The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-11-12

rounds Of applause for the Comedian.
Bost. Bul.
The following letter from one who has
been eminently successful in the culture
of many varieties ofrhe native grape, will
doubtless interest msny Of our readers.
N. Y. American.
UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY.
West Point, 18th September, 1929. :
To The Editors ofhe .9,nerican.-Agree-
ably to promise, have the pleasure 10 ad.
dress you few remarks on the vines and
and vineyards of America. This subject
having engaged tho attention Of American
citizens snd distinguished foreigners with
their experienced vgnerons during the
past half century, and their combined ef-
forts having been unsucc essfuI; IT is worthy
Of our consideration to inquire into the
causes which might have prevented their
success. According to my experience or
knowledge Of the subject, (haying been
brought up in the land of vineyards and
been resident among you for the last
twenty seven years. think it my duty
to attempt to be useful in publishing new
facts on subject so eminently connect
ed with the welfare Of our common coun-
try.
I am Of opinion that two great errors
have been committed either of which was
sufficient to fustrate the undertaking, the
first was in planting the European stock Of
vines delicate plant raised in a milder
hemisphere, which to this day can only be
cultivated in tho well sheltered situations
Of our gardens, or the enclosed yards of
cities. The severity Of our winters, the
late frosts, the sudden changes in the at
mosphere, at all times Of the year, and
believe, much greater number Of insects,
must have destroyed their hopes ofa year-
ly crop in open fields.
The secondhand not the least uueccouht.
able error, is the total neglect Of those in
Vulnerable varieties Of hardy native vines
which could have been gathered on the
rich md beautifully undulated surface of
this happy land What have done, shall
recommend to the American farmer Stoop
and gather those vines on which you tram
pie every day; place in The ground the
seeds best; improve them all by good cul-
ture, and in six or seven years you will
have a profitable vineyard, and make a.
many kinds Of wine as you may have varI
eties. If your Agricultural, Horticultural
or Temperate Societies, would cause to be
established nursery Of native vines OF a.
bout ten acres IN every county, and call
! upon its inhabitants to gather and bring
| samples of fruit, and mark the vines, il
would soon prove to be the greatest source
| or happiness to the husbandman and the
nnp,rpopraI mn ~nlloc,inp nf
vines eight years ago from the surround
ing mountains Of West Point; the fruit of
ten of my varieties | had he honor TO pre-
sent tc the Horticultural Society Of New
York for their anniversary dinner. II is
not for me to say if they were worthy of
| their accepta uGc cu,ttvutiOn, an eni;s mt
ened public has seen them.
planted two acres Of il last spring, and
will plant again this fall; but, if the result
Of my experiments or opinions should prove
to be at variance with that of others let
them publish theirs--it will enable the ag-
ricuItnral societies of the country to gath
er oil the facts, md bring the subject to
proper focus. With The hope Of its success
have the honor to remain, your obedient
servant, THOMAS GIMBREDE,
Professor of Drawing, u. s. NJ. A.
Curious Customs sill prevalent in Eng. |
tand.-Some of the customs now observed
in England, seem very ludicrous.
For instance, in Rockford, in tho coun-
ty of Essex. on every Wednesday morning,
next after Michelmas day, at cock crow
ing, there is held Court by the Lord of
Raleigh, where the steward and suitors
whisper to each other,and have no candles,
and as substitute for pen and ink, they
use n piece Of charcoal. Every one who |
owes n service to the Lord, forfeits to him
a sum equal to double his rent for every |
hours absence. The Court is called Law !
less.
In Kidington, Oxfordshire, on Monday
after Whiisun week, the maids of he town,
with their thumbs tied behind them. chase
a fat lamb through The town, and she W no
can catch and hold the lamb by her mouth.
receives II as her prize, and is,thenceforth,
called the "ihe lady ofhe lamb"
In Coleshill, county Of Warwick, If the
young men Of that town can catch hare,
and bring il to the parson ofthe parish be-.
fore ten o'clock on Easter Monday. tho
parson is bound to give them calf's head
and hundred eggs for their breakfa st. be-
sides groat in money! Salem Obs.
o.
THE CONSTELLATION. The recent Wis
il Of this vessel Of our navy to England,
produced some interest there. A London
paper says, "thc vessel has been visited by
a number of persons, who experienced the
most uniform attention from the officers g.
crew. Though one Of the Oldest vessels
in the American service, she is very fine
one, and is stated by nautical men to pre-.
sent many Improvements in her rigging g.
internal arrangements which might be
ini rod ncnd with ndun ntanc intn nnr narr L