332 Grape-Growing in Virginia. 



never be used after the vines begin to bear: it causes the vines to grow too 

 rank, the wood is not so firm, and mildew and rot will follow. Ashes and 

 bone-dust are the best manures. The fertility of the soil may be kept up for 

 many years by forest-leaves, earth from the woods or ditch-banks, and any 

 vegetable-matter you can gather up. This may be spread upon the land, 

 and lime sown upon the top. 



Now to the question : What varieties of grapes are most profitable ? I 

 answer. The much-abused Citawba and the Concord. I have grown the 

 Catawba for thirty years ; and it has always given a good crop of 

 sound grapes on young vines for, say, eight years. After that age, a very 

 wet season will produce considerable rot. It makes a better wine than 

 any other variety I have tried, and the wine will sell for more money. The 

 Concord is a more vigorous grower, and will bear earlier, and a larger crop 

 of grapes; but the wine sells for a less price. The Clinton is a very prom- 

 i:.ing grape : it is much sweeter here than in the Northern States. The 

 Hartford Prolific bears large crops ; but one half of the bunch ripens and 

 drops before the other half matures, and we look upon it as of no value. 

 The Ives is a good grower and bearer, free from rot ; ripens here with the 

 Concord, but is not so good. Rogers's 9, 15, and 19 are good grapes, but 

 no better than the Catawba, and rot on young vines : No. 4 is a good 

 bearer, and of fine quality : No. i grows and fruits well ; a fine table-grape. 

 Union Village rots l^adly. Delaware is a very poor grower, except upon a 

 deep sandy soil : on any other soil it mildews badly, and the grape will not 

 ripen. lona will not grow here, e.xcept upon sandy soil : the grape is very 

 much nice the Catawba, but not so rich. Cuyahoga grows and fruits well, 

 and is very promising. Alvey is one of the most promising grapes I have 

 ever grown; vine very vigorous ; bears enormous crops; perfectly free from 

 rot ; fully equal to the Delaware in quality. The bunches are always full and 

 healthy. It ripens here the first of September. It will grow well in any soil ; 

 but, like others, it has its preference. Why this grape has been so little 

 noticed, seems strange. It is surpassed by none, and equalled by few. It 

 has all the good qualities to recommend it, except size. The berries are of 

 full medium size ; bunches good size, and very compact ; color black. 

 We have several characters of soil here, — the gray loam, sandy soil, 

 white or leachy, and the brown or chocolate loam : the latter is the best 



