AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
20 
vine. True, we have so far applied skill and sci¬ 
ence as to get a fair average sample under ad¬ 
verse climatic influences, which is the most we 
can boast of. Our own “ natives” are still al¬ 
most in their primitive condition, notwithstand¬ 
ing the thousands of acres now under cultivation, 
and the millions of bottles of sparkling Catawba 
annually made from the vintages of the great 
West. The- foreign varieties which have now 
been cultivated under expensive glass structures 
for the last two hundred years, have, it is true, 
with the gardener’s skill been made to produce 
fair crops of fine fruit, but in most cases they 
have been an expensive luxury, when we take 
into account the cost of thus raising them, in¬ 
cluding the premature decay and consequent re¬ 
newal of the vines. I am well aware that these 
assertions will be considered questionable by 
some, but facts stare us in the face, and as they 
stand the test of argument, we may record them. 
The excellence of this queen of fruits has ren¬ 
dered it more desirable than most others, and 
where wealth has'been abundant, no expense 
would deprive the possessor from enjoying this 
tempting delicacy, providing there was any possi¬ 
bility of securing it. In countries not suited to 
its natural lequirements, the difficulties of culti¬ 
vation have been surmounted by glass structures 
and artificial heat, and the desire to satisfy the 
palate and produce a rarity has so far succeded by 
skill and experience, that the exotic class of 
grapes may be had fresh from the vines at all sea¬ 
sons of the year, even in an inhospitable climate. 
This artificial culture requires the best talent, and 
much experience ; hence the high value which 
the intelligent and enthusiastic gardener places 
upon his knowledge and labors. Here there cer¬ 
tainly is a great triumph, and so long as moneyed 
epicures desire such enjoyments, and are willing 
to pay for them, there will continue to be a sup¬ 
ply. But this part of the subject is foreign to the 
one we commenced with, viz. : to show that we 
have much yet to learn before we approach per¬ 
fection in the general culture of the grape, and 
that in consequence of our ignorance, much time 
and money are wasted, and still more, the vines 
themselves are reduced to a weak, unproductive 
state, if not entirely destroyed. 
Observant men are usually free in expressing 
their opinions, and as the best cultivators have 
not been lacking in observation, we have had 
more opinion and dogma, and diversity of experi¬ 
ence upon this topic, than on any other in the 
whole range of horticultural science. If with this 
multitude of reasonings and great variety of indi¬ 
vidual conceit, there had been an equal amount 
of physiological understanding, it is presumed 
that we should have had by this time the best and 
truest methods, as commonly understood, as is the 
growing of a cabbage. 
Owing to the failures that have so often been 
witnessed, many persons have thought that some 
mysterious skill is required, and have been de¬ 
terred from making the attempt, further than 
with the native sorts in 'out-door culture ; while 
others, being aware of the expense (often worse 
than useless), have not attempted their cultiva¬ 
tion. The first of these preventives is the result 
of ignorance, and the other is only partially 
needed. The grape vine, whether it be the Ex¬ 
otic, planted in the grapery, or the Native, grown 
outside, in any and all its conditions, only requires 
a soil suitable to its wants, and composed of ma¬ 
terials mechanically and chemically fe-med, to 
support in a healthy condition, its periodical de¬ 
velopment and centralizing powers, and a corre¬ 
sponding natural or artificial climate. 
To elucidate this matter more practically, let 
ns first notice the Natives, aud we shall always 
find that a free, open and elevated, but sheltered 
situation, with a well-drained subsoil, or one 
where the superfluous water can pass off readily, 
suits them best ; there is also a difference in the 
varieties, some being more tardy in their action 
and development, which will do best in a warm 
latitude. 
Another class, whose cellular anangement dif¬ 
fers from the former, are more readily excited by 
warmth, aud consequently better adapted to those 
northern latitudes where we find them in their 
native state. To successfully cultivate these lat¬ 
ter, we must carefully examine the conditions 
under which they appear to succeed best, and fol¬ 
low nature in our cultivation. 
Notwithstanding they are so generally diffused, 
there are some localities and soils much better 
adapted to them than others. A calcareous soil, 
containing much decomposed vegetable matter, 
will always be found most acceptable, but is not 
in all cases indispensible. 
There are thousands of acres of rocky hill-sides 
over the country which contain a sufficiency of 
soil in each of the many clefts and small hol¬ 
lows, for a grape vine. Many of these are now 
covered with brushwood, of no value, and are in¬ 
capable of being turned to good account in any 
other way. Yet here we have some of the very 
best sites for vineyards, which can be planted 
with very little expense except clearing, burning 
and strewing the ashes upon the same ground. 
