22 CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



and by French, Swiss, and German settlers ; but, having 

 depended upon foreign varieties, their efforts have in- 

 variably proved unsuccessful. We are indebted to Mr. 

 John Adlum for the first really successful efforts, and for 

 laying a sure foundation for future success. In the early 

 part of this century, Mnjor Adlum planted a vineyard 

 near Georgetown, D.C., consisting principally of native 

 kinds. We shall all agree with him that his obtaining 

 and introducing the Catawba variety into general culti- 

 vation was a new era in our grape history. Major Ad- 

 lum states that he procured it from Mrs. Schell, at Clarks- 

 burg, Md., and that it was called Catawba by Mr. Schell; 

 but the family knew not whence he procured it. It is 

 said that one exactly similar was found growing wild in 

 Pennsylvania about this time. 



Major Adlum soon discovered the merits of this va- 

 riety, and pronounced it "the very best wine-grape in the 

 United States;" which opinion has certainly been sus- 

 tained up to the time of the introduction of the Delaware 

 variety, and is still maintained by many vintners up to 

 this date. The Catawba has been planted far more ex- 

 tensively than all other varieties put together, for the 

 exclusive purpose of wine-making. In a letter subse- 

 quently written by Major Adlum to N. Long worth, he 



