A FAMOUS VINE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 285, 1 December 1936, Page 19

A FAMOUS VINE.

The Great Vine at Hampton Court bears annually about 50 bunches, wliicJ; is less than it produced in early days. The quantity is kept down deliberately to improve the quality. The grapes themselves, although smaller than the big hothouse varieties, have a peculiarly sweet and fragrant flavour. A percentage of proceeds from their sale goes to iit. Dunstan's, the remainder being paid Tnto the Treasury for the upkeep of the palace. Although the price is 6/ per pound, there is said never to be any difficulty in disposing of them. The vine was planted in 1768, in the reign of George 111. It is the oldest vine in existence. Although smaller than the Evippin Vine in Scotland, the girth of the stem, which is over Oft, at ground level, is nearly twice the size of any other.

The seeds of the sycamore tree are grown in pairs, each being provided with a large papery wing. When ripe, the wind catches the twin wings and its force spins them along, often more than a field's- length.