NATURAL AND CIVIL HISTORY OF 'mZ TINE. 23 



picked 4000 lbs., wliicli lie sold for $500, or at the rate 

 of 12^ cts. per pound. 'NotxG reported a less profit 

 than $500 per acre. 



From the very first settlement of America the 

 vine attracted the attention of the colonists, and 

 efforts were made both to introduce the finer Euro- 

 pean varieties and to cultivate the native soi-ts. Even 

 as early as 1564, wine was made from the nativ^e 

 grape in Florida, though, of course, in small quantity. 



The earliest attempt to establish a vineyard in the 

 British Korth' American colonies was by the "Lon- 

 don Company " in Virginia prior to 1G20. By the 

 year 1630, the prospects were sufficiently favorable 

 to warrant the importation of several French vig7ie- 

 rons, who, it was alleged, ruined them by bad 

 management. Wine was also made in Yirginia in 

 1617, and in 1651 premiums were offered for its pro- 

 duction. On the authority of Beverley, who wrote 

 prior to 1722, there were vineyards in that colony 

 which produced 750 gallons a year. 



In 1661, Col. Eichard i^icolls, the first English 

 governor of ]N"ew York, granted to Paul Eichards of 

 the city of [N'ew York the privilege of making and 

 selling wine free of all duty or impost, Eichards hav- 

 ing been the first to enter upon the culture of the 

 vine on a large scale. It was also enacted that every 

 person who should durin^j the succeeding thirty 



