232 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Among others, I visited the gronnds of Dr. Warden at North Bend, 14 

 miles below the city. He was not at home; he had expected me, but I was de- 

 layed by the trains. Ilis son politely showed me everything-. The farm con- 

 sists of 300 acres, and cost a few j'cars ag-o $50 an acre. It is a part of Gen. 

 Harrison's old farm. From a field back of the ly3U8e we could see, in a 

 deep valley where the General had a grist mill and distillery. The house 

 in which the General lived was burned down, and his grave is on an ad- 

 joining hill surrounded by evergreens. The fields looked worn out. I saw 

 no clover growing. I did not see any farms in that vicinity which showed 

 good farming. I was struck with the great number of stone chimneys in 

 the fields. The settlers here are mostly from Virginia, particularly on the 

 Kentucky side. Secesh are plenty there. It is to be hoped that we have 

 had the last of Virginia farming, and Virginia politics. Mrs. Harrison 

 lives four miles below with her son, or son-in-law. She does not receive 

 visitors. She is the strongest Union lady in that region. 



Dr. Warden's vineyard is in fine condition, and yet the grapes rotted 

 badly this year. Everything is in the finest order, and the fruit trees are 

 thrifty, and in great variety. One sees thence many miles of the Ohio. 

 The house stands about three hundred feet above the water. As a fruit 

 farm, the Dr.'s place is but a few years old. Of the Delaware, I was told 

 they did not like it so well as the Catawba, because being sweet, they can 

 eat but few of them. They showed me some of Di-. Grant's five dollar 

 Delawares. I could see them. They looked like dried smart-weed, and 

 very poor at that. I find many similar vines of this variety from many 

 other sources. They told me what I had never heard before, that is, that 

 their dogs eat grapes, and they eat them as readily as a hog eats 

 corn. Almost every one I have inquired of thinks it would be a good plan 

 to hedge a vineyard with evergreens. Besides the protection, it would 

 secure a more equal temperature. It might prevent rot. 



On the whole, vineyards have been successful at Cincinnati. They say 

 they will do well enough, if the rot does not take more than half. They 

 have expended much money and labor, and the country owes Mr. Longworth 

 and others a debt of gratitude. And yet, I cannot help thinking that there 

 are many places more favorable for grapes than here. Mr. Longworth 

 thought the soil on the Kentucky shore better. It is strange how people 

 always have hesitated to bestow labor and to make improvements on slave 

 soil. It was prophetic wisdom. On almost all the Cincinnati hills I saw 

 many small pieces of limestone, and opposite Gen. Harrison's house the soil 

 is filled with very small shells. Shall we, or shall we not, say that a lime- 

 stone soil is not so favorable for fruit^ as a sandstone soil ? A volcanic 

 soil is always good for vines. The soil of Italy is mostly volcanic and 

 sandy. Such, also, is the grape region of California and the Madeira 

 Islands. In the Azores, they have no stakes to their vines, but keep them 

 erect by piling up blocks of lava, on which the grapes lie. 



What I have related of the three vines of Bloomington would lead one 

 to think that the prairie soil is most excellent, if not superior, for grapes. 

 I know that it is a solitary instance, but I see no reason whatever why any 

 one else may not do as well. I think that success on the prairies will turn 

 upon giving the vine room, so that it may have branches to correspond with 



