NORTON'S VIRGINIA 79 



large bunch and berry of the Catawba, but we soon 

 observed that it kept its foliage bright and green when 

 that of the Catawba became sickly and dropped; and 

 also, that no rot or mildew damaged the fruit, when 

 that of the Catawba was nearly destroyed by it. A few 

 tried to propagate it by cuttings, but generally failed to 

 make it grow. They then resorted to grafting and lay- 

 ering, with much better success. After a few years a 

 few bottles of wine were made from it, and found to be 

 very good. But at this time it almost received its death- 

 blow, by a very unfavorable letter from Mr. Longworth, 

 who had been asked his opinion of it, and pronounced 

 it worthless. Of course, with the majority, the fiat of 

 Mr. Longworth, the father of American grape -culture, 

 was conclusive evidence, and they abandoned it. Not 

 all, however; a few persevered, among them Messrs. 

 Jacob Rommel, Poeschel, Langendoerfer, Grein and my- 

 self. We thought Mr. Longworth was human and 

 might be mistaken, and trusted as much to the evidence 

 of our senses as to his verdict, therefore increased it as 

 fast as we could, and the sequel proved that we were 

 right. After a few years more, wine was made from it 

 in larger quantities, found to be much better than the 

 first imperfect samples; and now that despised and con- 

 demned grape is the great variety for red wine, equal, if 

 not superior to the best Burgundy and Port; a wine of 

 which good judges, heavy importers of the best Euro- 

 pean wines too, will tell you that it has not its equal 

 among all the foreign red wines, which has already 

 saved the lives of thousands of suffering children, men, 

 and women, and, therefore, one of the greatest blessings 

 an all -merciful God has ever bestowed upon suffering 

 humanity. This despised grape is now the rage, and 



