IV PREFACE. 



CARE OF OLD VINES. A full account of the Ohio vineyards is 

 given in the Appendix, amongst other examples of American 

 practice, and the peculiar principles which regulate the manage 

 ment of grapes devoted to the production of wine will be found 

 in their appropriate place, viz., in the second part of this work, 

 which is specially devoted to that subject. 



The varieties of the vine have multiplied so rapidly of late, 

 that it would be impossible to give a complete list even of those 

 which have been brought out. Seeing then that at best our 

 work must be incomplete in this respect, we have described 

 those only which have been thoroughly proved and recom 

 mended by some well known society or cultivator. Of the 

 two or three hundred varieties of American grapes of which 

 names are to be found, probably not more than one in ten have 

 been tested in localities differing greatly from the place of their 

 origin. 



In the execution of our work, we believe that where we have 

 had occasion to make use of the labors of others, due credit has 

 always been given ; and we have also added a list of those 

 books which we have most freely consulted, so that those who 

 desire to make the culture of the grape a specialty may be 

 directed to original sources of information. 



That the culture of the grape will ere long attain a position 

 of which its present condition affords little idea, we have no 

 doubt. Not only is it one of the most delicious and easily 

 raised fruits, but it also gives quick returns, so that he who plants 

 a vine has not to wait for the better portion of his lifetime ere 

 he eats the fruit of it; in three or four years it will yield an 

 ample vintage. 



