158 The Story of Vineland. 



or Manchester; and it is related that the Vinelanders who have had 

 similar experience may be counted by the score. 



But the question arises, What of the future ? The prospect is certainly 

 cheering. At the first, and for two or three years, there were clouds, 

 doubtless not a few, in the Vineland firmament. The earliest settlers 

 were mostly poor, and many seemed peculiarly unfitted to cope with the 

 disadvantages that hedged them in. Of course, these suffered ; but, even 

 for the best and most hopeful, there must have been dreary days. From 

 the weak, the faint-hearted, the drones in the hive, lamentations were 

 heard. Later, the skies cleared somewhat : there came pleasant sugges- 

 tions of golden harvest in the soft sunshine of spring, and roses were grow- 

 ing at the door. Later yet, the boughs bent : the bread had returned. 

 Still there is discontent in Vineland. Rachels are there who refuse to be 

 comforted. Mr. Micawber is there, waiting for something to turn up. 

 Mrs. Gummidge is there, thinking of the Old One, and hesitating to throw 

 the worn shoe for luck. 



But the question of continued success largely depends for answer on the 

 capabilities of the soil. The soil is a gravelly or sandy loam : there are 

 no stones, and the ease of cultivation is noteworthy. The land needs fer- 

 tilizing for most crops ; though some do well without manure, — the peach, 

 for instance. A liberal application of lime will bring good clover ; and a 

 field of corn was pointed out, which followed a clover-sod, and which prom- 

 ised a yield of sixty bushels (shelled) to the acre. It would, perhaps, be 

 safe to take this as an exception ; though there is no reason why it should 

 not be the rule. Other cereals are produced, and appear to prosper ; but 

 the proximity of the Philadelphia market makes the cultivation of small 

 fruits and vegetables more profitable. The soil seems well adapted to the 

 grape. We saw, for example, eighty-eight Concord vines from which eleven 

 hundred fine clusters had just been taken ; and another vineyard of twelve 

 hundred vines yielded a crop which sold for twelve hundred dollars. 

 Pears, sweet-potatoes, and melons are also in their element here ; and at 

 the annual fair, which was in progress during the writer's visit, the show of 

 seasonable productions was large and satisfactory, — so large and satisfac- 

 tory, in fact, that it would have done credit to the husbandry of the richest 



