SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
319 
JOHANMSBERG WINE— ITS ORIGIN, &c. 
Translated from the '■^Courier des Etals Unisf by L. E B. 
In* the year 1716, the Domain of Johannisberg, now in 
the possession of the family Metternich, was left to the 
Abbott Princes Fuldes. One of those Princes who 
governed from afar this property, forgot, in 1724, to order 
I the vintage to take place. The grapes were rotting on 
the vines, when they concluded to pick them ; and, to the 
great surprise of all, the best wine came from those over- 
ripened grapes. Ever since, the grapes are picked as 
late as possible, and iht. dead-ripe berries kept separate 
from the others. 
I It is from those slightly rotten berries that the great wine 
’ is made, called Potentate Winef because it is reserved 
for the cellars of kings and sovereigns. A bottle of that 
I wine is sold, on the spot, from 4 to 6 dollars, when it can 
be bought at all. 
[How would that do for some of our grapes '? How 
would it do to let the grapes wither upon a thin layer of 
straw, after picking, and then press the reduced and con- 
crete berry, as it is done with the Vinde Paille, of Saint 
Perray, which sells at 2 and 2 1-4 dollars in Burgundy, 
where it is made — a high price for that country I— Eds ] 
Grapes, &c., in Ohio. — Robt. Buchanan, Esq., of 
Cincinnati, Ohio, writes us under date of Aug. 12 : 
“The Grape crop in the Ohio Valley promises to be 
very large — the largest since 1853. The season for rot 
is now over, and we have nothing to dread but hail 
storms. Our vintage this season will be two weeks earli- 
er than usual. 
“The Apple crop is small, but one-fourth of an average. 
The Pear but little better, say one-third. The Peach 
about half a crop. Quince, abundant.” 
GERMAN AGRICUETURE. 
In the prosecution of our inquiries as to the relations of 
labor and land, we addressed some questions to a gentle- 
man in the town of Tritilar, near Cassel, in Electoral, 
Hesse, Germany. An extract from this letter, in answer 
to our questions, will be found below.- Southern Agricul- 
ture has, as yet, but one settled principle, and that is to 
icrest from the soil the greatest possible annual return. 
We have learned, from the waste of our capital in the ex- 
haustion of our soil, that this principle is ruinous. We 
have erred. What are our errors'? How shall we re- 
pair them '? These are questions of moment. It will aid 
us in their solution, thoroughly to inform ourselves of the 
practice of those who have brought their landed estate in- 
to such a condition that it bears a high price, gives a good 
annual return, and increases constantly in fertility. Hence 
the inquiries which we are earnestly presenting : 
Question 1st. What is the current price of land per acre"? 
75 to 150 thalers. 
Question 2d, What is the yearly rent per acre I 3 to 5 
thalers. 
Question 3d. What is the amount of wages per 100 
acres 1 200 to 250 thalers. 
N, B. 1-4, or 25 acres of this considered as pasture and 
meadow land. 
Question 4th. How many horses, head of cattle, hogs 
and sheep are kept per 100 acres 1 2 horses, 2 yoke oxen, 
6 to 8 neat cattle, 100 sheep. 
Question 5th. What is the average yield per acre in 
wheat, oats, rye, grasses, turnips, potatoes, dc.! Wheat, 
2 stacks; oats, 3 stacks; rye, 2 1-2 stacks; turnips and 
potaioes, 50 to 75 sacks. 
Question 6th. How many cart loads of manure per 
acre'? 6 to 8 loads. 
Question 7th. What animals pay best 7 Horned cattle. 
Question 8th. What is the current price of wool per 
cwt'? 50 to 80 thalers. 
Question 9th, What is the current price of beef? 3 to 5 
groschen per lb. 
Question 10th. What is the current price of pork ? 3 
to 5 1-4 groschen per lb. 
Question 1 lih. What is the current price of mutton? 
3 1-4 to 4 groschen per lb. 
Question T2th. What is the current price of hay? 15 
groschen to 1 thaler per cwt. 
Question 13th. What is the current price of butter and 
cheese? 6 to 10 groschen per lb. 
The acre is one hundred and fifty rods. 
The stack is 50 bundles. 
The sack is 150 lbs. 
The cwt. is 100 lbs. 
The thaler isSGgroschens. 
The groschen is 2 1-2 cents. 
Let the Southern planter study the answers to the above 
questions. They are presumed to apply to Germany 
generally. The price of land, it will be seen, is materially 
lower than in England and Belgium, but still greatly 
higher than it is with us. Observe the proportion of live 
stock — contrast this proportion with the exhibits of our 
census returns. Land at about S125 per acre, and yet 
2 horses, 4 oxen, 6 to 8 head of other cattle and 100 sheep 
to the 100 acres. Twenty-five out of the 100 acres in 
meadow and pasture — yet, hay, mutton and wool sell at 
a less price than with us. 
It is certain that land in Germany pays an interest, or 
it would fall in price. It is certain that a large propor- 
tion of their crops sell for no higher price than with us. 
It is equally certain— rating our lands at an average of 10 
or 20 dollars per acre — that the same general principles 
with proper modifications will be attended with greater 
profit in Southern America than in Europe. And, final- 
ly, it is certain that land cultivated under the European 
system, which is cheap, as compared loith ours, becomes 
better the longer it is cultivated. H. 
Ventilated Bricks. — They are manufacturing a new 
kind of brick in the town of Danville, Conn, The brick 
are three or four times the size of the ordinary brick, and 
are made of sifted gravel and lime mixed to a certain con- 
sistency, and then pressed by a simple and powerful 
machine, and laid in the sun to cure. They have an 
opening or mortice through them from top to bottom, say 
five inches long and one and a quarter inches wide, so 
that when laid the air can circulate through the whole 
wall. 
Big Sugar Cane. — In our last number, we mentioned 
a sugar cane sent us by Mr, Verret, of Bois Mallet, 
measuring 6 feet high and 5 3-4 inches in circumference. 
We thought at the time that it was the cane par excellence, 
but on Monday, we saw, rushing into our office, the man 
thod never was beat, Dr. Geo, Hill, with a cane which, we 
must acknowledge, beat Mr. Verret’s easy. 
Honor be to these two gentlemen, for no finer cane can 
be produced at this season. — Oupclousas Courier, Aug'iist 
mh. 
