NORTON'S VIRGINIA 79 



targe bunch and berry of the Catawba, but we 

 observed that it kepi Its foliage brighl and green when 

 that of the Catawba became sickly and dropped; and 

 also, that n<> rot or mildew damaged the fruit, when 

 that of the Catawba was nearly destroyed by it. A few 

 tried to propagate it by cuttings, but generally failed to 

 make it grow. They then resorted to grafting and lay- 

 ering, with much better success. After a few years a 

 few bottles of wine were made from if. and found to be 

 very good, lint at this time it almost received its death- 

 blow, by a very unfavorable letter from Mi-. Longwortb, 

 who had been asked his opinion of it. and pronounced 

 it worthless. Of course, with the majority, the fiat of 

 Mr. Longworth, the father of American grape -culture, 

 was conclusive evidence, and they abandoned it. Not 

 all. however; a few persevered, among them M- 

 Jacob Rommel, Poeschel, Langendoerfer, Grein and my- 

 self. We thought Mr. Longworth was human and 

 might lie mistaken, ami trusted as much t<> the evidence 

 <»f our senses as to his verdict, therefore increased it as 



fast ;i- w Mild, and the sequel proved that we were 



right. After a few years more, wine was made from it 

 in larger quantities, found to lie much better than the 

 first imperfeel dimples: and now that despised and con- 

 demned grape is (hi '_ r re,-it variety for red wine, equal, if 

 not superior to tip- besl Burgundy and Port; ;i wine of 

 which good judges, heavj importers of the besl Euro- 

 pean wines ton. will tell yon thai it has not its equal 

 among all the foreign red wine-, which has already 

 saved the lives of thousands of suffering children, men. 

 and women, and, therefore, one of the greatest Me— ings 

 an all -merciful God has ever bestowed upon suffering 

 humanity. This despised grape is now the rage, and 



