210 



The Grape Culturist. 



CAN GEAPE GROWING BE OVEEDONE ? 



BY THE EDITOR. 



AVc hiive often heard the remark 

 made : " There are so many entering 

 into grape growing, so many acres of 

 vines planted every year, that it will be 

 overdone in a short time, our markets 

 will be glutted with grapes, and 

 people will not drink and consume 

 half of our wine." This would be, 

 indeed, a serioiis drawback, had it 

 any foundation in rcalit3^ Before 

 we advise our readers to go on and 

 plant grapes largely, we should deter- 

 mine this question, and see whether 

 or no there is any cause for alarm. 

 "We think not, and will give our 

 reasons why we think so. 



1st. We contend that the popula- 

 tion of this vast country can and will 

 consume twenty times the amount of 

 grapes in a fresh state which is con- 

 sumed now. Enable them to buy 

 grapes at the fruit staiids, at from 5 

 to 6 cents per pound, bring them 

 within the reach of every poor 

 laborer, to "take home to his fruit 

 hungry little ones, and our word for 

 it, it will take an army of grape 

 growers to supply the demand. Let 

 us remember the fact, that Concoi-d 

 grapes at 4 cents per pound, are still 

 a more remunerative crop than almost 

 any other farm produce ; that at this 

 price even, and taking the lowest 

 average yield, they will pay $250 per 

 acre, and no one can imagine the in- 

 crease of their consumption. They 

 must become an article of daily diet 

 in our fomilies, not the costly luxury 

 they have been until now; and they 

 will be so before long, we trust. 



2d. The consumption of ^oine can 

 and Avill become immeasurably greater 

 than it is now, as soon as the price 

 is sufficiently reduced. Let the 

 laborer be enabled to purchase a 

 good, light wine b}^ the keg at, say 

 $1 per gallon, and millions will drink 

 wine daily, Avho are now drinking 

 beer, or worse still, whisky and 

 brandy. They will find it cheaper 

 and more beneficial to their system 

 than any of these; and hundreds, nay 

 thousands of gallons of wine will be 

 used to every one that is drank now. 

 An immense amount will then be 

 used for home consumption, an 

 amount, of which but few really have 

 a faint conception yet, 



3d. We will become exporters of 

 wine in a few years instead of im- 

 porters. Our Nortons Virginia has 

 already made its mark in Europe, 

 although we have but in a few in- 

 stances learnt to bring it to its full 

 perfection. Wine connoisseurs say 

 there is no better red wine on the 

 face of the globe than our Cynthiana. 

 We have drank white Avines equal, 

 if not superior, to the best imported, 

 and if we can export grain, cotton, 

 and other products, why not wine, as 

 soon as it is good enough, and we raise 

 enough of it to make the necessity 

 for seeking a market, and creating a 

 demand for it. 



We need not therefore fear that we 

 shall glut and overstock the market, 

 either Avith grapes or wine. But a 

 few rules must be observed to meet 

 all requirements which may be made 



