Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-01-17

set I planted them, | think, six feet by four,
stake to EACH six or eight feet high. I did
not prepare the ground as was directed, by
deep and thorough spading and turning. 1t
was prepared as well as could be expected with
the pillow. | think my collection only COM
prised four or five varieties. A large and small
cape grape, Madeira and Bordeaux. l do not
at present recollect any others, all said to be
foreign. The long cape is what is now called
by some the Schuylldll muscatel, and is, |
believe, by many, claimed as a native. This
Is decidedly the best table grape | have vet
tasted. The small cape was something over
half the size Of the larger; round, black berry,
and quite sweet 1t bore in short, compact
punches. The Madeira was much such a
! looking grape as to color and size as the Isa-
bella, but | think purer sweet. The Borde-
aux was large, round berry, in short and very
compact punches. About the time the vines
first commenced bearing L met with Swiss
who said he had been raised to the culture of
the grape, and | employed him to attend to
the vineyard. He paid very strict attention to
it for two years, but became disheartened at
the prospect and left. From the time the
vines commenced bearing you could see they
were becoming unhealthy, and in a few years
| they had not strength to form any bearing
wood. l made but very little wine it seemed
to be more like claret than any other wine. In
/ 1920, | think, | broke up the vineyard, and
| sold what vines were still living to Col. w.
| Williams, who transplanted them to his farm
few miles off They tlOurished again pretty
well for few years. but finally died out, and
the Col. has abandoned the culture. Mr.. Fran
els Fink Ga Germany soon after my failure,
planted some five or six acres three or four
miles from Nashville and continued to cult
vate them for several years, but finally dis
paired of succeeding, and sold out and removed
to Ohio. His stock was foreign vines. have
known several others make trials on a small
scale, say from a half to one or two acres but
| invariably with like results. Some have lately
commenced grapes that are said to be native,
and as yet are in good spirits Of succeeding !;
| but l doubt whether the short time which they
/ have been at it, would justify positive con-
clusion. All the vineyards which have seen
| have been [ think on too fiat or level land
! Hill sides, and those having gravel in their
composition, | should prefer. | have seen a
| few vines of the long cape cultivated to furnish
| the table, which have succeeded admirably.
! They were planted in yards, and trained on
the house or trellis to the full extent Of their
| growth. This vine, treated in that way, per-
| hapS would succeed in field culture, extended
on trellis work. They are, l think, decidedly
the best table grape yet cultivated amongst us,
and is worth exertions to obtain it. | think |
! have seen on single vine more than five
| bushels of punches of grapes.
The grape is the only sure fruit crop we have ;
| have never known them to fail. They are
sometimes effected by rot the cause of which
| do not believe is certainly known. 1t COM
mences in a minute spot as if it be the sting
of some insect and rapidly spreads over the
berry. 1t appeared to me that it was apt to
occur in very wet, or very dry seasons. Some
persons attribute it to wet, some to drought.
| have thus, Sir, given you a short and hasty
sketch of my experience of the grape culture,
and wish it could have been fuller and more
satisfactory. l hope and believe that you will
succeed better than we who have preceded you,
and that the culture of the grape may become
a profitable business in our country The
pleasures Of our tables would be greatly in
creased, and the incorporate use of distilled
spirits much curtaied thereby.
Wishing you great success in your enter
prise, / am, dear Sir,
Your Ob't serv't
FELIX ROBERTSON.
! TO BE CONTINUED.