In such places the roots delight to run, providing 
there are a few inches of soil to cover them, for 
they will lap around and creep under the rocks, 
and will draw moisture and nourishment out of 
the stone itself. This is one of the most natural 
positions for the grape vine, in which, if the most 
luxuriant growth be not always secured, there 
will be a good crop of finely flavored fruit, and an 
absence of some of those diseases that we have 
often to complain of in a more artificial state of 
culture. Here the branches may be allowed to 
ramble over the rocks and inequalities of surface ; 
and, excepting judicious pruning, take their own 
way, and it needs no poet’s eulogy to portray the 
beauty of such picturesque scenery. One of the 
greatest errors which is ofteii committed, is 
planting the grape vine in confined and naturally 
damp situations, where the plant will never suc¬ 
ceed so as to give perfect satisfaction. There 
may be isolated examples where the reverse 
seems to happen, but these are only exceptions, 
and it will generally be found, even here, that 
there are some modifying influences or peculiar 
accidental assistance. It may be thought from 
the foregoing, that we condemn entirely all lo¬ 
cations which are not dry and elevated. Not at 
all—we only mean to state that such are the 
most natural, and certain to secure constant pros¬ 
perity and freedom from disease, with highly fla¬ 
vored fruit, which makes the best wine. Even a 
low spot may be made suitable for raising good 
table lruit when efficient under drainage is carried 
out. If the water lies stagnant in the subsoil, 
chemical action is prevented from going on, and 
offensive gases do not escape, so that instead of 
nutriment for the roots to absorb, there is only a 
poisonous exhalation surrounding them. We 
would, in this particular, wish to be clearly un¬ 
derstood, otherwise examples would seem to con¬ 
tradict our argument, as sometimes a grape vine 
is found more than usually luxuriant by the 
side of a stream, or with roots traversing a drain. 
No doubt many persons have noticed such instan¬ 
ces, but it must be borne in mind that in these, de¬ 
composition of the material, in which the roots 
are found, is constantly going on, and fresh food 
continually provided. Reasoning from such ex¬ 
tremes has nothing to do with general principles. 
Nature, to our dim vision, sometimes takes ver* 
singular freaks, which, to a superficial mind, may 
seem to demonstrate a constant reality ; but while 
we are possessed with sufficient practical infor¬ 
mation, which will lead to success, we shouldad- 
vise only a pursuit of that which is known as cer¬ 
tain, leaving exceptions to experimenters. 
[To be Continued .] 
THE AGRICULTURAL PRESS ON HORSE¬ 
RACING AT FAIRS. 
We are glad to see that ourcotemporaries 
have used as great plainness of speech upon 
this subject as ourselves. Lieutenant-Gov¬ 
ernor Brown, of the New England Farmer, 
has an elaborate article upon the subject, 
lamenting the introduction of the track, and 
warning his readers against patronizing this 
innovation. He doubts whether the track 
has added any permanent pecuniary advan¬ 
tage to any society. He mentions a county 
society that paid $3,000 for preparing a 
track, and received only $1,400 at the Fair. 
In this case, too, there was nothing to be 
seen from the farm, but neat stock and 
swine. 
There can be no doubt in the mind of any 
candid observer, that the tendency of the ra¬ 
cing is to divert the minds of all who come 
to the fair from the legitimate objects of the 
exhibition. Plodding oxen, stupid swine, 
and patient lambs, will stand a poor chance 
even for a glance, while the nobler quadru¬ 
ped is showing off his speed, at the rate ol 
2:40 or less. The excitement and the gam 
bling which invariably accompany these tri 
als of speed, even under the best regulations, 
are as prejudicial to good morals as they are 
to good husbandry. Fast horses are not 
wanted upon the farm. Strong, kind, well 
broken animals, that can travel six or eight 
miles an hour for four or five hours upon the 
stretch, are much better than the nags of the 
race course. 
Among others, the following papers have 
spoken against this practice : We notice 
the Country Gentleman, the Massachusetts 
Ploughman, the Ohio Cultivator, the Scien¬ 
tific American, the IV. Y. Times, the N. Y. 
Tribune, Rural New Yorker, and the Prairie 
Partner. This last paper, in speaking of the 
Wisconsin State Fair, says, that “ gentlemen 
in that region have decided to withdraw 
their countenance and influence from horse 
races, and will exhibit no more stock nor 
farm products at any fair where jockeyism 
prevails.” This, we are persuaded, is the 
strong feeling among the mass of our 
farming population.— [Ed. 
Cranberry Culture. —The only treatises on 
this subject which we can now call to mind, aside 
from short newspaper articles, are a small volume 
by Eastwood, recently published by C. M. Saxton 
& Co. (fifty cents), and a full and excellent chap¬ 
ter in the Annual Report of the Secretary of the 
Massachusetts Board of Agriculture for 1853 
This chapter was reproduced entire in the first 
four numbers of our twelfth volume. We have 
none of the loose numbers, but can supply a few 
sets of the entire volume—bound, $1 50; un¬ 
bound, $1 00. 
Plants are offered for sale in our advertising 
columns. 
