SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
250 
Isabella, &c., scarcely ever fail, and from what we have 
seen of the productiveness of the vineyards of Mr. Axt 
and others, we are convinced that, for the purpose of 
Northern shipment alone, the raising of Grapes can be 
made most remunerative by all persons who are within 
the proper (rmlroad) distance of Norfolk, Charleston or 
Savannah. The Catawba Grape ripens here, ordinarily, 
about the 20th of August, just after o\xv Peach season is 
over, and before the Peaches of the North come in. It 
(the Catawba) can be shipped to Baltimore, Philadelphia, 
New York or Boston packed in open (slatted) boxes be- 
tween layers of its own leaves, and will bear the carriage 
as well if not better than Peaches, as we know by ex- 
periment. Arriving in the great cities during the sultry 
and feverish “dog days,” what could be more healthful or 
attractive than heavy and blushing clusters of Grapes, 
fully and perfectly ripened under our ardent Southern sun, 
and what (but the high price) could prevent rich and 
poor from alike partaking of such luxuries As to the 
price, we have sufficiently reliable data to base our calcu- 
lations upon. The Isabellas and Catawbas of Dr. Under- 
hill, of Croton Point, N. Y., which come into market 
from 4 to 7 weeks after ours ripen, are sold by that gentle- 
man to dealers, at SI 5 per hundred weight, or 15 cts. per 
pound ; and retailed at probably double this rate. The 
finer varieties of Grapes, raised under glass, sell readily 
at from 50 cents to SI per pound, and the supply has 
never yet equalled the demand. From these facts, we 
will assume the price ef our Southern Grapes delivered to 
New York dealers, to be 20 cents per pound ; and had we 
a large capital to invest in any one horticultural project ex- 
clusively, we should (with the certainty of an unlimited 
demand, at such a price,) put every dollar of it into a Ca- 
tawba vineyard. 
Of the making of Wine from the Grape, we will not dis- 
course at present; that is an after-consideration, involv- 
ing a greater outlay of money and a deeper knowledge 
than most of us yet possess. That it wull, in a compara- 
tively short time, be a most extensive and profitable busi- 
ness, replacing in some measure the production of Cotton, 
especially on our old and wmrn hill sides, we have not the 
slightest doubt. Our object note is to induce our readers 
whose tastes incline in that direction, to plant vineyards 
properly, and with full confidence that either in the form of 
Grapes or grape juice, the productions of their skill and 
labor are sure of bringing them a golden reward, and of 
conferring a blessing upon the country. R. 
muu SIDE DITCHING-.-A PROPO.SITION. 
Every man wffio has reflected a moment on the subject, 
feels the Mxg&r\\. necessity of adopting some system of hill- 
side ditching which will prevent the washing and gullying 
of our lands ; but comparatively few people understand the 
best method of laying off and running the ditches, guard- 
drains, &c. We have often thought that if a corps of 
young men were to qualify themselves regularly as Engi- 
neers of Hill-Side Ditching, and travel through the coun- j 
try, stopping wherever their services were engaged, and 
charging a fixed sum per day for locating and superin- 
tending the making of Ditches, they could find re.munera- 
ting employment and confer a great benefit on the coun- 
try. In the absence of such a corps of Engineers, how- 
ever, and w'ith a view of making a beginning in the good 
work, we lately ventured to address our correspondent, Zdi* 
G. D. Harmon, (now of Utica, iMiss.) on the subject, sug- 
gesting that he should make a trial of the enierprize the \ 
•sorning fail. Below we publish the reply of Mr. Harmon, | 
-from which itwi'l be seen that he is ready to undertake the j 
work as soon as sufficient inducement is offered him. We 
do not know precisely what suggestion to make respect- 
ing terms, &c., but would merely propose the following 
plan for the present, viz : to open a. book at our office, in 
which to enter the names of such ffentlemen in Georgia 
as wish to secure the services of Mr. Harmon, and to 
transmit these names to Mr H. by the last of October. 
He can then decide upon the propriety of engaging in 
this new business, state his terms through the Cultivator, 
bring on his compass and leveling instrument, and enter 
upon his “mission.” We need not speak of the qualifica- 
tions of Mr. H. for the work. He is well known to all our 
readers as an earnest, practical and intelligent man, who 
thoroughly understands the subject, and who is fully ca- 
pable of teaching our planters to so.ve their lo.nds from de- 
terioration and ruin. He has a wide field of labor and 
usefulness before him, and we hope that very many of 
our readers in Georgia will avail themselves of his knowl- 
edge and skill. 
Mr. D. Redmond — Dear Sir: Your very kind and com- 
plimentary letter of 11th inst. is before me, and I am at a 
loss to know how to answer you as to becoming a “ mis- 
sionary” in the cause of the salvation of the gullied hills 
of our “ Sunny South.” I w’ould not hesitate one mo- 
ment if I knew that my services would be appreciated and 
rewarded. I received, some time since, a letter from Mr. 
B. of Georgia, on this same subject. He wished to know 
what would induce me to return to Georgia and follow 
Hill-Side Ditching, t^c. I wrote him that I could not tell 
until 1 knew the state of the public mind on the subject. 
He wrote me again that he had addressed me through the 
Cultivator, and J could have an opportunity of feeling 
the public pulse in my reply. I have been looking for 
the article in print, but have not seen it.* 
I believe with you, that I could be of more service to 
my country to engage in the business in question than in 
any other v/ay, provided my country would be of some 
service to me. 
But would I be sustained! My prospects in my line 
of business are very flattering. I have no less than four 
propositions for next year, and I must have some encour- 
agement before I can get the consent of my mind to yield 
up my business and engage in something else. I will say'to 
you then, that if I should get sufficient encouragement be- 
tween now and the first of November to induce me to be- 
lieve that I could do well at the business referred to, bet- 
ter than to follow ray present avocation — I will engage in 
it heart and mind, to continue it as long as I can handle a 
compass and level, and there is a gully to be found, and 
my services rewarded. You are at liberty, therefore, to 
introduce the subject in any way you may think best. 
And in conclusion permit me to say that the very act 
of yours shows that your heart is deeply in love with 
your country’s interest. 
Your’s &-C., G. D. Harmon. 
Utica, Miss., June 24, 1857, 
Gentlemen desiritig the services of Mr. Harmon, 
will send their names and Post Offices to the Editors of 
the Cultivator as soon as possible, 
V/ill our friends of the “ Cotton Planicr &, Soil" re- 
publish this article, requesting their Georgia subscribers 
who wish to engage Mr. H., to address us ! We claim 
the fi,rst efforts of Mr. Harmon for the washed and gullied 
old fields of our own State, promising, as soon as all these 
are properly horizontalized, to loan him to our Ala- 
bama and Carolina neighbors. — Ed.s. 
*We will give it hereafter.' — Eds, 
