The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-22
From the Wilmington (N co. Herald.
North Co 0lina Grapes.

w
tleman of Fayeteve, propounding certain in
terropatories repecting the Isabella, Catawba,
and Scuppernng grapes and in pursuance OF
n sugoestiop therein contained, handed the
letter abovenamed to DR.. Togno, gentleman
Of extensi,e research and practical knowledge
unon the subject of the grape md its varieties,
with the eouest that he would + -nish us with an
answer for publication The DOCTOR has very
kindly complied, and we take pleasure n pre-
sent;no his communication to our readers. IL
will; be found interesting and explanatory on
many points. We must confess however, our
disappointment at the result OF his convictions
with regard to the origin OF the Isabella grape
appears that he has come to the conclusion
that this grape is not native OF tins state aiter
ALL but a European one, possessing all the cnar-
scters of such, and none OF those Oh an mage
nous production .,-...-,
impression and belief prevailing for many years
II tnis State. and other sections of the country.
The Isabella was always classed, unless we are
greatly deceived, among the natural products OF
our soil. and we confess we are 10th at this late
date to Weld UP point which robs North Caro-
lima of the IN aternity of this delightful table
frnit So many years have interviewed, and au.
tbor;ties lost that it is almost impossible at this
time to arrive at a certain conclusion it Is at
hast a matter of probabilities and impressions.
While therefore we do not advance our own
opinion in opposition to that of scientific gen.
tlemen like Drs. McREE and ToGNo, we are free
TO acknowledge that in the absence OF more
conclusive proof we prefer remaining under our
original belief. The question has been narrow
cd down to two points,-the Isabella is either a
North Carolina or foreign production no
other State can lay claim to it; we therefore
trust that Northern writers Will hereafter re-
member this fact. and not locate this vine at dill
ferent points in the Union as heretofore.
AS q not uniting sequence to the above, and
while we are discoursing upon grapes, and the
nurposes to which they are employed, we may
state. that bottle of wine, made in the adJoln.
inc county of Columbia, from the ordinary Fox
crane as it is called, "a small grape in clusters
Growing in great luxuriance in the woods) has
been sent to our office. On a trial we found II
mild and pleasant; it has an agreeable taste, q
lipht body, and is free from intoxicating effect
Our donor designs the experiment OF age uroA
its quality, and to ascertain hereafter it ii retdns
its original taste, it having been intimated that
IL would not For our own part we do not see
whv good wines should not be made in this
State, and become in time profitable pursuit
Certainly we wish our esteemed friend, DR.
Togno, a full realization of his hopes, and lu'
cratiye return for his labors at DIccoteaux
which presents in its improved cultivation now
striking contrast to its original wildness aid
unfruitfuness =,
DIccoTEAUX, Nov LIST, 1851.
Nh BuxR-Dear Sir In answer to the let
Tor If vour friend, Mr.. J. NJ. Rose, OF Fayette,
lille NJ c.. communicated to me this day by
Won. I NAV briefly state for his edifcation and
his Ohio friend, that his queries, are as many his
torical problems, not easily settled, owing to
the blupdrrr, and confusion worse COMPOUNDED
oc ,he writer's iu the various Northern periodi
Gals that have taken upon themselves to solve
this moot-point.
awho if they once grow fond of opinion,
They call il honor, honesty. and faith,
And sooner part with life than let it go"
ROVE.
There is no doubt that the Skoupernong-
Gndiau sweet water) il native Of the Eastern
norton of the State Of North Carolina, and Il
Is found wild in this region, as well as purple
variety commonly called with MS Bul!us.
The Catawbs, as its name designates, is also
n native Of this State and II is 20 this day TO be
found wild on the Catawba river in Lincoln
county, and all over that neighborhood. ] be
Eeye that il is from this locality that Mr.. hdlum
first obtained IL in 1920, or thereabouts, and sue
cessfully cultivated il near Georgetown, ID. e
MIR. N. Longworth, Of Cincinnati, in a lettel
10 me, states Of hs having obtained the Catawbn
that he now so successfully and proftably cu
tiyates in that locality, from Mr. Album. ] OBJ
tanned last winter from Senator Ilaws, Of Lin
coin county, cuttings Of the |" Lincoln grope,'
which from the appearance Of the wood Is mel
Their more nor less than synonym FOR the Va
tawba.
The history Of the so.called isabella grdps'
is not so easily comprised, owing 10 diversity o.
opinion have taken great trouble 10 investigate
It's history. and as yet have only obtained some
links Of this broken chain. And hrst, is the
aIsabella" native or foreign grapel
DIR. James F. McRee, Of this place, whose
b;oh scientific attainments and observation in
,he natural sciences, impsrts 10 his opinion and
statement Of facts great certainty, and hs ties
tmorvis entitled To great weight in settling this
6,st question. He states that he distinctly re.
members ms far back as 1910, when the Laspcv.
70 crane 1.-THE Isabella Of WIN. Prince,) was sold
In The market of Wilmington by Mr.. Laspeyre
who cultivated IL in Baden county, and that he
neyfectly remembers that Mr.. La-peyre had
siated Il TO be European variety, and not only
sold Il NJ such, but il was never doubted by Dr.
McRee and others, that the vine had all the
character of A European variety, and what makes
a stll moro certain, is that even IN this congo
NAL climate Il frequently rots aud did rot with
the first cultivator Of it. Mr. N. Longworth has
entered the same complaint against IL to me.
DIR. MrRee states also, that he heard, rs early
an he can remember, that the said grape had
been imported by Mr.. Laspeyre, and that Cat.
slouiap having seen the grape here, claimed II
az being grape common in Spain, his native
country. OF course DR.. Mckee has never con.
s;dered the grape an indigenous one; but a
European. possessing, as il does, all the charac.
tiers ola Europern grape, and none Of our native
grapes. This is also my own conviction. In
The whole Of this neighborhood the said grape is
TO be found in gardens, and everywhere its
origin is referred to the liberal distribution OF
cutting bv Mr.. Iaspeyre So that Mr. Las.
peyre must have plarted his grape vines at least
five years before he brought to this market his
grapes from Baden Co. This would carry Us
back TO 1905, period far anterior to sll the
dates of the supposed cultivation ofthe "I'absi
Ia" mentioned by Mr. Allen in Mr.. Downing's
Horticultural
These Northern writer's doubling moi on n