PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 291 



tlie vineyards come into bearing, will they not be found worth- 

 less, and the taste all gone to Delaware and Diana, which remind 

 me of our own Traminer and Rissling, which refresh like wine ? 

 Please tell us, and by so doing, tell many in Monmouth county, 

 who, like us, desire to know. Have you had the long and exten- 

 sive observation that it is necessary to form an opinion, or can 

 you tell me who has?" 



This is the most important agricultural question of the present 

 day. It is important because it has now become as certain as 

 any thing of the future, that America will surely become a great 

 vine-growing and wine-producing country. That this event will 

 certainly happen we are just as sure, as we are that France is 

 already a great producer of grapes. The extent of vineyards 

 already planted is greater than the mass of people have any 

 conception of; and of the extent of preparation for planting no 

 one has an idea, except the very few whose interest or taste has 

 led them to inquire. We are assured by the besfe authority in 

 this country, that there are now planted, and in preparation for 

 planting, at least a thousand acres of land in the small State of 

 New Jersey, and that in only a few counties, and yet grape-grow- 

 ing in that State has been as yet hardly thought of, and so little 

 talked about that its own citizens are not generally aware of the 

 progress of this new and great industrial pursuit of a few of the 

 people. Yet in a few years the grape crop of New Jersey will 

 become one of the most important of that State, and the product 

 of its vineyards will not only furnish New York with an abund- 

 ance of fresh fruit, but will put a strong check on the importation 

 of wines. 



There has been within a year past one tract of twenty thousand 

 acres of forest land, in Cumberland county, opened to settlement 

 and a town laid out in its center called " Vineland," because the 

 proprietor believes the soil well adapted to the growth of grapes, 

 and intends to encourage all the settlers to devote their attention 

 to their cultivation. We should not be surprised to see five 

 thousand acres of this tract planted, or prepared for jolanting 

 with vines within five years. 



Monmouth county, too, will soon become as famous for its 

 great crops of grapes as it has been in jDast years for its 

 peaches. 



Pennsylvania is also moving, in all its breadth, from the Dela- 



