The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-10-20
TO THE Editor OF THE AURORA.

SIR,
In your paper of the Odd September, OBJ.
serve an account of the cultivation of the vine in
our country, copied from the Matt onal Intellpen
Ger, winch IS incorrect, and 1t is an all-impor-
tant subject, and DESTROYS that the public may
be correctly informed, you will confer an OBJ
legation on me, by giving the following true state
ment
we nave at present in our country, eighteen
vineyards, each from half to two and an half a.
crcs, the oldest now, three and an half wears
ne plants or cuttings principally obtained from
MI Legaux, near Philadelphia from gentle.
mems yardens in the vicinity of Baltimore. and
a fe raised from the seed of the white I.eohorn
grape, (Which however do not vet b.ar) Some
also were obtained from other inland gardens
they are all in the most foursning condition & in
all probability, the number ct the vine wards will
by next spring, be double. Plants have been Oh
taihro from tins country, and com acne emcnt
made Shenandoah county, Vlrginia, which
promises the greatest success. There are at pre-
SEM about halt a dozen European wine earle
hers IN The country, among which, is one Austri-
Ar, the others Wirtemburgers and Swiss But
The American Germans have commenced this
useful business with great assiduty, and in a few
years tins will, without doubt, form an extensive
branch OF our culture, particularly as the Ameri.
can Germans are unwilling to cultivate the vine
IKE the Europeans, with the hoe, but arrange il
so that the labor can be done with the plough
The European gardeners, have chiefly planted
their vines las they have been accustomed ia, \
four feet apart, but the Americans have deyia,ed
from this method and planted them from five tn
SIX feet apart, which is quite sufficient -Expe-
renee has already, and will in future, fully justi
~ this method As the vine in this country
COWS much more rapid, strong and higher, than
IN Europe, the heat also being much greater, the,
will consequently require more space and air.
and as IN this manner more labor can be perform
ed in day with one horse and plough, than with
twelve hands. Notwthst nding the late frosts
last spring, and the uncommon drought during
the summer, have done material injury to the
two first vineyards each OF them has neyerthe
less produced several barrels of wine The
grapes we have, Cwh ch consist at least of do
zen different knds,) Of excellent quality, and
those from Mr. Legaux are among the best, such
as the Constants, the Black, the Blue, the Red
and White Frontlgrac, the White Sweet Wa.
ter, the Rhine, Claret, &c. &c. We have there
fore no vines from Hung ,ry, but all of American
growth, Notwithstanding they have been origi
naIiy brought from Europe Their" is not the
smallest doubt, but that the culture of the vine
Will succeed m this country to our utmost wish
es 1t IS chilly necessary to guard against those
situations, where the late spring frosts can have
too much effect
remain, respectfully, yours,
THE Peoples Friend IF HagcyStopm
N. b. The Wirtenburg emigrants near Fort
Pitt, brought with them number OF cuttings,
but very few of them grew, they have however
obtained some from this neigliborhood
October 4, 1909