236 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



were all growing finely, most of them having been grafted 

 on native stocks. This year would have tested their 

 quality and adaptation to this climate; but, I regret to 

 say, 1 have lost them all, except one of the Josling's St. 

 Alban's.* So soon as I can make the necessary arrange- 

 ments I shall again commence. After the most tho- 

 rough trial, I am perfectly satisfied that the foreign grape 

 can be cultivated in this climate with success. The cli- 

 mate is in every respect adapted to its cultivation, and 

 the soil, which in this section is objectionable, (being a 

 heavy clay,) is very easily remedied. The ground once 

 properly prepared, all that is necessary to ensure suc- 

 cess, is a judicious system of pruning and training the 

 vines. The one, in this climate, is as important as the 

 other, and either neglected, must end in disappointment. 

 The rot, which is the great evil complained of by almost 

 every one who has undertaken the cultivation of the 

 vine in the Southern States, particularly in this latitude, 

 is to be attributed altogether to the fatal error they have 

 adopted in both pruning and training. The preparation 

 of the soil, of course, is essential to the healthy and vig- 

 orous growth of the vine, and without these we cannot 

 have good fruit ; but it is a great mistake made by many 

 writers on the subject, that certain manures, upon which 

 the vine feeds, and which the most of our soils are de- 

 ficient in, will prevent the rot. The close pruning for 

 out door culture, adopted in Europe, and the Eastern 

 States particularly, will not answer for this climate. The 

 reason is very obvious. The vine is too much exposed 



* The euttiugs referred to here were Hybrid Seedlings, of my own grow- 

 ing, and now kinds, mostly of recent introduction irom Europe. 



