216 
SOUTHEEN CULTIVATOK. 
' AUGUSTA, GA : ~ 
YOL. XIV. NO. 7 JU LY, 1856. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
Cabbage Bugs and Lice. — R, C. desires an effectual 
remedy. Who can furnish if? 
Bermuda Grass. — F. H. — Your paper on this grass will 
appear in our next. 
Early Apples. — W. P. C. — The “Early Harvestj” -‘Red 
Astrachan,” “Large Sweet Bough"' and “Carolina June,” 
are among the best. Get Southern raised trees, if possible, 
by all means. 
Turnip Seed. — W. E. — One pound per acre is plenty, 
when sown in 3 foot drills. If broadcast, at least twice 
that quantity should be used ; but we do not approve 
of broadcast sowing, as a general rule. 
Forman’s Iron Plow. — S. D. G. — Address Mr. I. C. 
Fitten, Augusta, Ga. We consider this stock very valu- 
able. 
Cotton and Corn Planter. — J. B. C. T. — See adver- 
tisement of Randall & Mercer’s Machine in back numbers 
of this journal. 
Blue Grass. — H. W. K. — We have an article on this 
subject, in present number. 
Premiums. — H. W. N., P. M. — Keep an account of the 
number of names sent us, and we will forward the premium 
when you desire it; or you may deduct your per centage 
when remitting. Our bound volumes are sent, postage 
paid, at $1 . 80 each. 
“Language of Flowers.” — F. R. — The “tiny booklet” 
alluded to is published in full, at page 224, of present 
number. 
Potato Flies — W. A. L. — The insects have been for- 
warded to Dr. Bachman for examination. 
Prairie Farming. — T. G. P. — Give us the promised 
notes, and we will cheerfully publish. 
Fodder for Winter. — W. G, T. — Read remarks in 
“Work for the Month” on drilled Corn Fodder, Hay Mak- 
ing, ifcc. Alay number sent you. 
Back Numbers OF the Cultivator Wanted. — We are 
desirous of obtaining several ot the April and November 
numbers of this journal for 1855, to complete our files, 
and will cheerfully pay 10 cents each for all of either date 
sent us in good order. 
VINEYARDS IN THE SOUTH— MR. AXT’S VIEW 
OF GRAPE CULTURE, ETC. 
It is probably well known to most of our readers that 
Mr. Charles Axt, now of Crawfordville, Ga., has been 
chiefly instrumental in awaking among us an interest in 
the culture of the Grape for Wine Making; and that, so 
far, his efforts in various parts of Georgia and the adjoin- 
ing States, have been attended with marked success. A 
brief statement ofhis views (as set forth by him during a 
recent conversation with us on this most interesting sub- 
ject,) may not, therefore, be unacceptable to our readers : 
MR. AXT ON VINE CULTURE. 
Healthfulness of the Grape. — The Grape is universally 
admitted to be one of the healthiest of all fruits, as it 
is among the most delicious. It was one of the first fruits 
that claimed the attention of man, and has never failed to 
return a rich and abundant reward for the care bestowed 
upon it. The fruit of the vine is cooling and refreshing, 
and has a very salutary effect upon the system — being 
both nutritious and medicinal. It attenuates the blood, 
and gives it a free circulation — delighting the young and 
renovating the old. Taken freely it is diuretic and 
gently laxative. It has often proved effectual in severe 
cases of dysentery, even curing whole armies. In inflam- 
matory diseases, it allays thirst and reduces the heat of 
the system. It is, also, of the greatest use in phthisical 
and pulmonary diseases, or where there is any difficulty 
i in breathing. Dried Grapes, or Raisins, are good for the 
dessert, and in various ways of cooking, and are used ex- 
tensively throughout the civilized world. There is no 
reason why they should not be made in vast quantities 
and ill the greatest perfection, in the Southern States. 
NoMral Wine — its Domestic vse — Promotion of Temper- 
ance and Sobriety. — Natural Wine is i\\t pure fermented 
juice of the Grape, entirely free from any admixture of sugar 
or alcoholic spirits. Wherever these are added, the result 
is a “made wine,” cordial or syrup — not a pure and true 
loine. Nearly all foreign or imported wines are badly 
adulterated, and most of them unfit to drink. Many of 
them, in addition to sugar or spirits, contain decoctions of 
drugs highly deleterious to health — as any person can de- 
termine for himself by the disagreeable after-effects of a 
free indulgence in them at a dinner party or over night. 
P/ireand noinral vnne, on the contrary, when drank in 
moderation, produces only a slight exhileration and buoy- 
ancy of spirits ; it is tonic and strengthening and is lollowed 
by no nausea, head-ache or confusion of ideas. Where 
such wine is used habitually in a family, and the children 
have free access to it, they grow up sober and temperate. 
as is abundandtly proved by the statistics and statements of 
travellers in all wine-producing countries. Where pure 
leinc can be had abundantly and cheaply, there is no 
taste so depraved us to indulge in fiery alcoholic spiiitsas 
a beverage, and, therefore, with all its at- 
tendant horrors and crimes, is almost unknown in wine 
countries. All lovers of temperance, of good morals, of 
virtue, law and order, should, therefore encourage the cul- 
ture of the Grape and the making of a pure and healthy 
natural wine. 
Advantages in Vine Culture possessed by the South over 
all other Countries. — The South possesses great and 
decided advantages in Grape growing, over either Europe 
or the Western States. In the latter countries, the Grape 
is very fastidious in itsclioice of soil and exposure — thriv- 
ing only upon warm, porous, deeply-trenched and well 
drained hill-sides, facing the sun. In these countries, the 
first cost of land suitable for the Grape is often from SlOO 
to $400 per acre. In the South, where the Grape flourish- 
es on almost any soil or exposure, land can be bought from 
$3 to $10 per acre. In Europe and at the West, owing to 
the defects of climate and cold nature of the soil, the pre- 
paration of land for Vineyards, (such as trenching, terra€- 
ing,walling, &c.) costs from $50 to $200 per acre; while 
in the more genial climate of the South, by the use of the 
subsoil and deep-turning plow, followed by the spade or 
shovel, we can prepare land for Vineyards at a cost of $40 
per acre, or even less. 
