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THE FLOWING BOWL
spirit—is being produced in Spain in commercial
quantities which it is to be hoped will success
fully compete with the stuff erroneously called
brandy, not to say Cognac, but of which not a
drop has been derived from the grape."
In my researches into the manufacture of
port and sherry, I have come across no mention
of the phylloxera,
I am, therefore, halting
between the beliefs, either that the Spaniards
and Portuguese understand vermin better than
do the French, or that the "vine-louse" has
her own reasons for keeping out of Spain and
Portugal.
Forty years ago an estimable Irish nobleman
was known as " Old Sherry," from his partiality
to that wine. And thirty years ago I was once
seatedat the table of a General of Division, up at
Simla. My right-hand neighbour was a son of
this same nobleman, but our host, apparently,
did not know this—or had forgotten the fact.
At all events, during a lull in the conversation,
the General (who had a voice like sharpening a
saw) rapped out: "By the way, Captains—you
say you've been quartered in Ireland—did you
ever meet ' Old Sherry ' there .? "
A subaltern can't very well throw a dinner-
roll at a General or stick a carving-fork into his
leg; but that is what I, personally, felt like
doing.
In mediaeval times a sulKcient quantity of
wine for the needs of the inhabitants was made
in gallant little Wales ; and the idea of reviving
the industry occurred to the Marquis of Bute,
who has done so much for the welfare of Cardiff