AMERICAN GRAPE CULTURE 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



THERE are few material interests that at pres- 

 ent claim a larger share of public attention than 

 the culture of the grape. This is true, whether 

 we regard the grape as something that ministers 

 to our enjoyments, or fills our pockets with gold. 

 We have thought, therefore, that an elementary 

 work on the grape, plain and practical, would 

 now possess a certain degree of interest, and be 

 of some value to the public. It would not be 

 possible, of course, to exhaust such a subject in 

 an elementary work ; we must necessarily treat 

 it with much brevity, but we shall endeavor to 

 present such a resume of the details and prin- 

 ciples of grape culture as will enable any intelli- 

 gent person to grow good grapes, and even make 

 good wine. The subject, indeed, is worthy of 

 profound study for the sake of its own pure 



