VINEYARD, GERMANTOWN. 331 



this interesting subject, and although his communication 

 should more properly be placed with others of its class under 

 the head of American vineyards in the second part of this 

 work, I cannot refrain from inserting it here as one of general 

 and immediate interest, and as a specimen of that skill, enter- 

 prise and intelligence which it may be expected will be de- 

 veloped when we come to the discussions under that head. 



Copy of a letter from Edward H. Bonsall, Esq. to the author. 



" Vineyard, Germantown, Pa. February 1830. 



" I received your communication, in due course, and feel 

 under obligations for the kindness which prompted it. In 

 accordance with the invitation contained in it, I shall now 

 proceed to give a cursory sketch of my practice and 

 experience, so far as I understand your proposition to ex- 

 tend. I may premise, that I commenced planting my vine- 

 yard in the spring of 1825, with from seven to eight thou 

 sand cuttings, which I extended over three acres of ground, 

 arranging them with a view to the vines being when grown, 

 at distances of four by seven feet from each other. There 

 was an average of two cuttings in a place. From the time of 

 planting (say first of April,) for a period of six weeks, there 

 was but about one-fourth of an inch of rain, and the sun fre- 

 quently warm. The vegetating principle was put in action, 

 the sprouts started, and deriving no nutriment from the soil, 

 many of them were soon killed, and dropped off, I raised 

 something beyond one thousand. The early and most impor- 

 tant part of the next season was almost equally unfavourable, 

 which combining with the necessity of starting with very few 

 of some of the varieties, I was desirous of cultivating exten- 

 sively, (and from which I have since been propagating, and 

 gradually extending my stock,) greatly obstructed the com- 

 pletion of my establishment, so that there are yet some vacan- 

 cies to be filled. I have now about three thousand five hun- 

 dred in their proper places, and upwards of one thousand more 

 to be renewed. I have such confidence in the business being 

 both practicable and profitable, that I contemplate planting 



