Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-11-25

TABLE GRAPES
Amheta, Nou. 1880.



Mn SMITH:
Sir have sometime since promised ra-
ther indscrettly. to furnish for your most val
liable agricultural journal, an article on the cul.
inre Of the grape, principally for the table, tor
private gardens. aud also fof those who furnish
the market with this most ele gsnt fruit. Hay-
ing been rrquested 10 do so, | did not kno@
how TO refuse although was certai" that there
are many persons much more able to do justice
to such subject than am; | must. however.
redeem nv promise, calculating on your and
your readers indulgence Tor the many una
yoidable imperfeciious Of the article for am
not gardener, and must rest my hopes OF
indulgence on my wish TO do all in my power
10 promote SO important a culture.
IL is difficult aud perhaps unnecessary TO dis
tInguish accurately between table and wine
grapes. Many persons suppose that II is with
grapes rs il is generally with apples, and that
as the best cider apples are not fit TO eat the
grapes used for vine are not palstable. Ia is
not So All the grapes that have seen thai,
make good vine. are more or less good tor thu
table. and some oil them are even eminent for
both uses. II is true that some of the most es-
teemed table grapes are very indifferent for
wine, such rs the family OF the " Caasselss,o
and Others which make only fiat and weak
VINE, and although they are exceedingly plea
ii tie saccharine matter. Hrcquires, therefore,
an experienced palate to enable one to pro-
nounce certainly on the quality of a grape for
wine nv its taste alone. But Il some of the best
table grapes are nat suitable to make good wine
there are buf few OF the best VINE grapes which
are not also a very pleasant and delicious fruit
Thpir qualities for this, are however, very va
rous, and are adapted also to different purpo-
ses, some being only suitable for immediate
use while Others can be easily kept IA long tune,
not only on the vine. but also after they have
been gathered. II might he useful 10 make n
| fail enumeration Of them 18th the particular
pronerte s of each but besides my Inability 10
| 10 So il would render this article much TOO
| long. shall therefore merely say. that those
! grapes which have thin lice may be looked
upon as unsuitable TO be kept long, add that
| those whose pulp or flesh is firm and cracking.
NAV be Kept more or less loug as they possess
more or less oil these qualities. these last are
| also the most fit for TdIsIns.
The grape may be termed the fruit par eI.
r,ilence for besides us various and most deli
cous havors il has deservedy the reputation
of being most whole ONE. and, when ii is per-
fectly ripe il is said TO restore inyalids TO q
healthy state, and to o0siate the disorders OF
the stomach in dyspeptic persons Its beauty
is also of the first orier, and many plants, which
ere cultivated nth no other object than this qua
ity.are very Inferior this respect to the grape.
a plant, therefore, so eminently possessed ofal
these de.irabIe qualities deserves the utmos 81
care in it. cultivation.
Tn. principles of its culture, whether on a
large scale in the fields for wne or on a small
one in gardens, for the fruit, ecessarlly the
same vet the protection afforded in gardens
bv walls, houses, &c. together with the greater
f.r,;Iitv Of the soil render it. these, generally
more successful. One OF the principal aims
in nlanting vine, whether a cutting or aroo
ted plant, ought 10 he to do it IN such man
nor that the roots will be induced 10 go deeply
,to the soil in arch Of permanent supply
Of moisture; for il the roots run horizontally al
a small depth, they will, in rainy season
supply the plant with superaounna"ce OF
water. and in dry weather, this supply VIII o'
s,opped or considerably lessened; and these
two extremes must be injurious. IL Is mus ma
,b,s most destructive disease Of the grape, IN
,et ia supposed by judicious and intelligent per
sons To be produced. Mr.. George j. +. Clarke
of ST. Augustine, gentleman OF great ooser
| vstion and fagacity, in an interesting ar'iei
, in the Southern Agriculturist for tins month
, attributes the rot ol the grape TO this aleihd
e lion of dry and wet weather, and 10 ihis, per
ceclv a. rec with him. (ThIs rot is dlneIen
disease from the nildew OF the nor'n') IN
month Of May and part Of June are usnail
= very no, and dry, and although the vine zoe
ma, apnesr TO he much distressed or suffering
/. vet the change OF colour IN tue leaves, psfhc'