234 THE VINEYARD [March 



the civilized parts of Africa: yet there are people among us who 

 seem to despair of its being possible to cultivate it successfully in the 

 United States, and who by this kind of despondency publicly ex- 

 pressed, discountenance its cultivation. We have similar climates 

 and a9 suitable soil and situations as are to be found in any of the 

 countries where this plant is cultivated, and what to attribute this 

 infidelity to I am at a loss to know. What do they perceive insalu- 

 brious in the air, or unfriendly to vegetable life in the soil of Ame- 

 rica, any more than in trans-atlantic countries; or are they led 

 astray by prejudiced European writers, whose envy, or want of 

 knowledge, or perhaps both, had prompted them to assert, that 

 neither animals nor vegetables arrive at as good or as great perfec- 

 tion in America as in Europe? However, a little time and some 

 industry will show that this prejudice is erroneous, and that the 

 Vine can be cultivated in the far greater part of the Union, to 

 immense national, as well as individual advantage. 



The vine was originally introduced into Europe from Asia Minor; 

 and even in the days of Lucullus, the Romans were seldom able to 

 regale themselves with its juice, very little wine being made at that 

 time within the compass of Italy; and the foreign wines which they 

 imported from Asia were so dear, that they were rarely introduced 

 at an entertainment, and when they were, each guest was indulged 

 only with a single draught. But in the seventh century of Rome, 

 as their conquests augmented the degree of their wealth, this 

 luxury was sought after with avidity, and wines became the object 

 of particular attention. In the progress of their conquests, the 

 westerly parts of the European continent was at once subjected to 

 the arms and enriched with the vines of Italy; its cultivation went 

 on but slowly for some time in these countries, where it. has since 

 become a staple article of great national importance, perhaps occa- 

 sioned by the same kind of doubts, fears, prejudices, and appre- 

 hensions that now operate against it in the United States; but these 

 at length were surmounted by the industry of a few cultivators who 

 had penetration enough to perceive its practicability, and who, no 

 doubt, were amply remunerated, in consequence of being first in 

 market with large quantities: others perceiving their fortunate suc- 

 cess, copied their examples, in expectation of obtaining like profits. 

 Similar to this will be its progress in America, and those who first 

 commence the business by planting on an extensive scale, will 

 assuredly reap the richest harvests. 



The culture of the vine will for some time be an experimental 

 business with us; however, the first object is to obtain the kinds 

 that will immediately, or soonest accommodate themselves to the 

 different regions of the Union; perhaps those from Madeira, or the 

 Cape of Good Hope, would best suit in the southern states, those 

 from the south of Europe, in the middle, and those from Burgundy, 

 Champagne, Switzerland, Bordeaux, or the banks of the Rhine, in 

 the eastern states. Trials of this kind should be made, and the 

 result carefully attended to; and, indeed, each and every of the 

 states, should give a fair trial to the vines of every country, from 

 whence they can be procured; by which means, and by which only, 



