The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-10-15

thaL lie would 1eel OF making Urcad
his coin or wheat field.
We have recently made two visits to the
vineyards Of DR.. Mcdonald, and our cores
pondent, Dir. DeCaradcuc. We have in
quired minutely into their systems of plant
ing and culture-we have examined their
soils, locations and aspccts-havc eaten
their grapes, and drank their wines of vari-
Gus f1avors and qualitics-but all 7'urc,
invigorating, and vastly superior to the for
eign trash for Which we pay so dearly
We have, SO far as our brief time would
permit,) faniliarized ourselves with their
processes for making these wines, and with
all the advantages and disadvantages Of the
business : and the result is, deliberate
conviction that the Field Culture ofMc
Grape, as practiced by these gentlemen, is
branches Of rural industry, and destined in
very few years to become of great and
significant Importance to the South
There are thousands Of acres of uplands all
around us, too poor for either cotton or
corn, that will pay from 5000 to $500 per
acre in wine, the third or fourth year from
planting, and which, if properly managed,
may be made to clear expenses from the
very outset. Much of this land can be
purchased for mere trfle, Give or ten
dollars per acre. and if it will pay even
two hundred dollars per acre in wine, after
the third year, what other field crop now
cultivated in the South can b"gin to com,
pare with it? The experience of the vim
ters in Ohio, shows an average yield Of
four hundred gallons to the acre, and that
we can safely count on equaling this, need
not be doubted.
In fact, the testimony Of both the gentle
men above alluded to, (who have had six-
teen years experience,) as we'll as the recent
successes Of Mr.. Axt, and many Others,
justifies US in claiming for the Culture of the
Grape far more attention than it has ever
yet received in the South, and Of earnestly
urging it upon the notice of our suLscri-
bers.
We can fully endorse, from our own
knowledge, all the statements ofMr. DeCar-
adeuc; and commend his article to the
special attention of our readers. We do
not claim perfection for his system nor docs
Mr.. G. llimself-but we do contend that it
is the cheapest, easiest, and surest way of
profitably cultivating the Vine, yet offered
to the public.
GRAPE GROWING AND WINE MAKING MADE
Editors Southern Cullivator.-Agrce
ably 10 your request, I now hand you a
few remarks about our method Of planting
out and taking care OF Vineyard. say,
"our method" for I claim it is peculiar to
DR.. Mcdonald and myself; and we have
adopted it, not through ignorance Of more
complicated and more costly methods, but,
first, on account Of its simplicity and cheap
ness, and then, having we'll succeeded, why
should we alter our course do not pre-.
tend to say It is the best, nor do 1 wish to
deter any SO disposed to 60 to the expense
oftrencbing their lands three feet in DEPTH
but there are very many farmers who have
pot the means to incur such expenses, who
Eish to plant out an acre or two of vines
but are literally frightened out of it, no,
only by the mystery and difficulties which
Have, heretofore, been connected with the
business, but also, by fear Of the money
which Is to come out of their pockets before
they receive any returns. First, SO many
hyndred dollars for trenching, and grub
tiDg. and manuring; then "a many more
for vines then SO many more to learn how
70 sick the cuttings into the ground; ant
then 20 many more to learn how to prune
then TO learn how to make the wine, how
to keep \ DC; and, to crown il all, so many
thousands for cellar. And, il it SO hap
pens, he is able and willing to stand all this
sAhundred 10 one, he is frightened half ou
fhis senses, and gives up in despair O
ever being able to unravcl the mystery, an>
master the awful science of Wine making
especially if he happens to hear Of" grant
lshoratories" being LuiIt for the expires
puypase Of fimpartiug instruction for re
mpaessdon!
1. si.sb II PREPARATIONS OF THE LAND.
prefer new land, such AS would Lrin.
4kpR HHy 10 six bushels of corn to tie acre
esseot, II possible, apiece on ea'terly, south