THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 213 



would be valuable, as detailing the result of several 

 years' experience, in comparatively a new section of 

 grape-growing, in this country, I addressed, the past 

 Bpring, a letter (with such queries as I thought would 

 procure the desired statements,) to the proprietor of the 

 place. The letter was received by the owner of the vine- 

 yard, Mr. Amos Goodwin, who, in the best spirit, gave 

 me all the desired answers. The most of his letter is 

 published in his own words, as follows : — 



"I have about eight acres in cultivation • the vines, 

 are planted in rows, about six feet aj)art, and at the dis- 

 tance of four feet in the rows. My system of pruning 

 consists simply in shortening in the wood of the past 

 year's growth, from one to a dozen eyes, according to 

 the condition of the vine, and afterwards tying up the 

 new growth to the trellis, from time to time, as it may 

 seem to require support. Stout stakes, about five and a 

 half feet high, with narrow strips of board nailed on 

 them, constitute the best trellis. I tried wire, but the 

 sun heated it to such an extent, that it killed the tendrils 

 of the vines, and frequently injured the young wood. 



" My grapes are principally Catawba ; I have a few 

 of the Isabella, but do not use them for wine. The Ca- 

 tawba, as a wine grape, has, in my opinion, no equal 

 among grapes that can be successfully cultivated in our 

 climate. * 



""We have, occasionally, had the leaves of our , vines 

 eaten in places, by an insect, but never to an extent suffi- 

 cient to be injurious. The rot is the great enemy we 

 have to contend with ; some seasons, twenty gallons of 

 wine per acre can hardly be realized from our vineyards, 



