198 APPENDIX. 



commenced replanting my vineyards with the Isabella in 

 1832, and with the Catawba in 1835, and have been in- 

 creasing them to the present time. I have now (1842) about 

 twenty acres of these grapes, principally the former, under 

 the most successful cultivation, and shall continue to in- 

 crease the number of vines till all my vacant ground is oc- 

 cupied. I find the native grapes susceptible of vast im- 

 provement by cultivation. The Isabella and Catawba, 

 which were growing in I he wild state about forty years 

 since, have improved exceedingly, and are capable of still 

 farther improvement by high culture. 



The quality of my fruit has changed very much within a 

 few years ; the clusters and berries are much larger and 

 sweeter, the skin thinner, and the pulp has nearly disap- 

 peared. 



The improvement in these, and others of our native 

 grapes, will be found to be progressive, and in a few years 

 we shall have no cause to regret the impossibility of trans- 

 ferring to our soil the delicate vines of Europe, rendered 

 feeble by centuries of close pruning. The native vigor of 

 the Isabella and Catawba is so much greater than that of 

 most of the vines cultivated in the vineyards of Europe, 

 that we shall be able to raise a greater quantity per acre 

 than they can possibly obtain. 



There cannot be a doubt that excellent wine can be made 

 from many of our native grapes. Considerable quantities 

 are now made in the Carolinas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and 

 Indiana. * * * The Isabella is said to make a light 

 sweet wine, and also Cham paigne; the Catawba, on the 

 contrary, a very strong, excellent wine, not inferior to Ma- 

 deira. This is the opinion of a number of gentlemen who 

 have made the latter, and taken much pains to test its quali- 

 ties. The most prominent, object I have had in view, has 

 been the introduction of a healthy and delicious_article for 

 the use of the table. 



Among the difficulties and enemies with which Dr. Un- 

 derbill has had to contend, and which experience has ena- 

 bled him to overcome, he states the rosebug has not been 

 the least. However, we cannot do better than let the Doc- 

 tor tell his own story. 



