The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-11-02

and he pressed steadily onward.
The result of his efforts thus far, are most
gratifying and encouraging. lie has now
quite number Of very promising young
vineyards in Middle and Cherokee Gergia.
Alabama and South Carolina; and it is only
necessary that planters OF taste and intell-
gence should be made aware Of the main
features Of his system, and witness some Of
the results, to arouse among them a very
general interest in the subject. With the
view of imparting what we know of Mr..
AS operations thus far. we will briefly state
what we witnessed Mt the vineyard of DR..
W. Q. Anderson.
This experimental vineyard of DR.. A., is
located at his dwelling, miles from Wash.
ington. Wilkes Co., Ga. 1t is on the sum-
nit Of slight clcvation-the surface soil
Of a dry, graveiy nature, and the subsoil
red clay. In the winter Of 1858, one quar-
ter of al acre was thoroughly henched, two
spades deep, and 500 cuttings Of the Ca
| tawba Grapa were planted in foot rows,
| cuttings 3l2 feet apart i'll the rows. The
cuttings OF Mr. Axt are very long Il s to "a
inches) and the ground must be thoroughly
broken and pulvcrized in order that they
can be easily pushed down SO deep that only
one eye is left above the surface. Of the 500
cuttings first planted for DR.. Anderson, only
about lao survived the late frosts and
drought, and these l4O vines now constitute
the Doctors experimental vineyard.
We visited this vineyard on the 23d Of
August, in company with Mr.. Axt, Hon.
NJ. A. Cooper, Of Cass, Mr.. Bacon, of Troup,
and NJ. z. Galloway, ESQ, of Wilkes; and
VIC arc confident that the general feeling of
the party was that of most agreeable surprise.
The vines, which were trained to plain
wooden horizontal supports, were literally
laden with heavy, blusling clusters of the
most beautiful and roctical Of all fruits
the bloomcovcrcd Grapc-nnd the fine,
strong, bcaring-cancs, huge, healthy leaves,
and large, sound punches, with no sign Of
rot or midew, all proved conclusivcly the
benefits Of deep culture and proper training.
! We counted the number Of clusters on sew
eraI vines, and found an average Of over 40
on each. According to the estimate of Mr..
Axt, forty such clusters will produce at least
of DR.. A., with scarce one third of a fair
stand Of vines, will produce 14O gallons of
wine the present season. The proper num-
Der Of vines for an acre, on Mr.. Axis plan,
is sixteen hundred; and that number OF
gallons (l6Oo) Of wine, we think, he safely
counted on from an acre OF properly man
aged vines, the third year. With good care,
the yield will increase thereafter, from year
to year; and Mr.. Axt has no hesitation in
plcdging himself TO produce twenty-five
hundred (25OO) gallons Of good wine from
all acre OF vines, the fifth year after planting.
Estimating this wine at the lowest possible
figure Isl per gallon) and allowing only one
half of Mr.. Axis estimate (l25O gollops)
- ''''. = ".-ov g. A. .l>rol,niion Of one
acre OF ground, in one season-a result not
often attained in the regular routine of Cot
ton and Corn planting!
We have no desire to put "too fine
point upon this matter, or in the least de-
gree to mislead our readers. Neither do
we believe in any "royal roads" to fortune.
we merely tell what we saw, and give our
own impressions Of the matter. We desire
to see some portion OF the capital and much
OF the taste and skill of our country divert
ed from the old time-worn track that leads
10 the everlasting and omnpotent cotton
bag; and, to that end, stand ready 10 en-
courage any enterprise which will give our
planters and their poor, worn lands more
time for rest and improvement. The culture
OF the Grape and the making Of Wine
promises to d, this; and also to prove
most efficient auxiliary to the cause of tenn
| perance, sobriety and good morals,* and il,
therefore, has our heartiest good wishes and
cooperation. We hope to live long enough
to see the old "washed" and "guied" hill
sides of Georgia and the neighboring States,
yielding tons Of luscious Grapes and hogs
heads Of pure and invigorating Wine. The
vine fairly revels in this climate--it adapts
itself readily to almost every variety of soil
and with proper skill in planting and train
ing will succeed any where in the South.
All that is Necessary is to start right-the
main expense being the preparation Of the
ground. Mr.. Axt is making arrangements
to procure experienced vine-dressers to aid
him in his business, and where sufficient
encouragement is offered him by individuals
or companies, he will assume full charge of
their vineyards from the trenching Of the
ground to the bottlipg Of the wine. His
terms are BY no means unreasonable, and
those who desire to negotiate with him,
may do 80 through the editors of this Jour.
nal. or by addressing him at Washington,
Wilkes county, Georgia.
Had we time and space, we would gladly
60 into more particular details of this very
interesting subject; but we are obliged to
leave it for the present, with the promise
OF returning to it hereafter, at an early day.
The various articles on Grape culture in