Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-10-11
The Grape Culture.

MesSrS. Editors :---Iaking a little
corner Of time from more important dut.
les, venture to write few things on a
subject tha: now begins 10 interest many
persons. | cannot write so carefully as
If had more time; nor can present a
many facts as ,f had time to refer to
various works formerly read. write
chiefly from memory.
From present appearances quite
number Of persons are going INTO the
grape culture, and ale expecting great
success. Having paid some attention to
this subject FOR several years, | will give
few hints that may not have been du.
ly considered by those expecting such
great success.
When we read Of the enormous yield
of the grape, and the high price OF
"Sparkling catdacba"-it is not strange
that many should want to enlist in this
busnesss. 1t has been shown that an
acre Of land will yield 1000 gallons Of
winc-lhat wine has been sold for $500
per gallon, that steep hillside, unfit
for any thing else, is the best place for
grape. Now says the horticultural no.
vitiate, if one acre will yield $4,000, five
will yield 5000: and moreover, ! can
get the hillside cheap, so here is for a
speculation. But this is much like cal.
cula.ing the iron in the hill, without
counting the cost Of manufacturing.
The vine is great bearer, and undc
favorable circ umstanccs has produce
wonderful crops. But let US consider the
attachments to the foregoing calcula
lions. According to the best in(orma
ton that can be had, no grape grove
has made Il fortune, yet at this business
though some have been at it foryears.
The average cost Of planting an acre
is $500, for the ground must be trencho,
at least two feet deep.
The average cost of cultivatingit viii
be $50, Of making into wine, s25. Yo
must vait FOUR five o, six years, belor
,, much Of crop can be expected. The
your wine must be several years old be
fore it will bring SO per gallon-'h
earth must go round the sun seven time
at least, before you can "get rich" d
this business. Then if the season shoul
: be acknowledgements yet. Every dc
sirable thing in this world is someho'
linked with something undesirable.
= each pleasure hath its poison too
G Any one familiar with horticulture
n journals, will remember the many page
6 written on the enemies of the grape. 1T
| rot, mildcw, speck, curculio, caterpilla
! rose bug, canker- worm, frost, DC.
| But what is the average yield; NJ
a Longworth says: after making allowan'
for rot, &C.. it will not for ten years, c
.c an average, be more than 200 gallol
(, per acre. But even then, bad seasol
\, must not be too frequent, or the avera;
/, will be still further reduced.
The next question is, what is'the ave
is age price from the press? OF this | ca
I'd not speak so positively, not knowing
v. any late changes, but Mr.. Lonswor
or tells us in a back number Of the "Hor
lis culturist" that it sells from IS cts.
d. 81 25.
,st But this article is now much too lor
at I will conclude with quotation iro
Ii. Mr.. Lonswotsh, in "Buehanaa's gra
ed culture"
NV oldest vine dresser, father ANIME
has gone the way Of all flesh, and |
IN. gret his end. Some twelve years sin
lin he lost his wife, and deeply regretted
on loss. He assured ne with tears in