Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-10-02
CORRESPONDENCE.
For the Union and American.
VINE CHI TIIRP IN nENNpCCrr

The growing interest, lately felt in the cultva-
ton of the Grape and wine making, throughout the
Tennessee and the adjoining States is very hopeful
for the future 1t is also worthy of notice that this
interest does not prevail so much amongst the mere
amateurs, who able and have the disposition to
indulge in refined and expensive horticultural tastes
as amongst the practical men. As the result of new
experiments to their knowledge they are begin
ing to be awakened to the enquiry, and seriously
consider whether or not it may be made with us
branch of agricultural industry, which will add ma.
terially to our individual prosperity and national
wealth.
The writer, four years ago, was impressed with
the affirmative view of this question: and commenced
the cultivation. He has persistently followed it
since nOtregardess of expense, but cheerfully max
ing every necessary outlay and the resultso far has
been beyond what he might have reasonably hoped
in the beginning. Extravagant calculations of the
profits have been made by others, but with these he
has little sympathy. Their tendency is to produce
disappointment, and consequent reaction in public
sentiment, under the influence of which, a really
good enterprise is in great danger of being waited
away into the great limbo of exploded humbugs-
No fortunes are TO be made at it suddenly In this
in all other healthy channels of industry, it is
! enough if a competence attends patient industry
and economical management. That the wine culture
in the South and West promises thus much, and that
very decidedly, there is little to doubt 1t has
already met the drafts and established its credit
One word here, in kind and friendly remonstrance
with the ultra friends of temperance 1t may be
that an illudged opposition your part, may in
the end defeat the very object which you in other
1qbr
TO accomplish Man is a drinking animal, set that |
down for certain. 1t is propensity of his nature
which like all other propensities has been implant-
ed wisely, andif properly directed willlead to good
No nation has ever lived on cold water alone None
never will. The question should be Uhqt may we
drink safely and happily, not hoU to eradicate the
propensity altogether. There is no room in this ar
cle for anything than suggestion on this point
but it is established fact, that no wine producing
countries are Incorporate, and very few are other
wise where wines are not produced in such uuanti-
ties be easily accessible to all the population
The stimulation Of pure wines is powerful one
and does leave that morbid craving which urges
to incorporate repetition. With this appeal to a
very worthy class of men whose cooperation and
countenance it is very desirable to secure, I will
proceed to state few plain facts and opinions for
the benefit Of those whose attention has been turned
in this direction.
With regard to the proper climate for the grape,
nature in this, with every other article really
beneficial to the human race has been very bounfu
Perhaps staple article, not excepting wheat and q
Indian corn, has adapted itself in variety or
other to greater diversites of climate Originating
in Persia the grapes of the old world have gradual
y acclimated themselves throughout the north of b
Africa and the whole of the south of Europe, even
Is far northward the British Islands. Here they
ire Indigenous from Canada to Cape Horn. Nature n
las Profered the wine cup to lips over a quar-
er part of the surface of the GLOBE and where the
roper variety is selected, and the proper attention
estowed, there need be little fear of climate in any
art Of America south of the Lakes. OF course Ia
notifications of the culture and such safe guards as
experience may dictate, must be used. We have
ldeed no climate analogous to that of Europe
Nth chain Of mountains running East and West
the position of our great Lakes andas highas the
lpsand the Pyrennees, shutting savage blasts
ON the great northern plains, we would have the Il"
innate Of Algeirs. As it is we have climate semi q
1sris and our agriculturisls, in this as in every
her NATTER must adopt their abours to its peculi-
10
e universally of the grape and the testimony of
ture herself, expressed in vine clad forests
vines ever grew spontaneously, where now gush wv
nth the rich yintages of Champaign. The climate mt
Europe most analogous TO ours is found in Hun q
ry. Their staple productions otherwise are pre- "u
ely the those of the Middle States with 'eH
The domestic habits, and cast of mind of the
labitants even their personal appearance, come mo
arer our own than those of any other European lit
ion except the English. The wines of Hungary hel
world renowned. VIII
The adaptation of the grape in its different varie- bee
to different soils is almost remarkable as its he'll
lpfauon to climate The idea which imposed it. C
upon the mind of Daniel Webster, that the ing
canic element was essential has BEEN within a of 1
years exploded. Our early experiments in the for
culture proved all to be failures and gave couu- his
ance TO this theory. 1t has since been discover and
mat ihey were the results of an effort to intro A
s and accLimate the European varieties They Nov
already come far enough from their Oriental bo1s
ne to the Atlantic Shores and refused to cross H.,
had even better at home and the experimoDts -,
Oh have been tried with our native varieties bava
y proved that the volcanic can be dsnensod with -.
illy enough. Heretofore it has been tbougbt 49,.
.;..r. we're H''eu Tor The pro- dent
hon OF vines in our own country over the na. loct
Varlties This was perhaps also European
. but has been entertained and acted upon oI- &
up 10 the present time by intelligent wine to -
'ers All the while, however, there seems 70 ored
existed popular idea that the free hills both,
the best fitted for the purpose and it is now bv ny k
'Ia' inc uniettered observer of whicl
re may be found wiser than the student of his trick
and foreign lands. was I
thin the last wear II has bo,- -, ~. Teste,
the vineyards upon the sandstone hills have A,
anu iesS SUBJECT 70 disease grOsn