128 On the culture of the Grape Vine. 



month of March or beginning of April, after throwing off the 

 cover of earth ; which I lay on from twelve to eighteen inches 

 thick. I have never found any injury occasioned by spring 

 trimming. General Moreau, the spring preceding his departure 

 for Europe, viewed my little vineyard, which had consisted of 

 about one hundred vines. I had, for the first time, most unfor- 

 tunately omitted the usual cover. The consequence was, that 

 I lost fifty of the European grape vines. But the survivors, 

 chiefly of what we call the Cape vine,* had resisted the frosts, 

 and produced a good crop ; as did also some native grapes I had 

 cultivated. I have never since omitted covering; and have 

 generally had encouraging crops. I am satisfied, that we can 

 procure in our own country excellent grapes; which, being na- 

 turally acclimated, would be safe and prodactive : whereas the 

 imported grape is uncertain in its product, (in the country,) and 

 subject to more casualties, both from frosts, mildews and blasts, 

 as well as from the ravages of insects, than are our native vines ; 

 which could be obtained from many parts of our own extensive 

 country ; and require only experience and intelligent culture, 

 to rival the best foreign grapes. General Moreau informed me, 

 that he had been obliged to cover, with earth, his foreign vines 

 since his arrival among us ; having met with a similar disaster 

 to mine from the omission. He told me that even near Paris, 

 the gardeners who supplied that city with figs, found it neces- 

 sary to cover the fig plants every winter. I have generally been 

 in this practice, with some exceptions. Whensoever I omitted 

 it, I have had cause for repentance. During our revolution. 

 the French officers often visited me, when I had great abun- 

 dance of excellent figs. They declared they had never ate 

 better of the kind, (the blue and the red fig) in France. I have 

 now only a few of this article ; which I find is eaten with plea- 

 sure by very few people. I continue to relish them highly; 

 and prefer them to most other fruits. R. Peters 



May, 1825.] 



* This is a native : it is the Ak^xander or Tasker grape 



