AGRICULTURAL NOTICES AND OBSERVATIONS 



MADE DURING 



A CRUISE IN THE UNITED STATES STEAM FRIGATE MISSISSIPPI FROM THE UNITED STATES TO JAPAN, 



DURING THE YEARS 1852, 1853, AND 1854. 



MADEIRA. 



This island presents much of interest to the visitor. Besides its salubrious and delightful 

 climate, its beautiful views, and picturesque scenery, its wine, of world-wide repute, would 

 make it ever memorable ; not Scian nor Falernian are more famous. But, alas for the island 

 and the people ! a blight had swept over their vines a short time before our arrival, and we 

 found them anticipating not only scarcity, but even famine, from the failure of wines thence 

 resulting. Nor is this their greatest calamity; as their immediate wants could be, as they 

 have been, relieved by the humane assistance of foreigners ; but the probability is, that this 

 blight, like that of the potato, will continue for an indefinite time, and no period can be 

 assigned for the isl nd's return to prosperity. 



This apprehen->.< n.is further strengthened by its extending (again like the potato pesti- 

 lence) over Fran ( and other vine countries of Europe, and even to the vineyards on the banks 

 of the far-dista 1 0hio. Its causes and nature will be investigated in Europe ; it is sufficient 

 to state here, at it is a white, downy, or fungous growth, showing itself upon the branches 

 of the plant, and upon the fruit, and preventing its due nutrition, in a manner analogous, prob- 

 ably, to the rust in wheat. 



From the preceding cause alone, the vintage was decreased, in 1852, from about three hun- 

 dred to thirty pipes of wine. Now, when it is considered that this is almost the only article 

 given in exchange for foreign breadstuff's and manufactured goods, an idea may be formed of 

 the magnitude of the miefortune*, especially should it continue from year to year. 



In connexion with the wine, it may be remarked, that although much of the quality of 

 wine depends upon the climate where made, and its mode of manufacture, yet much also 

 depends upon the character and nature of the soil on which it grows. In Madeira, as far as 

 observed, the wine-growing region consists of a friable, red, argillaceous soil, darkened by the 

 admixture of humus. It is confined chiefly, if not exclusively, to the lower portions, bordering 

 upon the sea-shore; as you ascend higher, the soil, losing its humus and richness, assumes a 

 lighter red color, but is still formed principally of clay, with small black pebbles intermixed. 

 It is very similar to the red-clay lands lying at the eastern foot of the Blue Bidge, in the 

 United States, extending from beyond the Susquehanna, upon the one hand, and the James 

 river upon the other ; and probably, from their nearly exact resemblance, they are of the same 

 geological formation. A specimen was secured for comparative analysis. Doubtless this 

 region in our country is adapted to the Madeira vine, as to soil ; but will the climate answer as 

 well? 



The most experienced and most extensive wine-growers with us are abandoning foreign grapes, 



