CULTIVATION OF THE VINE. 



355 



those that have BucccsBfully been brought un- 

 der cultivation, which ar« ;v9 follows : 



1. V. L. iSABET.i.A, Prince. Isabella Grape- 

 vine. — This variety is distiu^xished by its 

 large, dai-k-piirplo tVuit. of an oval form, and 

 of a jnicy, musky flavor. It possesses great 

 vigor of growth, is a healthy and abundant 

 be-arer of fruit, luid what renders it exceed- 

 ingly valuable in our climate is, that it re 

 quires but little protCKi'tion daring winter. — 

 Crinceming its origin and history, we are in- 

 debted to General .loseph Swift, of Geneva, 

 New-York, for the following account, which 

 we Inist will be no less acceptable in Coining 

 from so respectable a source, than in the in- 

 terest elicited in so valuable a [)roduction. It 

 appears that Gen. Smith, of Smithville. Noith 

 Carolina, in 1808, proctu-ed from Dorchester, 

 South Carolina, several roots and cuttings of a 

 hybrid vine, which, it is said, had been origi- 

 nate<l there by some families of Huguenots, 

 between the Burgimdy grai)e of Europe, and 

 the native Fox grajio of that vicuiity. In the 

 year 1817, a vine producecl from these cut- 

 tings was transplanted from Smithville, by 

 Mrs. Isabella Gibbs. in honor of whom this 

 variety was named, to the garden then owned 

 by her husband. Col. George Gibbs, which 

 was situated along the soutlierly side of Cran- 

 ben-y, between Willow and Columbia streets, 

 in Urooklyn, New-York. In loU). the garden 

 was purchased by Gen. Swift, who veiy gen- 

 erously distributed roots and cuttings of this 

 vine among his neighbors and others — more 

 especially to the late \Vm. Prince, of Flush- 

 ing, Long Island : through whose etforls it 

 became widely disseminated throughout the 

 l.'nion, and was sent to sevend countries in 

 Europe, Madeira, &x. The garden has since 

 been divided into lots, and occupied by build- 

 ings ; and the original Isabella vine, after at- 

 taining a cu'cumterence of more than a foot, 

 was severed to the ground in 1838. Fortu- 

 nately, howevei', several vigorous vines have 

 since spnmg up trom the roots, which con- 

 tiiuie tobeai- fruit in abundance. From other 

 btateineuts, it wotdd st^t^ui thai this variety is 

 not a hybrid, but was known in lliis countiy 

 yxMi- to 1800. 

 l"9) 



2. V, L. HACois ALIUS, Loudon. Bland's 

 Pnfc-red Grape, Bland's Fox Grape, Bland's 

 Virtrinia Grape, Red Scnppemonir Grape, 

 Carolina Grape, Miizzei Grape, — Thia vari 

 ety may be known by its pale-green leaves, 

 leugliienod clusters, with large berries, of a 

 roundish oroljlate l(>nn, pahi-rcd color, and 

 sweet, juicy pulp, of a jileasant flavor; in 

 some cases, however, at full niatmity, the 

 fruit is said to acquire a dark-jturple or red- 

 wine color. It is tnoro esteemed by .some, as 

 a table fruit, than that of the Isabella, having 

 a iViinner skin, and containing ;i pulp of less 

 consistency. It was deemed for some time 

 as nn.suitable for our northern climate; but it 

 has been found to succeed in maturing its fruit 

 in most 8eas(ms, in the neighborhor)d of New- 

 Y'ork. and may successfully hi^ cultivated as a 

 wall fruit in a much higher latitude, both in 

 Europe and America. It ha.s !>een contended 

 that this variety was brought from Italy by 

 Mazzei ; but it is well known that it was cul- 

 tivated by Col. Bland, of Virginia, long before 

 that gentleman visited this country. The 

 original vine is said to have been found on the 

 Eastein Shore of Mai-ykmd, by Mr. Bland, 

 who {)resented cuttings of it t(J tVie hue Win. 

 Bartram and Samuel Powel, of Philadelpliia, 

 and some ol' the persons who received slips 

 of it fnjm the latter gentleman gave it the cog- 

 nomen of Powel Grape. 



3. V. L. CATAWiiiENsis. Catawba Grape- 

 vine. — The fruit of tliis variety Occurs in looso 

 bunches, of an inconsiderable size, and of a 

 beautiful appearance. The berries are large, 

 and much varied in their flavor and color, ac- 

 corduig to their exposure to the rays of the 

 sua. Those which receive the full effect of 

 the .sun are of a bluish-purple, and a slight 

 musky flavor; but, when ]>artially exposed, 

 they are of a lilac hue, and those which gi-ow 

 entirely hi the shade are of a Iran.slucent 

 while, sweet, and devoid of musk in then- 

 taste. The fiTiit is earlier in ripening than 

 that of the preceding variety-, and, when al- 

 lowed to remain on the vine until perfectly 

 mature, the pulj) nearly disappears. It is es- 

 teemed as a fable gi'ape, and has also beea 

 manufactured into an excellent wine. The 

 original vuie is said to liave been procured 

 from the banks of the Catawba, and planted 

 in the garden of the late Mr. Schell, at Clarks- 

 burg, in Maiyland, and has been knowni to 

 bear nearly eight bushels of fruit in a single 

 season. 



4. V. L. Ei.siNBURGESsis, Priuce. Elsan- 

 ho rough Grape-vine. — This variety is noted 

 for its sweet, juicy tiiiit, which is free from 

 pulp, and musky taste. The clusters are of a 

 medium size, with loose berries of a blue 

 color, which are said to make an agreeable 

 wine. Its foliage is of a pale-green, and re- 

 sembles that of die wine-bearing grape of Eu- 

 rope, more, perhaps, than that of any other 

 American variety. It somewhat rt^emble.s 

 the Isabella ui its bark iuid wood, but its fniit 

 is thought to ;isslmilate more nearly to that 

 of the Meuiiier, of France. The original >'iiio 



