2 Climate, Soil. etc. 



BUSHBERG CATALOGUE. 



Grape Localities. 



The dim legendaiy outlines of Rome's aucieut 

 history show us that Numa rompilius (670 B. C), 

 the successoi of Romulns, ordered the use of 

 pure wines at sacriticial ceremonies and pro- 

 hibited the customary pouring of wine on the 

 funeral pvre of the dead. 



Alexander the Great found the wild vine in 

 India's spicy forests; and the mountains of Fir- 

 distan in Persia probably supplied the vines 

 which, cultivated more than a thousand years 

 ago, produced the famous wine of Shlraz^, sti.l 

 celebrated throughout the East. 



Thus, from time immemmorial, the attention 

 of all nations has been occupied with the cultiva- 

 tion of the vine wheresoever its fruit will ripen. 



But whether the Grape-vine is a native of 

 Asia, and has followed the footsteps of man 

 from the shores of the Caspian Sea, and "in- 

 tertwined its tendrils with civilization and 

 refinement in ever}' age," or whether the 

 thousands of varieties that now exist spring 

 from different primordial forms or species, 

 certain it is that, although the Grape-vine 

 may be found in Europe from the Tropic of 

 Cancer to the Baltic Sea, and in America 

 from the Gulf to the Lakes, the vine is never- 

 theless peculiarly the growth of definite cli- 

 matic conditions ; so much so that even in its 

 most adapted climate there are often seasons 

 if not of actual failure, at least of an imper- 

 fect development of its fruit. From long 

 and careful observations of temperature and 

 moisture, in years of success and failure, we 

 have finally arrived at some definite conclu- 

 sions respecting the meteorological influences 

 affecting the grape.* 



1st. No matter bow excellent the soil, if 

 there is a le8s average than fifty-five degrees, 

 Fahr., of temperature for the groiving months 

 of April, May and June, and a less average 

 than sixty-five degrees for the maturing months 

 of July, August and September, there can be 

 no hope of success ; and where the tempera- 

 ture averages sixty-five degrees for the former 

 months and seventy-five for the latter, other 

 conditions being equal, fruit of the greatest 

 excellence can be raised, and wine of the 

 greatest body can be produced. f 



2d. When there is an average rainfall of 

 six inches for the months of April, Ma}^ and 

 June, and an average of 5 inches (126 mm.) 



* James S. Lippincott: Climatology of American 

 Grapes.— /rf. Geography of Plants— C/. S. Agr. JReports, 

 1862 and 1863— Dr. J. Stayman: The Meteorological In- 

 fluences aftVcMng the Grape. 



+ In both hcinisiiticrcs tiie profitable culture of the vine 

 ceases within 'M) dcurees of the Equator, unless in very 

 elevated situations, or in insular localities tempered 

 by sea breeze. And in the old world, in Europe, it 

 extends to about 50 degrees nortli. 



Along the Thames, without the walls, the old Roman 

 Vineyards still put forth green leaves and crude 

 clusters, in tlie plains of East Smithfield, in the fields 

 of St. Giles' and on the site where now stands Hatton 

 Gardens. The question whether or not real vineyards 

 were grown, or real wine made from them in England, 

 has been a very vexed question among the antiquaries. 

 But it is scarcely possible to read Peggs' dispute with 

 Daines Harrington in the Archa?ologia without decid- 

 ing both questions in the affirmative. — See Archuiol., 



for the months of July, August and- Septem- 

 ber, though other conditions were favorable, 

 we cannot succeed in raising grapes. When 

 the average rainfall for the first months is not 

 more than four inches, and the average for 

 the latter is not more than three inches 

 (75 mm.), other conditions favorable; the 

 hardy varieties can be cultivated with suc- 

 cess. But where there is less average rain- 

 fall than five inches for April, May and June, 

 and a less average than two inches in Jul}. 

 August and September, all other conditions 

 being favorable, fruit of the best quality can 

 be raised, and wine of the greatest body and 

 excellence can be made. The humiditj^ of 

 the atmosphere in some countries, the dryness 

 of the air in others, will, of course, materiallj' 

 change the proportion of rainfall required 

 for, or injurious to the grape. Here, a clear 

 sky and dry atmosphere, high temperature 

 and very little rainfall for the latter three 

 months, and a less change of temperature 

 than fifty degrees, Fahr., in twenty-four 

 hours, any time of the year, are favorable 

 conditions for success. 



With regard to the necessity of attention 

 to the most advantageous climatic conditions, 

 says Mr. William Saunders (the eminent su- 

 perintendent of the Experimental Gardens of 

 the U. S. Department of Agriculture). "It is 

 enough to i-emark, that where these are favor- 

 able, good crops of fruit are the rule, and that 

 too, even in the absence of experience in 

 cultivation ; but in unfavorable locations the 

 application of the highest attainments in the 

 art and science of grape culture, so far as 

 relates to pruning manipulations or culture 

 and management of soil, will not insure suc- 

 cess. Grape culture has now reached a point 

 from which but little further i^rogress can be 

 made without a close recognition of the re- 

 quirements of the i^lant, in connection with 

 local climatic conditions, the most important 

 being that of freedom from heavy dews (free- 

 dom from those cryptogamic diseases — mil- 

 dew and rot). The topographical configura- 

 tion of a locality is of far more importance 

 than its geographical formation. Where the 



vol. Ill, p. 53. An engraving of the Saxon wine press 

 is given in Stkutt's Herda. Vineyards fell into dis- 

 use, either by treaty with France, or GascOny falling 

 into the hands of tlie English. But vineyards w re 

 cultivated by private gentlemen as late as 1621. Our 

 first wines from Bordeaux appear to have been im- 

 ported al)out 1154, by the marriage of Henry II. with 

 Eleanor of Aquitaine.— Fro»» "Harold," the last of the 

 Sa.rou Kings, by Sir Edward Buluer Lytton, Bart. Vol. I, 

 chapter IV. 



In the Southern hemisphere, the Cape of Good Hope 

 iust falls within the latitude occupied by the grape. 

 In the North it extends to Lake Superior and parts of 

 Soutliern Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. But where the 

 winter cold is extreme, it is necessary not only to cover 

 with earth, but also to provide for a liberal covering 

 of snow l)y placing wiridl)reaks of boards at intervals,, 

 or ever-green boughs to collect and hold the snow. 



