30 / 244
30
Wines.
late
years.
The
supply
of
this
wine
has
fallen
off;
in
1856
there
was
none
made,
owing
to
the
prevalence
of
the
o'idium, or
vine-scourge,
which
first
made
its
appearance
in
this
island,
eventually
destroying
all
the
vines.
It
is
supposed
that
it
will
take
several
years
for
the
perfect
restoration
of
the
vineyards.
The
meaning
of
the
terms
“
East
and
West
India
Madeira,”
signifies
that
the
wine
has
made
a
voyage
from
the
island
to
one
or
the other
of
these
parts,
by
which
process
the
effect
of
decom-
posing
the
saccharine
principle
is
accelerated,
and
the
wine
moreover
becomes
ripened,
by
passing
through
a
warmer
climate.
The
wine
selected
for
this
purpose,
usually
the
sort
called
“
London
Particular,”
is
shipped
in
butts,
and
remains
either
on
board
or
is
landed
at
one
of
the
Indian
ports
for
a
time,
and
is
then
reshipped
for
the
London
market
or
whatever
country
it
is
destined
for.
That
which
has
been
to
the
East
Indies
is
considered,
by
virtue
of
the
greater
heat
of
the
climate,
and
the
length
of
the
voyage,
to
have
a
softer
flavour
than
the
West
India
Madeira.
Malmsey
Madeira
is
a
very
choice
rich
wine,
and
capable
of
being
kept
many
years.
It
is
pro-
duced
from
a grape
which
will
only
flourish
on
a
small
spot
in
Madeira
—
the valley
of the
Carnal
de