of Rural Art and Taste. 



47 



Grapes— Varieties, Culture, 

 etc. 



Ji^ssai/, by G. W. €anii>hell, for American I'onio- 

 logicul Society, 



GRAPE-GROWING, in most parts of 

 our country, is at present in a state of 

 extreme depression and neglect ; and the 

 time is probably not distant, if it does not 

 already exist, when there will be a scarcity 

 of grapes in the land. 



The causes which have led to this state 

 of affairs, are not difficult to determine ; 

 and may be regarded as only a natural re- 

 sult of the undue and unreasonable exalta- 

 tion of this important interest a few years 

 ago. What has been, not inaptly, termed 

 the "grape-fever" prevailed most exten- 

 sively ; and among nearly all classes of 

 landholders the high road to fortune was 

 thought to lead directly through the vine- 

 yard. Consequently, large areas were 

 planted with grape-vines — in many cases, in 

 soils and situations wholly unsuited to their 

 culture ; in others, with varieties not adapt- 

 ed to their several localities ; and in others 

 still, where, although the natural conditions 

 may have been favorable, the requisite 

 knowledge and skill were wanting to insure 

 success. , 



Advantage was also taken of the popular 

 enthusiasm by interested parties, to recom- 

 mend and extol new and untried varieties 

 as suited to universal culture, which proved 

 to be either valueless, or extremely limited 

 in their adaptation. The consequences of 

 this indiscriminate and inconsiderate course 

 were inevitable. Failure, and consequent 

 disgust cooled the ardor, and extinguished 

 the brilliant anticipations of thousands, who 

 learned, by sad experience, that intelligent 

 and skillful industry were as necessary to 

 success in grape-growing, as in other pur- 

 suits. 



It is perhaps unnecessary to pursue this 



branch of the subject further; but I wish 

 here to express the confident belief, that, 

 notwithstanding past discouragements, and 

 present depression, there is a future for 

 grape-growing in America as grand as was 

 ever dreamed of by the most excited enthu- 

 siast, when success shall be as distinguished 

 as our failures have been ignominious — and 

 when every man may not only sit under the 

 shadow of his own vine, but may rejoice in 

 the enjoyment of its refreshing fruit and 

 generous juice, which we are assured were 

 given to make his heart glad. 



I believe this, because I believe in the 

 unlimited capabilities of my country, and 

 in the indomitable and irrepressible ener- 

 gies of the American people. With every 

 variety of soil and climate, her mountains 

 and hill-sides, her rich valleys, her fertile 

 and almost boundless prairies, the genial 

 banks of her lakes and rivers, all that is 

 wanting is the judicious selection of varie- 

 ties suited to the various localities, followed 

 by intelligent and persistent industry, to 

 make America the vineyard of the world ! 

 And if we have not now the proper varieties 

 for every clime where the vine will flourish, 

 between the sunny south and the frozen 

 north, we will produce them. Then will the 

 labors of Rogers, Arnold, Underbill, Rick- 

 etts, Wylie, and others, both north and 

 south, in the production of new varieties by 

 hybridizing, be recognized and appreciated 

 by every cultivator and lover of delicious 

 grapes. 



It is doubtless idle to expect that any 

 one variety of remarkable excellence will 

 ever be found, which will be suited to all 

 localities in our wide-spread and varied 

 country. Perhaps the nearest approach to 

 this, yet discovered, exists in that hardy 

 child of Massachusetts, the Concord. From 

 her descendants, produced by a judicious 

 crossing with the finer foreign varieties, we 

 may confidently expect the most valuable 

 and important results. Next, although in- 

 ferior in quality, may be named the scarcely 

 less rugged Hartford Prolific, from Connec- 

 ticut. In the same class may be found the 



