Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1854-03-02
VOLUME 6.
AGtsrCgTnslFtsAE..
THE SsNE.

fauemp' TO meet the :eqnat Il r, ado 70
DOR chapter on The vine. "a famous
nd plant" is the vine. Art, history.
ooiry and religion have helped 10 i'm
niortl!Ee it; and what if nan has per
verlrd is Uses, and made questionable
lie tul,less of enjoyment! Is it any the
less worthy of the consideration of those
whu believe that "Vrue is the economy
of pleasure" and that the good thing.
tie Creu'oi has wisely given. his crea
lures should thankfully enjoy?
But let us leave on, the temperance
question. and speak of vine growing as
freely as we do of the grain crops, which
ye, feed, with fatal certainty, the brew
cry and The still, over so large part Of
Christendom. One fact, however, will
bear frequent reiiera,ion. In the wine
growing districts OF Europe there is
comparatively no drunkenness, and little
need Of the physician: and we fully
believe tina, vineyard near every viii
lage in the West, would be much better
for the health Of the people than drug
store in it. And, when all things are
favorable, the grape crop in abundaCty
profitable. even should no wine be made;
for the fruit, which cannot be eaten or
sold as ii ripeus, may be preserved, reaS
onably fresh, kiln dried by steam heat,
and con. crted into HE most delicious
raisine--iar superior TO much of the i'm
ported article.
But, in sober verify, il is mainly in
connection with The manufacture of wine
tina, we have been called on for "an ar.
ticic on the vinc:" and the money returns
Of the crop, with few hints on planting,
seem mos, appropriate a, this time.
We commence with extracts from
private letters which we are permitted
10 use BY the writer-Robert Buchanan,
Of Cincinnati.
This has been the. oest season for
the vine since lS49, and orr vineyards
have yielded a rich and abundant pro-
duet. The average yield of those in
this vicinity will be a. least 400 gallons
TO The acre-frum $50 acres in bearing
My own vineyard produced larger
yield than ever aniicipated-4.236 gal
Ions from five acres, or 8a7 gallons TO
ihe acre.
My whey ard occupies hill side,
with gentle slope and southern aspect.
Soil reddish yellow loan, six or eight
feet deep. Vines planted three by six
feet apart--an acre containing 2420
plants. Last wintor | gave the whole
vineyard light coating oil wood ashes,
turning them under in the spring hoeing.
This. think, has been beneficial ef-
feet.
The cos, Of producing my grape crop
this year was between $500 and 500.
And, al the price which | expect to get
for my wino--Sl,25 per gallon--next
year, when ready for masket-.his grape
farming pays well. Blu. would by no
means advise others TO 60 into i, largely,
at first. LIE. Tie soil, climate and posi-.
ton be tested, on small scale. and if
found suitable, entered gradually and
cautiously. That many portions of our
country are favorable 10 grape culture
there can be no doubt. Nor can the
profit be questioned, in careful hands;
but the grape, more than any other fruit
requires judicious and prompt atten
ton
This is the statement Of most can
did and reliable hort!culturisl, and one
Of the best wine growers Of our bes
known wine districts; and. depend upon
it, the closing advice is good. Grea
caution should be observed, tor much
skill, born only of experience, is neces
sary to success. even la the mos, favor
ed locality.
But, for encouragement, contrast Mr.
Buchanan's account with thatuf a friend
of his, who resides in Bordeaux, France
and writes under date Of Oct. 18th, SO.
This gentlemen gives the seasons re.
turns from eleven estates, which he had
visited. and says-"These incIcde all
the bes, grow.hs of Medoc. as well as
some of secaad and third quality.-
The small proprietors-the growers Of
such wine as il usLally sen. TO tie Uni.
ted States, arc not turning out SO well as
these herein stated"
His figures are 46l tuns (about no..
600 gallons) for the eleven large estates;
out Of which the celebrated Chateau
MaFgeaux 9iyes only 40, and Latte As
suns "a taking ofinsince las, year, Of
more than oneshniA And r Rndiiion
Of The wine crop i BY no NEE con-
lined TO France alone. The ssm3IkdIe' -
81 the grape. or some disease OF en- ~.
ssems 10 follow the vine through a. be
vineyards; aud the French papers u
ready speak Of our sending swine "
side as well as wheat and -four.
But word on sail &c.. for The vine.
and for the present we refer our readers
10 the Abstract Of Frui; Growers Pro-
ceedings for further direction.
The Casawba succeeds well Is Osta a,
but we doub! the propriety Of trying j,
for wine. so far north, in general. Asa,
Kelly's Island, in Lake Erie there 3ate
local causes fasoring success NJ Otsava,
besides capital soil and exposure.
SOIL for the vine should be reasons
bly, fertile, deep and dry. Lime il
sential. and the best vine soils alWeys
contain fair proportion Of claf1N A
plensiful admixsure Of gravel and Small
ssones Is thought favorable. olAB things
S heinus en.,al. hut ahnve All = ~ pnrToM