No. 151.] 537 



A CONTRAST BETWEEN THE AMERICAN AND EUROPE- 

 AN SYSTEMS OF VINEYARDS. 



Brinkleyville Vineyard, Halifax Co., JV*. C, 



Mr. Starr — Some individuals not thoroughly acquainted with the 

 true and successful vineyard operations in this country, might sup- 

 pose that in the above heading, the word parallel should have been 

 used instead of contrast, and one reason of my supposing this, is 

 drawn from the tenor of a certain conversation of members of the 

 American Institute, as detailed in the " Farmer and Mechanic" on 

 the vineyard business in our country. According to my recollection, 

 from reading said conversation, all but Dr. Underbill, (who is pre- 

 sumed to be most practically and thoroughly acquainted with the vine- 

 yard subject) seemed to lean to the opinion that the propogation and 

 culture of foreign kinds of vines, might do in our country. But the 

 opinion of the Doctor was directly the reverse; or, as I understood 

 his expressions on the subject, he coincides with me; who, after about 

 17 years of careful experience, and all available information, con- 

 clude that foreign vines, and foreign modes of vine culture, and wine 

 making, will not succeed as a profitable and permanent business in 

 our country; but that a system of vineyards, American throughoutj 

 imtramelled with foreign rules, can and will succeed to free us from 

 foreign dependence for annual millions worth of wine, and I add, for 

 •wines not as good, or as unequivocally healthful and medicinal as 

 made here from native grapes of our own mode of culture and pro- 

 cess of wine making. 



The first voyagers to North America, specially noticed the abun- 

 dance of fine grapes every where seen, and compared them with the 

 clusters of " Eschol/' but the after settlers of the country failed to 

 realize this special agricultural advantage, and mainly failed, it may 

 be said, through servile regard to foreign vineyards. And in regard 

 to seeing the main cause of the long ill success of American vine- 

 yards, it may be asked, ' Has any foreigner ever succeeded here in a 

 vineyard?' The answer is wo^ owe. And although special inducements 

 have been held out thereto, as in the State of Alabama, plantations 

 have been given by legislative enactments to foreign vintners on con= 

 dition of cultivating a small portion of" land, say an acre, in grapes. 

 But foreign vines and the like, spoiled the experiment. So no Amer- 

 ican has succeeded m trying to make a vineyard profitable managed 

 in a foreign way, while with American vines and modes of culture 

 and wine making, all desired success has been the result. As instan= 



