New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-12-05
Negu-2lork Daily Gribn'te.
MADEIRA AND A VOYAGE THITHER.
TIE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE.

CULTURE or TIE GRAPE.
To write of Madeira and omit the vine would be to
act the play and leave out the character OF Hamlet
The grape came from Cyprus some four centuries
SINCE under the patronage OF the Royal House oil Bra
CANA and soon begun TO improve in the temperate
climate and on the volcanic soil of the Island All his
tory demonstrates that volcanic soils best adapted to
the cultivation of the vine The neghborhoOd of We
suvius affords the choicest wines of Italy, the Faern
an and others. Hermitage affects the DEBRIS OF de-
composed hills and the wines generally that make
most glad the heart OF man are the produce OF the
mouldy earth.
This fancy of the grape was not unknown to the
apcents They knew as well that the vine throve beat
in elevated exposures, under the rich beams OF the
SUM- and governed its cultivation accordingly. Also,
how ace developed and enhanced the intrinsic goodness
of wines. The cobweb-covered bottle was no less
boosted in the olden time than Horace, the Poet
Laureate of Bacchus speaks enthusiastically OF his
cOtempOraneOus amphOrs, which with him trst saw
the light, "COnsule Planco, and sings its praises ,un-
der an inspiration perhaps borrowed from its juice In
earlier times age less respected for its mellow
ing and enriching qualities. The poets of Greece
built up lofty verse in grateful cOmmemOraion of its
benefits:
4" 1t made Anscreon's soul divine"
When the ambassadors of Agamemnon sought Achilles
tent with offers of reparation before he permitted
them to unfold their message, he directed PatrOclus to
bring out some of his dearest old wine and serve it
round And to illustrate how tmehonOured even tri-
vial usages become, it is worthy OF remark that his
tinues to the present day.
The soil of Madeira resembles that of the Campagna
Felce, where grew the historic Falernian and the
flavor and aroma of the two wines not unlike 1t
vulgar prejudice that Madeira WINE naturally induces
govt. Give dog an i'll name and hang him" 1t has
been the fashion decry Madeira since the Prince
Regent forsook it for Sherry Those who have not
known what else to urge agalnstit have charged with
this old-gentlemany complaint The opinion, however
of the most eminent physicians is TO the contrary SO
is experience Nowhere do they drink more, better
or stronger Madeira than the Island and nowhere
DO they suffer less from govt. Indeed the complaint
unknown among the natives and residents doubtless
excessive indulgence in Madeira wine would lnJure
health and shorten e-but this may be said with equal
truth of other wines with much more fatal truth OF
Champagne which from the admission odeleterous sub
stances in the manufacture teo often undermnes the
constitution
Branded wines of any kind intoxcate and injure.
II is the peculiar felicity of Madeira that its own alco
holic qualities are sufficient to its own safety Moth
inc in it doth suffer sea change by expectation, for
the worse II supports ITSELF like virtue. mat IL
sometimes is mixed with foreign spirits and thence be-
comes perncious, is true but cGreat emptor Let the
buyer know the producer.
The discoveries of science have aided greatly in the
cultivation of the grape. The study of chemistry par
ticuary, has done much TO improve the rultpy care
full and enlightened investigation of the properties AMI
capacities OF the soil Nor has this been the sole ac
conplishment of experimental science TIE aspect
hat The riHerard lends 10 the has proved an almpor
tant fact The same vines upon the same soil, and
with the same care have given very different results
difference traced TO variations of aspect The vine
to produce wine Of exquisite flavor, must Ike the
------"turn to it's God when he sets
"The same look IT TUNED when he rose"
II bould bs,k in the heat all the while the sun il above
the horizon ,
Tie udicous selection of the plants the seasonabe
pruning of the vines proper irrigation, and the careful
maturing of the iruitthese some OF the assdutes
~ Of sLn nnalf nj
By these the astrngen properties which reside in the
uncutiyated vine. aud which affect unpeasantly and
even njurously the palate and the stomach are re-
moved; while the rich saccharine matter, the aroma,
and those intrinsic virtues which promote cheeruness
are brought out and strengthened. No plant oil the
earth needs refined attention much or rewards IL
more copiously than the vine
Some OF the Island prOpTietors attach vineyards 20
their quntas (or country seat) mng'ng inc use,ul
with the agreeable visited often the quinta Oh the
American Consul II is about u mile from funehal'
ON the socaled New Road, and faces the sea ana sun
The grounds are twenty acres ia extent, over
hanging ra,ine, with gentle hills in The rear Ihey
sreteraced with the vine from the bed OF the raVneto
tle Iiohc.t groupd The soil is formed Of certain
fresh mould the product Of annual dissolution o
the rocky banks or mounds above, washed down BY
the tempestuOus storms OF wster Inc icTtio h'ope"
in tie . Cote dor" OF burgundy, which produce u''
Romance and ChAmbcrtn wines have SOL Ike thls
Icpd ineygerfus ioqa0r For last nunncr, nccomPAl'
led BY one Of the largest growers oiwnein the dihtne
MoDfeur jules LauKfeurc, went over iuoS' I,S'pn'
70 dear 70 naturc and the gourmand ana m''o '}s'"
o. familiar with The properties a. ""A q" P'''"'''""
ol the soil ~ -.
Tie owner II this quintn, cogn'tnnt Of u" "mnon'
.,tt a tLe soil bas devoted aud is dog0tihg Duch
tjmr lsbor. md expense, 10 ia proper man's7"'H'
Great care IL taken IN the selection 81 the Ua' gisa'
icety IN planting md gfeh' hssidny ~ p"haf ,n'"
ne yoil 4 leot clean, pfopsly irrigated snj freed
,on Ip.ects AID yeeds and WHEN Tho gfSpe fsseyeiS
rom he present blight be vii rep thH fstutH % m'
,tteutl,s labor Tho vineyard 80 seieh,lDeANy fon
,ated vii doubtless give az 6pHoal 'lrns7 ~ ny
,i,es 81 refcial yile me most eigdsiie oH' '''by
lLe islsnd pnances t.. d. ,.t,
The cs,iial II tbest. merchant pf"ppfi"fs - iN''
.,ue,sfds an1 stofeLo8ses The later MI W 81"
'idey.d thff bsnt upon uiirb itsy delefAaD" al
~, t,ss,scfi.ns JAe M es4Diishai bD1ses haze
s,ge osplial 10 flsp 'aaiis sPs@e '9g'@''
eo,osfd sssdy tbSossn1 ppes ~ 'he s",t h,'''s q"
n. Consul vines III gargas dD'aees @Hd at"Y"i"t
- Ia ,spfBg 10 pdef, eeco,diAs a. ese s"q 11'l
ID, Gotu ~ ~ he gaiiea ~ ss Alsh 80" ~ sf"~'4
Ii. G,es yon1 elDose A. poJ pih'' "' hrf .
tfo ~. (ssiln a. le. WsobDhri pnt"" - /
III. f... .f,s lsffl 04eHGffs 80 b@"9
81 ID