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dn the culture of the Grape Fine, By Isaac C, Jones* 



Philadelphia, Uth mo.{Nov.) 13th, 1820. 



I KNOW of no description of fruit, more delightful 

 to the palate, than some species of the grape, and none, 

 I believe, which is generally considered more whole- 

 some ; particularly some of the more delicate kinds of 

 the European and other foreign grapes, which it has been 

 considered almost impracticable to cultivate to advantage 

 in this climate ; excepting in some well protected and 

 southernly exposed situations, within the verge of our 

 cities. I have heard of many attempts being made in 

 the country, to cultivate the white sweetwater, and some 

 other tender kinds, without success ; and that it has 

 nearly been given over as a hopeless case. Then how 

 desirable it will be to those, who properly appreciate the 

 culture of the vine, to have any information elicited upon 

 the subject, having a tendency to obviate the difficulty. 

 Judging from a plan I have been in the practice of pur- 

 suing these two years past, I am induced to believe we 

 can succeed in the country nearly, if not quite, as well 

 as those who have some of the most favourable situations 

 in the city. 



My plan is to trim my vines of the most tender de- 

 scriptions in the fall ; say from the first to the tenth of the 

 Eleventh month (November;) after which, to take them 

 down from the arbour to which they have been attached 

 through the season, and lay ihem upon the surface of the 

 ground ; then to cover them over with the adjoining soil, 

 about four to five inches in depth: and so let them remain 

 till the next ensuing spring, say until after the severe 

 frosts are past. I have let mine remain in that state until 



