AND WINE MAKING. 159 



present position in horticulture, and considering also 

 our improving communications with the outside world, 

 it seems to me that the day is near when Texas shall be 

 regarded truly by the nation and the world, as indeed 

 the Italy of America — the Empire State of the Union — 

 the great garden of the Continent. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 



GRAPE GROWING IN WESTERN TEXAS. 



BY RUDOLPH EIKEL, NEW BRAUNFELS. 



My first experiments in grape culture in this country 

 were made more than thirty years ago, with European va- 

 rieties ( Vitis vinifera). The vines grew very well for 

 several years, but seldom produced fruit. One of my 

 neighbors once grew a very fair crop of Riessling, and 

 the wine made from them was delicious. But all these 

 experiments failed eventually, the vines lived and grew 

 for several years, but died out finally. 



I then planted several acres with Black Spanish, which 

 had been successfully tested here, and could be grown 

 with good results. I also received about thirty varieties of 

 American grapes from St. Louis ; among them I found 

 three which flourish well here, and which can be grown 

 with certainty, viz. : the Herbemont, Rulander, and 

 liouisiana. The Herbemont is equal to the Black Span- 

 ish in growth and productiveness. 



The Black Spanish is equally successful in black ^'gum- 

 bo " soil or sand, on the hills as well as in valleys, but the 

 hill-sides are preferable, as it can not stand wet weather, 

 and the fruit rots when exposed to it. The bunches are 

 long and compact, berry small, with thin skin, black. 



