THE AMERICAN GRAPE. 



Vitis I'ibrusca, L. — Vitacea of Botanists. 



Throughout nearly every portion of the United States the Grape, 

 in its wild state is found growing. Of these, classes are divided, the 

 vitis labrusca, being our common Fox Grape, and from which we 

 are yet to suppose the Diana, Catawba, and Isabella, are accidental 

 seedlings ; while the Frost Grapes vitis cordifolia^ may perchance 

 have been the parent of the Elsinburgh, Clinton, &c. Hardy, and 

 almost equaling in delicacy many of the varieties of foreign Grape, 

 they have become the companions of our advanced civilization, until 

 almost every American can sit under his own vine and eat the fruit 

 thereof. They have made our country already known as a wine- 

 producing country, after repeated trials and failures with foreign va- 

 rieties, and are destined to add millions to our wealth, and temper- 

 ance to the character of our people. Records of immense vines are 

 made, as growing on the rich soil of our valleys bordering on 

 streams of waters, yet, when age is taken into consideration, we deem 

 them all surpassed by a vine of Catawba Grape which we saw last 

 year growing on Kelley's Island, in Lake Erie. It had been planted 

 out but two years, yet had reached at least three hundred feet in 

 length, with a girth, near the ground, of main stem, five inches, and 

 had produced that year over 200 lbs. of fruit. 



The secret of this extraordinary growth rests in the soil abound- 

 ing in lime, while the wash-water, soap-suds, &;c., &;c., of the house 

 had its escape near the roots. 



We may also remark, that, upon this island, we have seen grapes-, 

 more perfectly grown and ripened, than in visiting any of the vine- 

 yards of the Ohio ; and wine possessing all the boquet and aroma 

 so much esteemed by connoisseurs. 



Vineyards. — The vineyards of the Rhine and of the territory of 

 France have world-wide celebrity. The quantity produced by the 

 latter country having been stated as high as 900,000,000 gallons an- 

 nually, for which nearly 5,000,000 acres of ground were required. 



" The Romans cultivated the vine at an early period of their his- 

 tory, and used wine in their libations at their sacrifices. Romulus, 

 however discouraged its use, which prevented the introduction of it 

 as a beverage until his edict was abolished. The general culture 

 was then encouraged, and increased to such excess, that it became 



