Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-10-02

'on"OiOus' arc emlhenty adapted to our purpose.
What other soils may or may not be, can only be
determined by experience. There is every reason
to hope that the intelligent labors of the vine
dresser will be rewarded or less upon all of our
varieties of soil where not too low and wet
The best preparation of = > ground for a vine
yard is undoubtedly by trenehlng. This is an un-
usual process in Tennessee, and excuses an expla-
nation of the mode. Along the lower margin of
the ground selected, ditch is laid off to the width
of about four feet. This ditch is dug out to the
depth Of at least two feet and if three all the bet
ter. The dirt is thrown upon the side from the
vineyard After all the dirt is carefully thrown out.
another piece of land is marked off adjoining tbe
first and of the same width This is dug out to the
same depth, the dirt being thrown into the first
ditch ming 1T up and leaving it slightly raised,
with the soil lying in it in reversed condition
Another piece of land is then marked off and the
DIRT thrown into the second ditch, and so on to the
end The last ditch will be open and it may remain
so TO turn off the water running down from above,
which will be found the best practice, as the loose
soil of trenched ground is liable to waste in sudden
and violent freshets Where the vineyard is extern
sVe, 1t viii be necessary also to open cross ditehes
throwing it into squares of such size as to prevent
any considerable gulches from being formed by the
rain. vineyard so prepared will be less liable to
disease, and will last longer than when prepared in
any other way. 1t is yet question, however, with
US, where land is so plentiful whether or not it will
pay better to prepare the ground merely by deep
ploughing and subsOilng, and being oOntented with
less crops and shorter lived vineyards 1t certainly
would be more slOvenly method but for those who
are not able to incur the expense of trenehing it is
better than nothing.
The mode of cultivation generally adopted is to
set out the slips about by feet in rows, and let
them grow the first year they will; keeping them
clear of weeds with the hoe. Here again the ques-
tiOn arises of the comparative profit of setting them
so thick and using the hand culture, and wider
planting and cultivation with the plough The first
is the best, certainly but the other plan is worthy
of trial. The second year, the vines are cut down
to the ground, leaving only one good eye to grow,
still keeping out the weeds. The third year they
are cut back again, leaving two good eyes to grow
which will produce a few grapes. This spring, a
stout stake should be driven in near each root
about six feet in height to which the vines should
be carefully tied up they grow, supporting them
across from one stake to another after they reach
the top. The fourth year, the vineyard may be con-
sidered as established and formed for full crop.
Various modes adopted in this, but the general
idea is to select two of the strongest and best
canes, cut them back to about eight eyes and tie
them in the form of a bow to the stake. These
will contain all the fruit that the root is capable of
carrying to maturity. Presses may be constructed
at home for making the wine, and the expense of
preparing for market is trifing requiring in our
climate only moderately cool cellar and clean
casks. Nothing is added to the wine of the best
quality. To those deficient in sacharne matter, it
is necessary to add little loaf sugar, and small
quantity of pure brandy, but by this process wine
of inferior quality is made which, although plea
SAINT and wholesome enough should never be offered
as pure wine in market. One may well enough sell
it for what it purpOrts to be- but should never 20
further than that in its manufacture. Being hon
esty anxious to promote the wine culture in Ten
nessee for the public good, I may be excused the
Joseph Surfaceism of adding: The man who for
mercenary objects will risk the health of his fellow
men, by the addition of deleerous drugs to LIQUORS
of any kind deserve to be elected from the commu-
nifty as nuisance, and to have his property confs-
Gated to the use of more honest manufacturers.
The above is, of course, only an outline of the
mode of establishing vineyard, to enable those
who are inexperienced to form some idea of the
amount Of labor and patience which will be re-
luired. The details of the culture are easily
enough learned in the progress. An excellent |
land- book for beginners is small treatise by Mr. |
}Ob't Buchanan, of Cincinnati, which may be pro-
ured at small expense.
II should have been mentioned in the proper
'ace that, perhaps, the best exposure in our eli
nate is to the north. We have more to fear from
premature swelling of the buds in winter, and from
he scorching, baking suns of summer, than from
ny lack of warmth in atmosphere. Our late
rosts are also dangerous, and when they occur an
astern slope is more apt to suffer than a western,
n account of receiving too early the rays of the
IN. Until experience demonstrates the contrary,
should certainly select a northwestern exposure,
ut this is of less Importance than the proper soil
he grape, after all, is our hardest fruit to the as
.ults Of the weather in the winter or spring It's
Anglers lie in the diseases of summer and on these
lie soil tells most. There is the rot-the old mys-
ry which like the cholera, has baffled all RENE
les and all theories-the mildew, and the insects.
yainst which the surest hope is a healthy root in
,ngenial soil.
With regard to the best varieties, supreme over
!, as yet, stands the Catawba, a native of North |
lrolina, and of immediate latitude Its sue
ssful culture extends from Missouri to Florida
is the best for wine, and for the table, yet known
e should not, however, be satisfied with that
ne jealous cultivatOr will continue to experiment
ha Mild
It'll the variety of native wines will equal those
Europe. Besides that, we have the Herebmont
excellent bearer, producing a wine said by Mr. ,
ngworth to resemble the Spanish Mausinello.-
lie Cape and Isabella also make excellent wine. s
their culture has almost wholly been superseded
the Catawba. Some of our native grapes have
en- found to produce excellent red wine. of su
rior quality in the hands of Mr. Frederick Miench Z
Missouri No one can tell what discoveries lie in
1t for the diligent experimenter Every wild =
ape Of any promise should be introduced into orr 3
'dens and nurseries and faithfully tried. ONLY
''Proving all things" will be found sthe good, TO A
held fast. 1t is gratifying to observe that our
'ernment has appointed an agent to examine the W
i've grape Of Arkansas and Texas, and to select U
ungs from the best varieties, to be distributed
ough the Patent Office, throughout the United
ties. The fact is significant of growing inter-
IN the subject, and also of the confidence enter
led in the hidden wealth of our own forests and
s. J. r. EAKIN. p
fARTRACE, Tenn. M
La
DEMOCRATIC MEAsURE.-A correspondent of the I'd
adeLphIa Press remarks, judiciously, that we Bo
Q another lesson taught of the value of the 70
pendent treasury. Had the money of the Gov
nent been thrown into the New York market so a