62 CULTiVATION 



a great and absorbing feature of the state's property. 

 Fields of waving corn or golden-tasseled wheat are 

 fair to the view; but picture to yourself the vast 

 vineyards that shall anon deck the hill and dale, 

 with gorgeous and tempting, rich, red, ripe Isabellas 

 or Catawbas. The third year after planting the 

 slips, the production of wme may be commenced 

 from the fruit. There is more expense and labor 

 in commencing the cultivation of the vines, than is 

 probably attendant upon the planting of the usual 

 crops, but less afterward. From one acre well 

 planted with healthy vines, probably from $600 to 

 f 1,000 worth of wine may be produced in good 

 seasons. This wine has generally brought |1 per 

 gallon here, but this year will probably bring $1,25. 

 Notwithstanding the immense annual increase of 

 the quantity of wine manufactured hi the west, 

 the price continues to improve, and it must do so as 

 the wine becomes more generally known. This 

 year, notwithstanding the increase, the price has 

 raised nearly twenty-five per cent., and the demand 

 for wine is much greater than last year. So must 

 this demand continue increasing. 



"In Ohio there are about fifteen hundred acres of 

 land exclusively devoted to grape-growing, between 

 three and four hundred of which, are near Cincin- 

 nati. Within twenty miles of this city, including 

 a part of Kentucky on the opposite side of the 

 river, there are thirteen hundred acres, and double 

 that quantity of vines. More have been planted 

 this year than fhere were last. In Missouri near 



