158 THE CULTURE OF THE SRAPEs 



away in a cool place, just above the freezing point, and 

 packed in layers of cotton, they will often keep good un- 

 til March. Before packing, each buuch should be ex- 

 amined, and any defective berry cut out. 



Tiie Catawba will not ripen as far north as Boston. 



Pond's Seedling is one of the best native varieties ; 

 the fruit, however, is but seldom seen, and it is therefore 

 presumed to be a shy bearer. 



Bland's Virginian will not ripen at the north. 



Elsinburgh is too small to be worthy of cultivation 



The Ohio grape is tender, and, at the north, requires 

 the same protection as foreign kinds ; the bunches are 

 large and long, but the berries very small. 



The vineyard cultivation of the native varieties of the 

 grape, in the United States, is attracting more attention 

 yearly. On the banks of the Ohio River, the planting 

 is increasing rapidly, and on the hills near Reading, Pa., 

 are vineyards for the purpose of making wine. 



The first attempt to grow the vine in our western coun- 

 try, to any extent, for the purpose of making wine, is 

 generally credited to a party of Swiss, who commenced 

 their operations at Yevay, on the Ohio River. Accord- 

 ing to Mr. Longworth, it has not been successful. This 

 gentleman is interested in this culture, and by statements 

 of his in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, 

 he had, in 1845, seventy acres planted with vines, and 

 divided into fourteen vineyards, under the management 

 of Germans and Swiss. Mr. Longworth recommends 

 the Catawba as the best variety for the west.* The Eu- 



* I am informed by the vineyard growers of the grape on the banks of 

 the Ohio, that the Catawba is now regarded as the best wine grape. 



