FARMERS' REGISTER- CULTURE OF THE VINE. 



381 



nexion with another gentleman, obtained from 

 Major Adkun, near Georgetown, and from one or 

 two of the northern nurseries, a supply of grape 

 cuttings of different kinds, and planted them. We 

 selected a very elevated hiil-side, a few miles from 

 our village, (on the iarm of the gentleman con- 

 cerned with me) having a south east exposure, 

 entirely protected from the north and west winds, 

 of loose, gravelly soil, and not remarkable either 

 for its fertility or povert}\ On this spot v/e plant- 

 ed our vines, placing them in rows about twelve 

 feet apart, and from six to ten m the rows. They 

 generally grew pretty well — that is to say, a large 

 proportion of the vines lived. They commenced 

 to bear a little, I think, the third year aiter they 

 were set out, and have been gradually increasing 

 in size and productiveness up to the present time. 

 This year, had not the sprmgbaenso untavorable, 

 we think we should have had quite a smart crop: 

 as it was, the quantity was very much diminished, 

 and a large number of the grapes did not come to 

 perfection. We have ascertained from our expe- 

 riment that of all the different kinds of gra];cs we 

 have tried, there are but lew worth cultivating in 

 this climate. Two are particularly worthy of no- 

 tice, both of Avhich we obtained from Major Ad- 

 lum — they are called the "Isabella," and "Cataw- 

 ba." The vines grow most luxuridntly, having 

 BAndently found a congenial soil, whilst nearly all 

 the rest, although they live and even grow slow- 

 ly, look stinted and seem to be dragging out a 

 miserable existence. The Catawba and Isabella 

 produce fine large clusters, many of them weigh- 

 ing over a pound. The first, while ripening, is of 

 a beautiful pink, and when fully ripe of a ver}' 

 deep copper color. The latter when ripe of a very 

 dark purple nearly approaching to black. They 

 are both very fine table grapes, particularly the 

 Catawba. I think it decidedly not only the finest 

 grajjebut the finest fruit, I have ever eaten. They 

 can be kept as well as the apple by simply packing 

 them in layers v/ith ver\' dry saw-dust. We had 

 good fresh grapes on the first of Ma}' of the pre- 

 ceding year. The Fox grape we have tried. The 

 vities grow most luxuriantly, but they have borne 

 only a few scattering gi-apes. We talk of cutting 

 them down this fall as cumberers of the ground. 

 We have one Scuppcrnong vine gi'owing in our 

 vineyard, the cutting for which we obtained from 

 a friend in Richmond. This vine seems to grow 

 tolerably well, but as yet (this being the fourth 

 year) has borne no fruit. A few little grapes ^vere 

 found on it this year, but did not come to perfection. 

 It is a perfect anomaly among vanes; in its extreme 

 appearance it resembles no other vine but looks 

 much more like a hazle bush. It is said that in 

 some of its other properties it differs from any other 

 vine, such as not requiring to be pruned, &c., but 

 of this last we know nothmg of our own know- 

 ledge. 



We are now making some experiments with 

 some carefully selected native grapes, but hR.ve no I 

 had sufficient time as yet to say Avhat will be the 

 result. The grapes we think are improving both 

 in size and flavor as the vines grow older. 



In another communication, if you desire it, I 

 may give vou our experience in wine making, &c. 

 &c." 



JOHN F. CARITIIRRS. 



CUNNINGHAM AND NORTON GRAl'ES. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Eegister. 



Richmond, September 20th, 1834. 



I have sent you a small box by this evenino-'s 

 steam boat, containing two varieties of grape, 

 Cunningham's Prince Edward, a native of the 

 county of Prince Edward, and Norton's Virginia 

 seedling. The American Farmer had something 

 to say about the seedling the last j^ear; you may 

 recollect it — you are now to judge for yourself. 

 Both varierics are abundant and never faUing in 

 their crof s. Any portion of the state will jaeld them 

 to a certainty, and if the culture of these fruits is 

 attended to. the United States in a few years will 

 cease to import wine. 



D. N. NORTON. 



[The grapes referred to above were received after 

 five days had passed of the rainy weather in the latter 

 part of September. Owins,- to this delay probably, 

 many of the Norton grapes had rotted, or showed the 

 commencement of decay, though the greater part were 

 still sound. The Cunningham grapes were in better 

 preservation, and were remarkable for the firmness of 

 the bunches. Our family jury of tasters were about 

 equally divided as to which possessed the better flavor; 

 but all agreed that both kinds were excellent. The 

 sweet of the Norton was the more unmixed and lus- 

 cious — that of the Cunningham was flavored with 

 enough of acid to make it (according to our individual 

 opinion) still mora agreeable to the taste. In both, 

 the saccharine principle appeared to be abundant. 

 The unfavorable opinion respecting the Norton grape 

 expressed in the American Farmer, and referred to in 

 Dr. Norton's letter, may be seen at page 301, vol. I. of 

 the Farmers' Register. 



We have inserted above, and previously, several dif- 

 ferent articles which present a favorable prospect of 

 the culture of the vine in this country — and shall be 

 better pleased to be enabled to offer more full and more 

 satisfactory accotintsfrom the same, or from other cor- 

 respondents. We feel much interest in the success of 

 this culture, not only as a new and profitable branch of 

 agricultural enterprise and indusby, but because we 

 fully believe that the extensive production of pure and 

 unadulterated wine in any country is one of the surest 

 safeguards against drunkenness being a national, or 

 prevailing vice. But although the hope of the extend- 

 ed and general culture has often been held out by dif- 

 ferent persons, the best proof has not yet been furnish- 

 ed by the successful and profitable general results of 

 the labors of any one individual. Why this has not 

 been done, or if done, why the public are not informed 

 of it, we are not able to say. We request of the many 

 cultivators of the vine among our readers to communi- 

 cate their views as to the causes of the small deg-ee 

 of success, and the variable and very uncertain results, 

 heretofore obtained — and whether there is any obstacle 

 to preventgrapes being produced plentifully, and wine 

 made profitably, as a regular branch of husbandry, in 

 the Southern States. There is no doubt as to our be- 

 ing able to raise delicious grapes, and sometimes abun- 

 dant crops of them — and also that from thcni excellent 



