234 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



saw a grape vine, the seed of a raisin, come up through the dirt. He car- 

 ried it home and cultivated it, and this is the origin of the Cuyahoga. 

 Usually they train the Catawba on to two stakes, the Isabella on trellisis. 

 When there is not sufficient air the latter mildews. I do not value it 

 highly. I could not hear of a single instance where the Catawba, under 

 any circumstances, has had the black or any kind of rot. A great many 

 conditions must exist here favorable to this grape. In this county they 

 have about 100 acres of vines. Perhaps half as many will be added next 

 spring. Land is valued at an average of ^40 an acre, with fair improve- 

 ments. In favored localities it is much higher. I saw some pieces on the 

 ridges favorable for grapes, but considerably worn, which recently sold for 

 from $20 to $25 an acre. It is an old country, and one cannot get far from 

 villages. In society full as much attention seemed to be paid to dress as 

 to other matters. 



I should not omit speaking of the Islands. They are nearly opposite to 

 Sandusky. Here grape-growers have been remarkably successful, and 

 commenced the business next after they at Cincinnati. Several years ago 

 I was on Kelly's Island, whence so many grapes are shipped to all parts of 

 the country. From my recollection they have a soil of rather stiff clay, 

 and the rocks are limestone. The lime used in Northern Ohio, mostly 

 comes from the Islands. They claim that here the crop always is certain, 

 I have understood, however, that they have been troubled, to some little 

 extent, with the rot. It is certain that the grapes raised here on the shore 

 sell better in Cincinnati than their own grapes. The fruit dealers there 

 told me so. 



In preparing the ground on Kelly's Island they dig ditches, paralled to 

 each other, three feet deep and thirty feet apart ; flat stones are set up in 

 the bottom, so as to form a roof, and small stones are put on these to with- 

 in fourteen inches of the surface, when they fill the ditch with a plow. They 

 think the common plan of trenching does more harm than good ! Then 

 they plough the whole ground as deep as they want to plant the young 

 roots. Their distance is 6 by 8. They train on trellisis. 



Nine miles east of Cleveland, at Collamer, among other vineyards, I 

 visited those of Dr. Dunham. He has four acres in bearing, and is putting 

 out eight or. ten acres more. He has the Catawba mostly, which is the 

 best grape for that region. I did not hear much of the Delaware. Of 

 course, it would do well. Almost all these vineyards have a northern or 

 north-western exposure. The vines were loaded to their utmost capacity. 

 I cannot do better than to give Dr. Dunham's own account, which he has 

 kindly furnished me. 



Dear Sir — In reply to your inquiries, I would say : 1st. That in pre- 

 paring the ground for a vineyard, we simply give our land a good, deep 

 ploughing,, and then with a spade prepare a place for the roots. If the 

 ground be sod-land, I should prefer having it broken up late in the fall, 

 and then, before setting the roots in the spring, I thoroughly harrow to 

 prevent the growth of grass, which is apt to show itself at the edge of the 

 furrow. When practicable, I should much prefer the Michigan, or double 

 plow, which throws the sod at the bottom of the furrow, placing it so deep 



