Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-07-06

ple. Metapont, and statue OF 1up'
for the city Of Appollonium, were
made OF the vine; and yet iion,
ali we can learn, none Of these v,nes
were equal in gigantic propor',o,aa'
TO this great tree. in the old woi'u'
fhere Is the noted vine OF Hamp'on
Court, about 200 years old, and grown
under glass: yet the diameter u ~.
bodv or trunk OF this eeIeo'Ss.
English vino 10 only the same o. .,lo
diameter Of one Of the main pfan ~.
es Of the Monticello monster. Inc
annual yield OF the English vine =
only from 1,4OO TO 1900 pounds -
grapes. while this California ..ee'
according TO the best authorizes Daso
produces yearly from 1909 70 W..
clusters, equal TO over SIX tons OF
1900 pounds Of excellent M'ss,on
grapes. Many may think that 'n'.
d . California story; butthis account
has been confirmed by the citizens
OF Santa Barbara, at . public meet
ING held In Tebbet's Hall, sept :,
1875. Al this meeting a statement
OF the history OF the vine, ana reso
buttons expressive OF deep regre. a.
its death, were adopted and publish
AT, a.. Santa Barbara Press OF Sept.
10, 1875. 1t Is from 90 70 w ~
years old, and covered over lz,uV
square feet OF ground. The branches
spread around the trunk 10 all direc-
tions like the radius ola circle iorH-
ing a most beautiful tree. A large
dancing floor was erected by the
Spanish under one side OF II; anu -
IL said that 1900 people could DO
seated under Its wide-spreading
branches. Its trunk ID Immense,
the largest circumference eight iee'
from the ground being five anu .
half feet, so that II we'll merits the
title OF the Grape-tree Of 10000 cius-
ters. II has, for many years, as'iac-
| ted tourists from oil parts OF the
world. who were charmed by Its
| vast proportions and unequa'ed pro-
ducti veness; and have frequedt'y
| noticed that he who observes II
ERE he passed on,
Gazes his tiIl, and comes and comes a8Aih'
That he may call II up when far away
And 30 far as my observation ID
concerned, this Is true. There Is
even now, after It's departure 70 the
East, a charm still lingering about
the place where 1t 80 long fiourished
that attracts citizen and stranger 70
the very spot where II stood, when
IL now marked by stake. Numbers
visit here daily, and the first ques-
from the stranger Is, Is the old vine
really going 10 the Centennial? The
answer being In the Affirmative
then / shall see 1t there. But 10 no'
tho stump OF roots lett ana W NO
seen, Is the next eager inquiry, and
II a remnant OF root OF pranc' 20
foundit Is carried Oh as a cnarfn' anu
a sprig or leaf must be sent 70 oiS-
tant friends, with photographs OF
the old and daughter vines Inc
daughter vine Is the one tha' s'ahus
near where the parent vine s'ooo'
and 1t ID almost as iarge' anu a''o
gether as prolific % the parent WAS
There is very entertaining s'o'y
related concerning the origin OF the
old vine. The substance Oh IL 3D. tna'
a grape-cutting was presented 70 .
young Spanish lady, century ago.
by her lover, ~ riding-whip which
was planted by his request, and that
this momento OF love developed IN
10 this great vine. The story Is too
long for the compass OF the letter-it
Is called the Legend OF the mon.
tecito Grapevine" From wnss
can learn OF the romantic history OF
the vine, this Is Its real origin. II
must have been planted under extra
ordinary circumstances, or we might
expect to SEQ Others OF equal Size.
There Is some secret mystery connec-
ted with Its prodigious developments
which no one seems able TO explain.
1T was irrigated by the water from
hot springs, which contain sulphate
ofiron and other mineral substances.
aud to the influence OF these agents
some attribute Its great size. But
90 this as IL may u Is regarded by
all ~ a most extraordinary freak OF
the part OF residents seem to make IL
the more highiy prized. A near
neighbor, In conversation, the other