GRAPE. 83 



Dr. R. T. Underbill, of New- York, has a vineyard at 

 Croton Point, near Sing Sing, where, after having sunk 

 thousands of dollars in attempting to raise the most cele- 

 brated foreign varieties, he abandoned the project as vision- 

 ary, and commenced planting the Isabella Grape in 1832, 

 and the Catawba in 1835. Mr. Underbill has now upward 

 of twenty acres of these grapes, chiefly of the former, un- 

 der the most successful cultivation. He says that the Isa- 

 bella Grape ripens two or three weeks earlier than the Ca- 

 tawba, and that these two varieties are, in his estimation, the 

 best adapted for general purposes ; the former yielding with 

 him a more valuable crop than any other with which he is ac- 

 quainted. He says that the quality of this fruit has improved 

 very much within a few years, the clusters and berries being 

 much larger and sweeter ; and that they are capable of still 

 greater improvement by high cultivation. 



The following extracts are from Dr. Underbill's commu- 

 nication to the editor of the ' Cultivator,' published January 

 28th, 1843 : 



" In this latitude, (south of the highlands of the Hudson,) 

 I find that the Isabella Grape ripens quite as well when 

 planted in a level field, protected from the north and west 

 winds by woods or hedges, as on declivities. Several of my 

 vineyards are thus located, and, as far as I can perceive, the 

 fruit ripens at about the same time, and is of the same 

 quality as those planted on steep side-hills. I think, how- 

 ever, that north of the highlands, side-hills would be pi'efer- 

 able. To prepare the ground for a vineyard, the best way 

 is to turn over the whole of the surface soil from fifteen to 

 eighteen inches in depth, early in the spiing, by ploughing 

 twice in the same furrow. This will place the richest part 

 of the soil in a position where it will give the greatest sup- 

 ply of nourishment to the vines. Few vineyards in this 

 countiy have been prepared in this way; but the cost is so 

 email and the advantages so great, that it should be done 

 wherever there are no rosks or large stones to prevent it." 



