OF THE VINE. 45 



cause of it. It appears quite evident, however, 

 that the vine is not an exhausting crop ; that it will 

 thrive on poor, sandy or rocky soil, and requires but 

 little manure ; that the labor required is light and 

 agreeable, the calling an ancient and honorable 

 one ; and if the business is a payings one, then why 

 don't you engage in it ? 



TEMPERANCE. HEALTHFULNESS OP THE GRAPE. 



" What ! In favor of temperance, and advocating 

 the raising of grapes and the production of wine ? 

 Wonder if the writer is a friend to temperance." 

 Yes sir; and one of its earliest advocates too. 

 Enlightened and benevolent minds are now labor- 

 ing in every state in the union to advance the cause 

 of temperance, and though all may doubtless be 

 patriotic "and honest in motive, yet in every good 

 work men dijEFer in opinion as to the most effectual 

 mode of its accomplishment* Reliable statistics 

 convince us, that the importation of wine has fallen 

 far behind the rate of increase of population in 



* In every period of man's history the vine is alluded to as a 

 blessing, and its culture has been coeval with his existence. It is 

 often referred to in Scripture as a blessing, and the vintage was 

 ever hailed as a time of gladness and festivity, to all the region 

 around. Reference to this was made by Isaiah in his predic- 

 tions concerning Moab. " And gladness is taken away, and joy 

 out of the plentiful field ; and in the vineyards there shall be no 

 singing, neither shall there be any shouting : the treaders shall 

 tread out no wine in their presses ; I hav« mad6 their vintage 

 shouting to cease/' 



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