VINEYARDS OF THE OHIO. 



419 



prove a valuable acquisition to the arbori- 

 culturist. The largest forests of this tree 

 are on the elevated parts of Naguelbuta and 

 Caramavida, which Pa von describes as "of- 

 fering to the view, in general, a rocky soil, 

 though in parts it is wet and boggy, on ac- 

 count of the abundance of rain and snow 

 which falls in these regions, similar to many 

 provinces in Spain," Poeppig, a traveller 

 in the Peruvian Andes, states, that "the 

 Araucaria forest of Antuco is the most 

 northerly that is known in Chili ; so that 

 the northern boundary of this king of all 

 the extra-tropical American trees may be 

 estimated at thirty-six degrees south lati- 

 tude. The extreme southern limit is not 

 so clearly ascertained ; which is not sur- 

 prising, when we consider how little, com- 

 paratively, is known of Western Patagonia: 

 it seems probable, however, that it does not 

 stretch far beyond latitude forty-six degrees. 

 Between Antuco and Valdivia this tree only 

 grows among the Andes, and, as the Indi- 

 ans assert, solely on their western declivi- 

 ties, and nowhere lower than from 1500 

 feet to 2000 feet below the snow line, up to 

 which they frequently reach. Farther to 

 the south, the Araucaria appears at a lower 

 elevation ; and in the country of the Cun- 

 cos, and about Osorno, is said to occur on 

 mountains of a very moderate altitude, near 

 the sea. The Corcovado, a mountain that 

 rises opposite Chiloe, is said to be studded, 

 from its foot to the snow line, with large 

 groups of these beautiful trees. 



The wood, as grown in the Andes, is of 

 a yellowish white colour, veiny, and of close 



texture ; and is said to have been used in 

 ship-building. The tree produces a whitish 

 resin, used extensively by the natives in the 

 cure of Avounds and contusions. The fruit 

 may be said to form the regular harvest of 

 several of the original tribes, and it is eaten 

 by them in a raw state, and after being 

 boiled and roasted. 



The tree is particularly ornamental, and 

 no plant can be used with greater effect in 

 distinguishing particular spots of country 

 appropriated to art. It should be on every 

 gentleman's lawn : it is both elegant and 

 unique ; and if sheltered during frosty 

 weather, so as to keep off that rustiness of 

 colour which a free exposure to the seasons 

 brings with it, it will well repay the trouble 

 in spring time. 



With regard to what is the best mode of 

 propagating this tree, there is but one opi- 

 nion — raising from seeds. Bottom heat is 

 invariably recommended ; and the seeds 

 should be inserted to the depth of about an 

 inch and a quarter, in large boxes or pans 

 filled with free loamy soil, which should on no 

 account be allowed to get dry. When two 

 years old, they should be transplanted into 

 nursery lines, in a warm sheltered situation 

 in the open ground, carefully guarding 

 them from excess of moisture, and, in frosty 

 weather, from excess of cold. Those raised 

 in hot-houses, green-houses, &c., certainly 

 look better ; but when planted in their final 

 situation, in exposed places, the former soon 

 take the lead. Planted by the sea side in 

 Norfolk, they have made shoots about a 

 foot in length in one season. 



THE VINEYARDS OF THE OHIO. 



BY A. H. ERNST, CINCINx\A.TI. 



In writing upon the Vine, it is impossible to 

 forget the many associations of antiquity 

 which are inseperably connected with it. In 

 sacred history, these are especially interest- 

 ing. In all time, has the vine, and the en- 

 joyment of its fruit, been regarded as a bless- 

 ing especially adapted to the health, com- 

 fort and luxurv of man. " And Judah and 



Israel dwelt safely, every man under his 

 own vine and under his own fig tree." 



The vine seems to have been given to 

 man in a more perfect state than most other 

 fruits; for though many of the fine varieties 

 are the result of patient cultivation, the fin- 

 est wild grapes of either Syria of America 

 are truly delicious, when compared with 



