INTRODUCTION. 



To encourage and aid the many who are com- 

 mencing the cultivation of the vine, and the making 

 of pure wine from grapes and other kinds of fruit, 

 is the chief motive in publishing these pages. The 

 writings of many who have contributed essentially 

 to advance this useful branch of horticulture, have 

 been freely consulted and compiled, and it is 

 believed that judicious selections from practical 

 writers and successful cultivators, will be more 

 acceptable, than a lengthy detail of abstract opin- 

 ions alone. Prom my own experience in grape 

 culture and wine-making, though limited, and from 

 the decided opinions of those well informed, it is 

 evident that our nation need never import another 

 gallon of foreign wine, or any kind of spirituous 

 liquors — that the vine is a native of our own soil 

 and climate, (which can not be said of it in Europe,) 

 and that wine has within a few years been made 

 here, which has of the same age, excelled some of 

 the best wines of the old world. In truth an article 

 far better and more medicinal for people of our 

 climate, can be made from our native Blackberry^ 

 than most which is imported at high cost; and 

 could our native wines supersede those now mostly 

 2 



