710 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 12 



larious diseases. Bui the region of the country 

 in whicii ihe Jussieua Grancliflora flourishes, is, 

 li-oni i!e mild climate, comparatively exempt from 

 coiisumpiion, typhus and inflammatory afli'Ctions; 

 and by reason of the anti-malarious properties of 

 ihe plant, it is sinfrularly exempted from all that 

 tribe of diseases which are produced by marsh 

 miasmata, or by the unwholesome air of swamps 

 called malaria. The plant, it would seem, con- 

 verts into its own nutriment those very impurities 

 of stagnant water which in other situations load 

 the atmosphere, at certain seasons of the year, 

 with noxious effluvia." 



[The rare quality attributed above to the Jus- 

 sieua Grandiflora is sufficiently valuable and im- 

 portant, as well a.s strange, to deserve being more 

 fully stated and explained. We confess our en- 

 tire ignorance on the subject, and will be glad to 

 receive, from any better inlbrmed source, a full ac- 

 count of this remarkable plant, the effects which 

 it is supposed, or known, to produce, and to what 

 distance, northward, its growth and operation may 

 be extended. — Ed. Far. Reg.] 



From the Soulliern Agriculturist. 

 SECRET FOR MAKING NEW [aND EXCELLENT] 



[An esteemed friend handed us the subjoined 

 do .umentary evidence, in support of the preten- 

 sions of Mr. Da Costa, to the possession of a se- 

 cret (or making "new wine in six days," and for 

 converting "most inferior" into the " most ex- 

 cellent wines in the space of two weeks.'''' The 

 gentlemen subscribing the certificate iurnished 

 Mr. Da Costa, have not said they all saw the 

 process of making new wine in six days, and 

 improving most inferior wines in two weeks, 

 but as their respectability forbids the slightest 

 suspicion of their countenancing a trick of this 

 or any other kind, we must presume they 

 did all see the wonder performed. Another rea- 

 son for believeing ihey all saio the grape convert- 

 ed into excellent wine in one week, and undrink- 

 able, into good wines in two weeks, is to be found 

 in the fact that two of their number have agreed 

 to pay FIFTY DOLLARS cach, "so soon as he 

 (Mr. "Da Costa) shall deliver Mr. James S. 

 Guignard full and ample directions in writing, 

 showing clearly the proper mode and manner of 

 making, improvintr, and clarifying of wines, as 

 it is practised by him in their presence," i. e. in 

 the presence of James S. Guignard, and Dr. Per- 

 cival. Tiie N. B. by Mr. Da Costa, we will be- 

 lieve the ebullition of honorable pride — strong in 

 its truth. He claims the "system as his own," 

 and he has good reason to be proud of a discovery, 

 which must rank, in point of value and usefulness, 

 amon<r the most important of our times. 



We commend Mr. Da Costa to the partonage 

 of all the Agricultural Societies in our state. 

 Hitherto, fear of the rot has been a bar to cultiva- 

 ting the grape upon a large scale. Mr. Da Costa 

 now offers a remedy for, or a preventive of, this 

 disease, and we trust he will find among us such 

 liberal patronage, as to induce him to remain here. 

 He has "lost his country and every thing there" 



— cannot we make him ibrgetthat loss? Let us 

 try. 



At present, the merchant is the most deeply 

 interested in this wonder working discovery, and 

 for his especial benefit, we request the editors of 

 our daily papers to republish Mr. Da Costa's let- 

 ter, and the documents inclosed. Many dealers 

 have wines they are almost ashamed to sell, but 

 cannot afford to give them away, or afford even, 

 the loss by sales at auction. Let such purchase 

 the secret; it is worth fifty dollars, and, be it re- 

 membered, it will, unlike any other tax, be buj 

 once paid. 



If Mr. Da Costa's system promises to prevent 

 rotting of the grape, every vine growing country 

 in the world is interrested in his discovery ; and as 

 he is with us, he should be aided and encouraged 

 in his experiments — if experiments they are ; if 

 they are not, and his offers are based upon es- 

 tablished facts, he should be kept among us at 

 almost any cost. The late Mr. Herbemont, of 

 Columbia, proved to the conviction of the most 

 sceptical, that the grape can be cultivated to 

 greater advantage than cotton of any name, or 

 staple. The friends of our country generally, 

 and of economy and temperance especially, should 

 zealously encourage e\'ery effort to make the cul- 

 ture of the vine one of our ordinary pursuits. 

 £d. South, j^gr.} 



Columbia S. C, 13tli October, 1828. 



My much esteemed Sir, — Permit me to take the 

 liberty to address myselfto you on this occasion, for 

 the purpose of making you acquainted with my art 

 of preparing wines and vines ; because you and 

 your friends may have want of me in your city. In 

 such case, if you could assure to me a good por- 

 tion of bad wine, wine of the most inferior quali- 

 ty, good for nothing; wine with bad taste and bad 

 smefl, almost vinegar ; I can make it become ex- 

 cellent wine in the space of two weeks only. It is 

 a fact; and the documents that I have the honour 

 to inclose within, will prove to you my assertion. 

 Please excuse me the liberty I take. Should you 

 be so kind as to give me your answer, I will be 

 ready to go to your city in the month of Decem- 

 ber next. Yours, truly and respectfully, 



CoRREA Da Costa. 



To J.R. Valk, Esq. 



We, the undersigned, having seen and tasted 

 the new wine made in six days, by Mr. Correa 

 Da Costa, and also, the very inferior wines im- 

 proved by him in two weeks — take pleasure to de- 

 clare and certify, that the system of Mr. Da Costa 

 is entirely commendable, as it is certainly the best 

 American wine we have seen, boih for quality 

 and ffavor, as well as expedition. In the space of 

 one week from the gathering of the grapes, every 

 vine planter may have excellent wine ready for 

 sale ; and the most inferior wines can be made in- 

 to the most excellent wines in the space of two 

 weeks, when prepared by the system of" Mr. Correa 

 Da Costa. 



Mr. Correa Da Costa also informs us that his 

 art extends to the planting, rearing, trimming, 

 grafting, inoculating, and cultivating the vines — 

 and he is of opinion that a vineyard attended to un- 



