Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1856-07-23
VINEYARDS IN THE SOUTN-MR. AITS VIEW
OF GRAPE CULTURE, ETC.

EDS.
| VINEYARDS In THE SOUTH-MR. AITS VIEW
OF GRAPE CULTURE, ETC.
Ir is probably we'll known to most of
| our readers, (says the Southern Culticator,)
| that Mr.. Charles Axt, now OF Crawlordville,
Ca, has been chiefly instrumental in awak-
ing among us an interest in the culture of
the Grape for Wine Making; and that, so
far, his efforts in various parts of Georgia
and the adoining States, have been attended
with marked success. A brief statement OF
his views las set forth by him during re.
cent conversation with us on this most inter.
esting subject,) may not, therefore, be unac.
ceptable to our readers:
MR.. AxT ON VINE CULTURE.
Heahhfulness of the Grape-The Grape
is universally admitted TO be one of the
healhiest of all fruits, as it is among the
most delicious. 1t was one Of the first fruits
| that claimed the attention Of man, and has
| never failed to return a rich and abundant
| reward for the care bestowed upon it. The
| fruit of the vine is cooling and refreshing,
and has a very salutary effect upon the
system-being both nutritious and medicinal.
1t attenuatcs the blood, and gives it a free
circulation-delighting the young and reno.
vating the old. Taken freely it is diuretic
| and gently laxative. 1t has often proved
| effectual in severe cases of dysentery, even
| curing whole armies. In inaammatory dis
eases. it aIlays thirst and reduces the heat
of the system. 1t is, also, Of the greatest
use in phthsical and pulmonary diseases, or
where there is any difficulty in breathing.
Dried Grapes, or Raisins, are good for the
dessert, and in various ways Of cooking, and
are used extensively throughout the civilized
world There is no reason why they should
not be made in vast quantities and in the
greatest perfection, in the Southern States.
Natural Wine--itS Domestic use-Pro.
motion of Temperance and Sobriety,-Natu-
raj Wine is the pure fermeuted juice of the
Grape, entirely free from any admixture OF
sugar or alcoholic spirits. Wherever these
are added, the result is "made wine" COR
dial or syrup-not pure and true wine.
Nearly all foreign or imported wines are
badly adulterated, and most Of them unfit
to drink. Many of them, in addition to
sugar or spirits, contain decoctions Of drugs
highly deleterious to health-as any person
can determine for himself by the disagreea-
BILE aftcr-effects of a free indulgence in them
at dinner party or over night. Pure and
natural acine, on the contrary, when drank
in moderation, produces only slight exhil.
eration and buoyancy of spirits; it is tonic
aud strengthening and is followed by no
nausea, headache or confusion OF ideas.
Where such wine is used habtually in a
family, and the children have free access tc
it, they grow up sober and temperate, as is
abundanly proved by the statistics and
statements of travellers in all wine. producing
countries. Where pure Wine can be had
abundantly and cheaply, there is no taste
so depraved as to indulge in fiery alcoholic
spirits as beverage, and, therefore, drunk.
enness, with all its attendant horrors and
crimes, is almost unknown in wine countries.
All lovers of temperance, Of good morals,
Of virtue, law and order, should, therefore
encourage the culture of the Grape and the
making of pure and healthy natural aOine.
Advantages in Vine Culture possessed by
the South orer all other Countries.--Ihe
South possesses great and decided advauta.
ges in Grape growing, over either Europe
or the Western States. In the latter coun.
tries, the Grape is very fas'idious in its
choice of soil and exposure-thriving only
upon warm, porous, deeply.trenched and
well drained hill-sides, facing the sun. In
these countries, the first cost of land suita-
bic for the Grape is often from SloO to
S4o0 per acre. In the South, where the
Grape fourShes on almost any soil or ex.
posure, land can be bought from So TO $40
per acre. In Europe and at the West, ow-
ing to the defects of climate and cold nature
! of the soil, the preparation of land for Vine
yards, (such as trenching, terracing, walling,
&c.) cost from $50 to 5000 pc. acre; while
| in the more genial climate of the South, by
the use of the subsoil and deep.turniug plow,
| followed by the spade or shovel, we can
prepare land for Vineyards at cost Of $40
per acre, or even less.
Early Bearing and Maturity, 1.-THE South.
AT the West, lin Ohio and elsewhere) the
Vines only begin to bear few Grapes the
third year; and, if well managed, from the
| sirth year onwards, will average from 800
to 400 gallons of wine per acre. In the
South, we can easily get one thousand (lOO0
gallons of wine per acre, the third year after
planting the cuttings; and, under favorable
circumstances, from the 5th year, onwards,
each acre will average from 1000 to $500
gallons of pure unadulterated wine. In
Ohio, one good vine-dresser can attend to
fue acres; while, in the South, from the
increased length Of the season and additional
time to do the work, the same hand can ca
silly manage ten acres--both, of course,
needing much additional hel P at the gather
ing time and vintage.
Superior Climate Of The South.--Ohio
and other Western States are liable to many
disasters from the ickleness and variable.
ness of ths weather; it being often too wet,
| too ,old too damn fopny S,o S-c tn COW