisfaction that I presume to invite public notice to this new and enlarged edition of A Brief Discourse on Wine. The gratifying reception accorded to that little volume on its publication, and the flattering notice bestowed on it by a considerable portion of the public press, induced a desire on my part to render the work more perfect and complete. The additional information now supplied may serve to extend its utility, and possess sufficient novelty and interest to make it worthy of attention and perusal.

It will, doubtless, be readily perceived that the task was one involving both time and patient labour; and as the pressure of business left me but little leisure for research, I gladly availed myself of the willing aid of a valued relative, to whose zealous co-operation most of the new matter contained in these pages is due.

It is earnestly hoped that this humble effort at improvement will meet with renewed indulgence and favour; and that the Vine, now replanted and extended, may put forth its blossoms afresh, and its Fruit prove sound, abundant, and refreshing.

J. L. DENMAN.

LONDON: December 1863.