THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



259 



the Ohio, per acre. The following is the result 

 of his various inquiries: 

 Cost of a vineyard per acre, say $250, interest 



per annum, $15,00 

 Cost of attending, per acre, 60,00 

 Cost of making the wine, 25,00 



$100,00 



Probable average annual product — 



200 gallons at $1, 200,00 

 » .i 



Supposed profit per acre, $100,00 



This, which we think a reasonable estimate, 

 is certainly an encouraging one for the cultiva- 

 tor of the vine in the United States. The soil 

 and climate for the Catawba grape are, how- 

 ever, not to be found over a large range of our 

 country. It is only in the more favored por- 

 tions of the middle and western states that 

 this grape ripens well enough to produce good 

 wine. But the district extends over a breadth 

 of a thousand miles, and contains fertile land 

 enough to supply all our people with pure and 

 wholesome wine. 



The grape is by no means free from ene- 

 mies. Its most fatal one in this country, is the 

 rot — a disease which attacks (he fruit; and 

 though very little known here, it is a very se- 

 rious mischief on the Ohio. As yet, it baffles 

 all inquiries; but a careful perusal of this 

 pamphlet, joined to our own observations, leads 

 us to believe that it is owing to rapid alterna- 

 tions of heat and cold, moisture and drought, 

 on the surface of the soil. 



Mr. Longworth states that the only vine- 

 yards about him, free from rot in certain un- 

 favorable seasons, were those of two or three 

 lazy tenants, who left the surface uncultivated, 

 so that it became covered with a thick coat of 

 grass and weeds. Not a rotten berry was to 

 be seen; while in his own and other vineyards, 

 the surface of which was neatly dressed, the 

 disease was very prevalent. 



The remedy, if we understand the force of 

 this circumstance aright, is plainly mulching. 

 Instead of cultivating the soil all the season, 

 cover it early in the spring with straw, litter, 

 sea-weed, tan, or whatever else may be had. 

 The cost of the mulch will not be more, in most 

 cases, than the labor of dressing the land; and 

 it will effectually prevent all necessity for the 

 latter. At any rate, it is well worth trial, and 

 two or three facts within our notice lead us to 

 believe that it will prevent the rot effectually. 



Taking it for granted, that the Catawba will 

 give us good hock, and sparkling wine, another 

 native variety that will produce excellent table 

 claret is a desideratum. The Schuylkill Mus- 

 cadel, or Cape Grape, is said to do. this on the 

 Ohio. "We have not had an opportunity of 

 tasting the wine made from this grape; but so 

 many cultivators are now experimenting with 

 seedlings, that we cannot doubt a variety ca- 

 ableuf giving us excellent red wine will soon 

 e brought to notice. 

 9i 



PROPOSED REMEDY FOR STEALING 

 FRUIT. 



Many farmers in this vicinity are deterred 

 from cultivating fruits, from thefactof its lia- 

 bility to be stolen by unruly boys, not to say 

 men, or animals in the shape of men. Now, 

 if we lived among Arabs, we should probably 

 expect this; but in a civilized community, gov- 

 erned, as we claim to be, hy laws, and where 

 a very large proportion of the inhabitants are 

 themselves cultivators of the soil, this state of 

 things is really too bad. Having seen various 

 remedies suggested, such as bull dogs, tartar 

 emetic, hedge fences, &c. I have thought of 

 proposing a plan which, if thoroughly carried 

 out, I have no doubt would be more effectual 

 than all others combined. Let every person 

 who occupies a single rod of ground, plant a 

 grapevine, a peach tree, a pear tree, an apple 

 tree, and if natural fruit, graft or bud them with 

 some of the best varieties in the neighborhood. 

 Plant, also, a few cherry stones, if you can 

 find no tree that you are able to buy ; set out a 

 currant bush, or raspberry plant by the side of 

 the fence, and almost any person can have 

 these given him if he will only take the trou- 

 ble to set them in the ground; or, if not given 

 him, the expense is a mere trifle, a few shilings 

 at most, and my word for it, no man, who 

 knows the pleasure, yes, the pleasure of culti- 

 vating, and the vexation of having them stolen, 

 will ever be guilty, nor suffer his children to 

 be guilty of such meanness afterwards. 



But it may be said, "I have no land to spare 

 for such things as these, I must raise what will 

 turn to the most profit." Now I ask, what will 

 pay better than fruit of almost every kind, at 

 the present day 1 Besides, would you not pre- 

 fer being at a little trouble, or even a trifling 

 expense, to raise these things, rather than have 

 your children pilfer, or even beg them of your 

 neighbors'? But it will be said, I shall not live 

 long enough to enjoy them, if I do take all this 

 trouble. Are you sute of that? You can pro- 

 bably get a fair crop of grapes in two to three 

 years, if you will simply train a vine to your 

 house, or plant it in your garden or yard, and 

 set a pole by the side of it, to run upon; and 

 so with almost every kind of fruit tree. They 

 will bear in much less time than is generally 

 supposed, if they are only taken care of. But 

 supposing you do not live to enjoy it yourself, 

 do you wish to do nothing for your children'? 

 or do you wish the world to be no better for 

 your having lived therein 1 If so, go on in the 

 "even tenor of your ways," and encourage 

 your children to "follow in your footsteps," 

 and your wish will probably be gratified. — 

 American Agriculturist. 



There are a million cows in New York, and 

 the annual product of the dairy of that State, 

 is estimated at fifty million dollars. 



