SOUTHERN cultivator. 
315 
In conclusion, we beg to assure Col. Cannon that no- 
thing could be further ftom our wish and thoughts than to 
say a word in our criticism that might give him “pfiin.”or 
be deemed “exceptionable. ’ L. 
Inititnltnial ItjjmtmEnt. 
GRAPE GROWING IN THE SOUTH-REJOINDER OF 
ME. CHARLES AXT--CHALLENGE TO VINTNERS. 
Editor.s Southern Cultivator— I notice in the Sep- 
tember number of your journal (pages 5BS and 289) two 
articles, in reference to a previous article of mine on Grape 
culture, published in your July number; and with your 
permission, I will attempt a reply. 
In answers to the remarks ofR. Buchanan, of Ohio, I 
would state ; that I was born in Germany, on the Rhine, 
and have been familiar with Grape Growing and Wine 
Making from my earliest boyhood. Upon my arrival in 
Augusta, eight years ago, my attent.'an v.-as, very natur- 
ally, turned to the subject of Grape culture, and I spent 
some time in travelling about the couutiy, examining the 
growth of the vine, and the general state of agriculture. I 
was first impressed with ti.e character of the chmate, 
which struck me ator.ce as the finest that I had ever known 
for Grape culture and \<iv.e Making. I mentioned this 
to several (otherwise) very intelligent gentlemen, but they 
almost invariably assured me that “ this country [the 
South] would not produce the Grape in roerfection” — that 
there was “something in the atmosphere’’ that destroyed 
the crop, See., &c, I differed from, this opinion, entirely, 
being unable to discover anyfiang in this bright, dry and 
sunny atmosphere that could possiblj.-- have an unfiworable 
effect. 
For the purpose of extending m.y ob5ervatio.ns in the 
same direction, I proceeded further up the country; where 
I found in most gardens Grape Vines, and some very 
poor specimens of the fruit. Obtaining permission to ex- 
agiine the vines fully, I soon discovered that the bad 
management of the people themselves in the culture and 
tnmmingof the vines, formed thegreatest drawback to sue- 1 
cess. On sflch places, 1, therefore, offered ray services 
gratis, to trim and sucker tlie vines properly, according 
to their condition and the season. 
The more I extended my observations, the more con- 
vinced was I that Vine Culture would be the most profit- 
able rural occupation in the South, if we could only dis- 
cover the mode of culture and trimming best adapted to 
the climate. I instituted a series of experiments running 
through three years, at the end of which time. I felt sure 
that I had discovered the proper and only plan that could 
insure perfect success in the Southern States. This plan I 
shall consider a model, at least until some person discovers ! 
a better. My Vineyards are not raised like those of either j 
Ohio, the Rhine, or France — neither are they like those of j 
Italy or Spain, so far as I can learn from works on the I 
subject. My system of Vine Culture fur the South is j 
adapted to the climate. It is my own, and differs in many ! 
respects from all others — as the unprecedented growth j 
and productiveness of my different vineyards has abun • ! 
dantly proved. « I 
When writing out the article for your July number, I j 
was fally prepared for the cry of “humbug,” and “ .^Torus 
Multicanlis but to stop all cavil and doubt on the subject, 
I invited eve m/body to visit my Vineyards, the present sea- 1 
son, and judge for themselves as to the correctness of my 
statements. Quite a number of gentlemen have availed 
themselves of this invtation, and to each and every one of 
them I confidently appeal for full co.afumation of al! 
teat I stated or claimed. 
I It may, perhaps, surprise Mr. Buchanan, when I state 
I that the Committee of gentlemen appointed to visit my 
three year old Whitfield vineyards (near Dalton, Ga .) 
I found an average ot /i ft y- /ice yi)b) bauckes of the Catawba 
Grape on each vine ; but, fearing this statement might 
j draw too seveily upon the credulity of the public, they 
I reduced the avern 2 :e to forty (40) bunches per vine, ond so 
I published it in their Report of the meeting.* The truth 
I of the matter is, that the gentlemen of the Committee found 
the product of these 3 year old vines running to 30, 40, 50. 
GO, 70, 80, and, in one case, hundred and twobvn-chvi 
each ! These bunches they averaged six to the pound 
though in one case, this season, I have cut a bunch weigh- 
one pound and a quarter, which was, among others, sold 
in Augusta, at the rate of 25 cents per pound — having 
been sent there merely to show in what perfection the 
j Catawba Grape could be produced here, even in the dries: 
and most unfavorable seasons. 
These (Whitfield county) Vineyards veexe planted from 
the cutting in February, 1854, and are at the present time 
a little more than two and a. half years old. J plant six- 
teen hundred "(IGOO) vines to an acre. Twenty-five 
pounds of such grapes as the above yilded me this season 
from the press twenty pounds of juice, capable of produc- 
ing 2 gallons and 1 pint (SI cpiarts) of Wine. Taking, 
therefore, the lowest average of my Whitfield Vineyards 
(40 bunches per vine) and 1600 vines per acre . the yield 
of juice, (at evenG bunches of grapes to the pound) would 
be 10, 6GG and 4 Gthlbs., which with proper management, 
will produce 9 gallons of wine toevery 100 pounds of juice 
— or, 9592 gallons of new wine per acre. 
When it i.s remembered that the Committee took a nmcl 
loioe^ average than facts would have justified, it will be 
conceded that my claim to the production of 1000 gallons- 
per acre of 3 year old vines, is by no means as preposter- 
ous as my critics would make it appear. Practical vint- 
ners will readily understand the foregoing calculations, 
which are especially intended for them. 
I estimate JMr. Buchanan very highly as a gentleman 
and Vintner, and should be greatly pleased to meet him in 
the South, and exhibit to him the capacity of our climate 
and soils, when properly understood, for the production of 
the finest Grapes and Wine, 
I will now devote a few moments to “A. C.,” of Aiken, 
S. C., who, notwithstanding his “seventeen years’ experi - 
ence,’’ is and has been evidently not on the right track. I 
regret that his success thus far, has not been commensur- 
ate with his very persevering efforts, which were 
worthy of a better reward. “ Experience ” in the 
wrong direction, scarcely entitles a gentleman’s opinions 
to be received as those of “Sir Oracle,” and I, therefore , 
am forced to regard the views of “A. C.” as having ho 
very especial bearing upon the subject. That I have not 
fallen under notice until last year, is, perhaps, unfortu- 
nate for me ; but that my system of Grape culture, should 
not have been understood and practiced in his vineyard 
during the past “seventeen years,” is, I think, still more 
unfortunate for him! 
The great difference, I suspect, between my^ system and 
that generally practiced bv others, is that I direct all my 
efforts to tlie raising of large crop of while! ^hey 
seem content with a still larger crop of wood or stalltf, on 
their vines. The direction of nearly all the sap aiTd sub- 
stance into the production of fruit, instead of woody jibre — 
in short, the proper trimming of the vine — is a most es- 
sential matter ; and must be better understood than as 
present, before tlie common culture of the vine will fully 
succeed, even in t!ie unrivalled climate ofihe 8outh. 
To conclude — to settle the, matter of guat’iu in Wines, 
and at the same tiotc get up a test that will benefit all 
parties interested, I propose: 
*8ee Ihl.s Report iu pre^-ont nuiubcr. — Rns. 
