THE 



AMERICAN FLOWER GAEDEN 

 DIRECTORY. 



ON THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



WE are not aware of any vegetable production that is 

 more conducive to the luxurious gratifications and plea- 

 sures of man than the vine. In fact, there is no fruit so 

 delicious, applicable to so many purposes, nor any that is 

 so agreeable to all palates: from the remotest ages the vine 

 has been celebrated as the emblem of plenty and the 

 " symbol of happiness." Its quickness of growth, its great 

 fertility, and astonishing vegetative powers, with its un- 

 known age, has rendered it one of the most fruitful bless- 

 ings bestowed by Providence; a blessing which almost 

 every inhabitant of this union may enjoy, and we see no 

 occasion to doubt but that thousands of acres of our fertile 

 uplands will be converted into vineyards, producing the 

 finest fruits and richest wines in the world. Indeed, with 

 very little care and attention, our unsightly post and rail 

 fences may be converted into grape espaliers, and fine 

 wines produced at as little cost as spruce beer ; every square 

 foot of surface might be made to produce a pound of 

 grapes, and every post, at least, round our gardens afford 

 ample space for one vine, which would yearly produce 

 from three to nine pounds of fruit, fit either for the table or 

 the wine-press. But the small space allotted in this volume 

 will not allow us to dilate on this fruitful subject. Our 

 object is to give a few hints on the aspect, soil, propaga- 

 tion, and culture of the vine, so as to produce an extra 

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