464 FRUIT. 



who had an abundance of capital at their command, there is no 

 record of one single case of even tolerable success. In no part of 

 the United States is the climate adapted to the vineyard culture of 

 the foreign grape. 



So much as this was learned, indeed, twenty years ago. But 

 was the matter to be given up in this manner ? Could it be possi- 

 ble that a vast continent, over which, from one end to the other, the 

 wild grape grows in such abundance that the Northmen, who were 

 perhaps the first discoverers, gave it the beautiful name of VINLAND, 

 should never be the land of vineyards ? There were at least two 

 men who still believed wine-making possible ; and who, twenty 

 years or more ago, noticing that the foreign grape proved worthless 

 in this country, had faith in the good qualities of the indigenous 

 stock. 



We mean, of course, Major Adlum, of the District of Columbia, 

 and Nicholas Longworth, Esq., of Ohio. Both these gentlemen, 

 after testing the foreign grape, abandoned it, and took up the most 

 promising native sorts ; and both at last settled upon the Catawba, 

 as the only wine grape, yet known, worthy of cultivation in Ame- 

 rica. 



Major Adlum planted a vineyard, and made some wine, which 

 we tasted. It was of only tolerable quality ; but it proved that 

 good wine can be made of native grapes, the growth of our own 

 soil. And though Adlum was not a thorough cultivator, he pub- 

 lished a volume on the culture of native grapes, which roused pub- 

 lic attention to the subject. He made the assertion before he died, 

 that in introducing the Cawtaba grape to public attention, he had 

 done more for the benefit of the country than if he had paid 

 off our then existing national debt. And to this sentiment there 

 are many in the western States who are ready now to subscribe 

 heartily. 



Mr. Longworth is a man of different stamp. With abundant 

 capital, a great deal of patriotism, and a large love of the culture of 

 the soil, he adds an especial talent for overcoming obstacles, and 

 great pertinacity in carrying his point. What he cannot do him- 

 self, he very well knows how to find other persons capable of doing t 

 Hence he pursued quite the opposite system from those who under- 



