244 THE VINEYARD. [MARCH 



ing fields, which will render them pleasant, and produce abundance 

 of fruit ; or there may be single rows planted to surround fields, &c., 

 which will be found extremely profitable, if in an honest neighbor- 

 hood. 



You may now plant the boundaries of large orchards with English 

 walnuts and Spanish chestnuts; these will not only afford you an 

 abundance of fruit, but protect the trees in general from the power 

 of tempestuous winds. A small quarter of the orchard may be 

 allotted to filberts, mulberries, medlars, berberries, &c., and this is a 

 proper time for planting them. 



For the method of raising and propagating all kinds of fruit-trees, 

 &c., see the Nursery for this and the preceding month ; and also 

 July. 



THE VINEYARD. 



The Vitis vinifera, or common wine-yielding Vine, is a native of 

 the warmer regions of Asia : it is found to be most successful in the 

 temperate climates, or between the 30th and 50th degrees of north 

 and south latitudes. 



It is cultivated in the greatest perfection in the Island of Madeira, 

 lat. 32 north ; and in every part of Europe as far north as the fif- 

 tieth degree of latitude ; also at the Cape of G-ood Hope, about lat. 

 33 50' south, as well as in every corresponding parallel in Asia and 

 the civilized parts of Africa : yet there are people among us who 

 seem to despair of its being possible to cultivate it successfully in the 

 United States, and who by this kind of despondency publicly ex- 

 pressed, discountenance its cultivation. We Jiave similar climates, 

 and as suitable soil and situations, as are to be found in any of the 

 countries where this plant is cultivated, and what to attribute this 

 infidelity to I am at a loss to know.* What do they perceive insalu- 

 brious in the air, or unfriendly to vegetable life in the soil of Ame- 

 rica, any more than in trans-atlantic countries ; or are they led estray 

 by prejudiced European writers, whose envy, or want of knowledge, 

 or perhaps both, had prompted them to assert, that neither animals 

 nor vegetables arrive at as good or as great perfection in America as 

 in Europe ? However, a little time and some industry will show 

 that this prejudice is erroneous, and that the vine can be cultivated 

 in the far greater part of the Union, to immense national, as well as 

 individual advantage. 



The vine was originally introduced into Europe from Asia Minor ; 

 and even in the days of Lucullusj the Romans were seldom able to 



* The extreme variation of temperature in the northern States checks the 

 circulation of the sap, and produces mildew in the European kinds. They 

 can be and are, however, grown under glass to as great perfection as in 

 any part of Europe. Our native sorts are now being improved by fresh 

 seedlings, and there is now no doubt but our own country will soon e^ual 

 the finest quality. 



