VINE IN ITALY. 99 



our cultivation the most auspicious and flattering 

 hopes. These remarks as to the capability of 

 C/ape May for the cultivation, may be applicable 

 to other sections of our sea board, many of which, 

 I doubt not, possess a soil and climate equally 

 favourable to the requirements of the plant. 



The sandy character of the State of New Jer- 

 sey, south of the capital, Trenton, fully justifies 

 the belief, that the vine will one day consti- 

 tute an important feature in the agriculture of 

 the country. 



Along that part of the coast of New Jersey, 

 of which we have spoken, there are several 

 islands, destined, I fully believe, at some future 

 day to be vine growing countries. Those most 

 familiar to my recollection are, the "seven mile 

 beach," and the " five mile beach." They are 

 about two miles from the main land, and nearly 

 in a state of nature. These island-s produce a 

 native grape, and may probably be cultivated 

 with success as well there as in other parts of 

 the country, and a great improvement may be 

 expected in this native vine, the fruit of which 

 will doubtless be favourably changed by careful 

 cultivation and judicious pruning. Indigenous 

 to the soil, nothing is to be feared, and much to 

 be hoped from a system of cultivation, by which 

 the savage propensities of the plant will be sub- 

 dued, and the qualities of its productions ame- 

 liorated. One of these islands is so ' covered by 

 the native vine, that it appears as though nature 

 intended it as the home of the grape. From 

 ithis the inference appears irresistible, that the 



