Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-10-15
FOR THE INTEL LIcENcER.

n the other two cases, cause of aarm existed.
 FOR THE INTEL LIGENcER THE GRAPE vINE---No. H.
 Climate Choice of Soil or Lands-- Expedition.
 Almost any soil and climate adapted the cultivation of the vine. As proof of this fact grows spontaneously in almost every part of the northern hemisphere from the 25h the 45h degrees of latitude It is found scattered here and there in of the departments of France forming in many places immense hedges and in the United States large trees, and producing abunanty Each different cl mate well so produces it's peculiar quality in the wine, and fact, the grape itself Wine countries in general vnous, and contains greater DO on of alcohol, than that which is made in cold nevertheless the latter reputed be agreeable and its beneficial health, than the former, though confess that the heavy strong of Provence in France, Catalonia, in Spain, &c do appear against the health of those countries Though the vine may grow in all these attitudes yet does grow equally we does it afford the advantages profits every where may be consider ed however, that may be cultivated with desirable advantage nearly all those countries lying under the attitudes of 32 degrees north should the of those countries be suitable.
 With the French agrcuturists, the choice of soil is important consideration but here, in happily fertile country, minute investigation of their peeuiartes is unnecessarysome agricultural information and few observations sufficient insure The transPra ton perspation and suction of the vne vehement they plainly exhibit in the growth of the vine the soil and exposition which suit in The land best adapted vegeta tion in gene a that in which the mixture of silica and aumna and other calcareou substances is in such propo tion readily receive and retain humidity; that this moisture which always and nensby evaporaed by the heat is sufficient for the continual nourshment of the plant it apt suffer materially from long continued drough and very frequently dies. good vegetative soil be superciay composed of these proportional ingredients but this be of sufficient depth. When only of few inches in thickness and limestone sand- stone deposit for the nurtive principle be establish ed, and that which exists is exhausted by the plants An excessively and excessively dry is equally opposed the the vne Prairie lands
 mould composed of many decayed substances such getables shels and limestone. This formation pears contain almost nexhaustibe fertility is evil dent prairie lands about here cultvat ed the crops they yield But its composition does combine the necessary earthly substances to allow sufficient degree of evaporation; and the reservoir appears draned during the greatest droughts For the growth of annual pants well for frutrees in dry seasons this is considered important advantage and in winter spring generally they would exist in water soil may be adhesive dsoluble in its nature, forming mud in weaher and producing crust upon the surface in dry: in either perncious the growth of the vine, and should if possibe be remedied prevented. In this don the of the vine either much compressed and checked, its suction is dsproporoned perp ration the vine diseased dwndes away, and dies. Striking examples of this have occurred in French Grant. I had Madeira vines in this kind of so which during the three first years did grow
 feet long, and in the fourth fifth they died The timbered lands of this country generally well adapted the cut vation of the vine provided the soil be wet or the clay very @ generally the with prairie lands. Some open countries the soil of which formed by the de- composition reduction of the rocks, often partly caleare and containing vegetable and animal remains, as is the in great part of Provence and Burgundy in Fance &e peculiarly favorable for the growth of the vine When such lands poor, afterwards become so they may be restored by animal Many bodies of land in state though in places well tmbered very much of the above description in Tuscaloosa county, and northwad south of Marengo county, &c., It is useless all the different kinds of alluvial
 suitable for the cultivation of the vine Some funda.
 rules will be sufficient guide the young vgneron | in his choice of soil.
 Soils composed of sand, gravel pebbles, and rotten or decayed rocks excellent for the vne Its young roots easily and quicker in them than in those be. fore mentoned which black, argilous, compact
 soil commonly called sandy formed by sandstone, decayed vegetables and shells ch produces light and true soil, funny and generous wine, of superior quality But the moud participating of the of praire and which the graveIy mixed with pebbles quartz delicate wine; puverzed secondary roeks reduced rich is strong, wet cold and compact, is essentially opposed to the good qualities wine. Besides, the vine growing slowly producing e the product green, unsavory, and sometimes injurious. Some of the French colonsts planted vineyards in such soils; and meeting with they dcouraged and concluded that the vine could be cultivated in this country What palpable Our climate equal that of Europe for the vine, perhaps better There in many countries, of three crops is expected fail entirely here will hardly loso one in five.
 The exposition of vineyards in Alabama is of much importance in other Almost any will do very wel provided it has great decvity to the north. There csoee however and southern situations the advantageous these the rays the rising sum- which the agents of the disasters of fost strike but obiquey evidently with less force than exposition; westerly winds. take frost cold into consde ration, the exposion that of acclvty from the south, preferable all othes the of the dart carly causing prompt vaporizaton, and yvfng the plant much than when it receives the influence of these rays late Southwestern western expo sitions good, if the hills be too elevated.
 Some vgnerons and scientific agriculturists, of opi nion, that coast river banks h receiving the in fuence of breezes preferable any other expo sons others that nlands produce the best wines all events, the difference very material and the production of the vineyards necessary its ects they scarcely be anticipated For instance is known that in Bordeaux, there vineyards immediately adjacent each other, with apparent difference in exposition, soil &c., but their wines sensibly different
 1 CORNEILLE ROUDET. | Greene County, Oct. 10, 1881.
 Samuel c. Smith, of Jackson county, Ten was on 9eth ult elected by the Legislature, Secretary of Sate