The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-31

CULTURE OF THE VINE.

1t is little surprising that the culture of the vine
has been slightly attended to in this country. As
table fruit the grape is worthy of all estimation, and
for this purpose alone would deserve be cultivated
For making wine there appears 10 be no reason why
the soil and climate of many portions Of the Union
| should not be adapted TO the vine-culture.
| We nrtice a letter from Mr. LoNGwoRTH, of Gin
cinnati, to the editor of tine Horticultural Magazine
published in New York in which useful obser-
| vatons occur on this subject Mr. l.. has been long
known as distinguished amateur in things Of this
Sort and the vine particularly has received from him
large share of judicious attention. He has given up
mostly, if not altogether the attempt cultivate the
European species, and has found his labor best
warded by procuring and improving the best varieties
of the native vine. The result of his experience in
this particular is worthy of note The varieties Of the
Indigenous vine in this country are numerous, and
of the best modes of ascerainlng the fitness of
soil and situation for the successful growth of this de-
licate fruit would doubt be by observing the size
and flavor of the wild grape it is found its native
state On The Eastern Shore particularly in the lower
part of the peninsula, the native grape will be found
if recoectons do not mislead us excellent in all
qualities that are requisite for making good wine
light soils especially adapted to the vine. We take
the following from LoNawoRTHs letter:
:" | have three varieties of native grapes which |
consider far superior to the Catawba for the table
They have none of the hard pulp common to the Ca
tawba, Schuylkill, Mu cadet, and the Isabella For
the table, they equal to the Meonier, or Mler's
Burgundy, and free of pulp. One of them which
| first met with few years since, Il call the Ohio
grape The vine is perfectly hardy fine bearer has
never had the mildew rot and the punches very
large say four times the size of the Burgundy sent
a bunch of these grapes Boston last fall, but it was
too long on the road TO be in perfection will give
five hundred dollars for root of native grape that,
in quality of the fruit and size ofthe bunch shall sur
pass it, The other two equally good for the table,
perfectly hardy, great growers, but the lunches of
fruit not SO large
&C" was surprised, when East, to find no good native
grapes AT my different vineyards have about six
ty in grapes but all in bearing Last sea
son had not half crop, with the exception of one
vineyard, where the fruit was abundant and fine. l
made about two hund red barrels of wine and
brandy. am now raising large quantities of vines
from the seed Of my best varieties of native grape,
having cleared piece of land expressly for that
| purpose.
There is, perhaps, fruit much affected by cir
cumstancss of SOIL position, and culture as the grape
By taking the native vine the probabilities of success
will be greatly increased since its quality may be bet
ter known and the necessary situation it respects
soil and exposure, more surely ascertainsd