THE VINEYARD REGION IN THE UNITED STATES. 71 



partments in France tluit are unfriendly to the vine ; the ex- 

 ceptions are six only. In eighty of the departments wine is 

 made, although of varying quality. The country may be 

 called one vast vine-garden. 



The number of proprietors of vineyards in France, is very 

 great. 



In 1823, there were 4,270,000 acres in cultivation. The 

 annual mean product, 920,721,088 gallons of wine, at an 

 average value of about thirteen cents per gallon, amounting 

 to 120,000,000 dollars. The product per acre, near 200 

 gallons. This estimate was sustained by the minister of com- 

 merce, in his report for 1828. About 115,000,000 gallons 

 of wine is annually distilled into brandy, producing near 

 19,000,000 gallons. Beside this, 2,000,000 gallons are ob- 

 tained from the murk, ('pummice,' grape seeds and skins, 

 after being pressed), and 3,000,000 gallons made from corn, 

 potatoes, etc., etc. Swelling the total amount of brandy to 

 24,0^0,000 gallons." The wine products of France must 

 have greatly increased since 1 828, when these estimates were 

 made. 



THE VINEYARD REGION IN THE UNITED STATES. 



The writer of this treatise^oes not presume to fix the limits 

 of the vineyard region in this country. The grape-vine is 

 found indigenous over all our vast possessions. There can 

 be no doubt, but some of the native varieties may be found 

 suitable for vineyard culture, in almost every section of the 

 Union, south of latitude 43°. He can only give the result of 

 his own observations, in relation to the kinds cultivated here ; 

 and first, of the Catawba : — This grape was discovered, ac- 

 cording to Dr. Mosher's report, " in Buncombe county, N. 

 Carolina ; latitude, 35° 30', by Col. Murray, and others, in 

 1802." It has since been found high up the Arkansas river, 

 in about the same parallel of latitude, and on similar soil, 

 "poor and gravelly." Since that period, it has spread over 

 all the country north, as high as lat. 42° ; ond how far south. 



