The Vine.
Vitis.
A weak shrub, too familiar in our gardens to need much description. The trunk is covered with a rough bark; the branches are long, weak, and straggling; the leaves are roundish in the whole figure, but indented deeply into five or seven divisions, the lower are inconsiderable: the fruit is round, or oblong, juicy, and produced in great bunches.
We use no part of the common vine, as it grows with us; but not to mention the several kinds of wine that are useful on different occasions, the dried fruit in the form of what we call raisins and currants, is in constant repute. Raisins of the sun, Malaga raisins, and currants all have the same virtue; they are good in coughs, and soreness of the lungs, and in consumptions.
Vinegar is also a product of the grape: it is wine become sour, and spirit of wine and brandy of the very best kinds, are made from wine also by distillation. The substance called tartar, of which the cream of tartar is made, is only a salt of the grape, which sticks to the wine casks. So that we owe to the grape, more medicines than to any one simple whatsoever.
