MADEIRA
romance and joy lingers about these island vineyards. For the vines are planted upon lines of trellis-work in front of the houses, and the branches are deftly led over the tops, and the sun rays fall down and beat upon them horizontally, so that beneath is an arbour of shady and green coolness. And in other parts of the island they are trained up the wild chestnut trees, and themselves, as true children of freedom, acquire a vagabond and roving character. And again on the slopes, in full blaze and glare of the sun, do men grow the celebrated Malmsey, and the grapes whence proceed this notorious wine must needs be over-ripe and all but shrivelled, so that the juice expressed therefrom may be of an exceeding fragrance and superabundant richness. The highest quality Malmsey, with a proper
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