Causes of Failure in Grape Growing. 



139 



miles from Dr. Norton's residonco in 

 Henrico. If it originated from seed 

 in the Doctor's garden, it was doubt- 

 less brought there by a bird that had 

 gathered it from a wild vine. The 

 idea of its being a hybrid between the 

 two grapes named is removed bej'ond 

 the pale of probability by the fact 

 that they are not in bloom at the 

 same period. There is no hazard in 

 classing it as a true oestii^alis. 



During an experience of upwards 

 of thirty years with this grape, I have 

 never known it, under any circum- 

 stances, to be affected with any dis- 

 ease of leaf or fruit; and the pure 

 juice, without Q,r\j admixture what- 

 ever, has produced, under the simplest 

 management, wine that I have kept 

 not only sound for eighteen years in 

 unsealed bottles, in all temperatures 

 up to 100'', but which was at all ages 

 pronounced by experts to be unsur- 

 passed by any product of Europe. 



These tM-o characteristics — perfect 

 healthiness of vine and fruit, and the 

 perfect adaptation of the latter to 

 conversion, by the simplest process, 

 into wine that will sell loherever xoine is 

 drank, will insure to this variety an 

 enduring popularity wherever the sea- 

 son will admit of its thorough and 

 perfect ripening. 



In Pennsylvania, Xow York, and 

 Ohio, I have seen this grape severolj'' 

 criticised on account of the harshness 

 of its flavor. With us, in Eastern 

 Virginia, its drawback as a table fruit 

 is found in its superabundance of 

 sugary sweetness, when perfectly 

 ripe. It lacks the vinous sprightli- 

 ness indispensable to a fine table fruit. 



We are thus, at every step, remin- 

 ded that if we expect to succeed in 

 wine making, wo must careful h' se- 

 lect, for our particular region, the 

 varieties of grapes that find a congenial 

 home just there. 



CAUSES OF FAILURE IN GEAPE GROWING. 

 By Isidor Bush. 



We do not intend to write a ser- 

 mon ; we do not wish to write for 

 those who need be reminded that there 

 are certain elements of success, with- 

 out which men cannot succeed in any 

 vocation, and which are equally essen- 

 tial, nay indispensable, in those who 

 expect to cultivate the vine success- 

 fully ; we do not speak to those who 

 need be told that he who idly looks 

 into the clouds in spring or summer, 

 cannot reap this noblest of fruits in 

 fall. 



But there are those to whom blessed 

 labor is no burden, who have been 



successful in other branches of indus- 

 try and even of agriculture, and yet 

 have sadly failed in their attempts at 

 grape culture. And by examining 

 into the causes of their failure, it is 

 that we may hope to guard against 

 similar errors, and to find the way to 

 success which has so richly rewarded 

 some of our grape culturists. 



1, ERUOUS IN THE SELECTION OF VA- 

 RIETIES. 



We mention these/rs^, because they 

 form part of the history of grape cul- 

 ture in America. They were the great 

 cause of delay in its progress for cen- 



