The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-11-21
On the Culture OF the Vine in Illinois.
PREMIUM TREATISE.
By II. l.. Brush, Of Ottawa.

By II. l.. Brush, Of Ottawa.
Every man under his vine and under his
fig-tree," was an image of luXurant and
/ peaceful repose, amid surrounding plenty,
I three thousand years ago. This language
| the spirit of inspiration has chosen to por-
/ tray the security and abundance of the
worlds last, best ages. The soil We occu-
py, the climate we enjoy, our free institu-
tons, afford US all the requisite conditions
for the realization Of that ideal good. Ia
our future, will the vino form so prominent
feature in the emblem Of our enjoyment
We wish that it may. We regard it as a
precious boon. We prize it for its many
beautiful and hallcwed associations in sacred
story, a. the symbol Of promised good. but
above all, for lis bounty and utility to man.
1t i gratifying to observe that the cult
vation Of our native grapes, and production
Of choice varieties by naturalization are en-
listing such general attention All nature
affords generous encouragement to such
eudcayOrS
The vine is hardy plant, and will grow
50 far north that il can do no more than
blossom. Hot houses and cold graperies are
provided in countries where the uncertainty
OF climate prevents any attempt at cu.tiya-
ton with view to profit. But no such ne
cessity is laid upon the dcnizens Of our
western States.
The vine luxuriates under our warm and
genial sun, In our dry, even climate, and cal
careous, ioamy soils. No exotic grape
grown under grass, ever surpassed in Iuxu-
rance our unriva'led Catawbas. grown in
open air and cultivated by the acre, like
corn. Were We 80 disposed, we could rem
der the fruit Of the vine not Iuy as plenty
as bla"kherrics," but so abundant as 20 leave
nothing further to he desired. And doubt
less the day = not far distant, when our
farms viii be considered incomplete without
4 generous vineyard. We commenced writ
ing more particularly with the view of
speaking Of the best methods and the requi-
site condition; Of soil for the cultivation Of
the vine in our state; and Of the duce-
mcuts 70 engage in this work. But before
entering upon this topic, il mag be well to
sue-cct some reasons for commencing this
much neglected and much abused fruit
. While some would place as first, its rich and
delicate fiarOr. we will refer TO its whole
some ard salutary properties. In our own
Judgment IL SnrpasS all fruits in lis happy
combination Of acids, mucilagc, and saccha-
rine matters, and is peculiarly fitted as an
antidotc and remedy 10 the diseases incident
to- a naarious climate.
The use of wine and grapes in certain
kinds Of fever II, at least, as old as Hippo
crates The Rhine wines are of diuretc
quality, and the Germans say, keep off the
doctors" They are not alone in commend
ing grapes and pure wines in the period Of
coEvGiescence Immediately following low fe-
7erS According to Rediinc, "old thick
wine is sill remedy in Cyprus for ter;ain
and Guartan agues, common in that and
other Greek islands, where the old wine
used 20 burn like OIL" For sanitary and
medicinal purposes, we regard the tartarlc
acid of the grape as vastly superior to that
of any other fruit, but particularly to the
MALE (apple) acid. For this reason we
would gladly see that hch is properly vi
ncgar, ciHGi1re, or soured wine, substituted
for that acditied cider, which most ungene-
rously has usurPed its name and Office; say
ing nothing of the dangerous counterfeits
which are manufactured and sold under the
name of cider vincTar.
Aside from the various applications of its
juices. the grape commends itself to US as
most wholesome fruit, whose luscious rich
ness and delicate flavor may with little care
be preserved fresh through the entire win
ter, gladdening its long chill hours with the
products OF the burning beams of summer
and the golden radiance Of autumn; or this
fruit NAV be dried and its most valuable and
useful properties still preserved in the form
of raislns
The only vineyards in America are those
of American grapes DoUhing1 Long
worth says, IL we intend cultivaiing the
grape must rely on our native varieties,
and new varieties raised from seed"
The vine, as we have said, is a hardy
plant. II will grow both in cold and warm
latitudes, but fourishes best between 50 and
- deg of latitude. With US no outlay of
capital is needed, for green houses, cold
graperIes, or expensive borders. Our clear,
warm sun, and dry atmosphere, insure the
full maturity of our latest and richest varie
ties. The vine may be successfully cult
waited in any soil that is not wet. 1t fiou-
rshcs most in a dry and light soil of cal
careous or loamy nature. A rich, light,
sandy loan, on a porous OF rocky bottom is
congenia!. a black, rich, loamy soil is ia
vorable, from its absorbing heat" Grapes
grown on rich deep sOits, are fttest for the
table. Gut the best table grapes do not
make the choicest wine. The dry seasons,
so characteristic of our climate, increase the
quantity of sugar in grapes, which contain
larger proportion of saccharine matter than
other fruits. THAT soil which. from dry
SIS and lightness, is scarcely fit for any
other culture, is best adapted for grapes de-
signed for wine"-be it calcareous or volca-
mic. Any light, mixed. friable soil, in which
water will not lodge, is congenial to this
plant A hillside, or mound, or ridge, or ta-
bic lands, with loose subsot, present
choice locations for the vine. Wines of first
character are usually made from vines that
flourish among stones or rocky soil. mo
wine of tolerable quality is grown on rich,
highly dressed lands" From this it will ap-
pear that our high, rolling prairies, with
gravely ridges, our bluffs, the banks Of our
creeks and rivers, where the declivities are
gentle, afford the requisite condition for
cnoice vineyards. We have, in word, al
most every kind Of soil and climate to meet
the demands of nature, or the wishes Of
those who desire pure wine, or varied
supply of fruit.
As respects the methods Of propagation,
vines may be produced abundantly either
from cuttings or layers. "Vines raised from
cuttings lire longest and bear NEST fruit"
Relding, p AL The readiest way and
much the cheapest to start vineyard, is to
procure good cuttings in the fall, if possible.
The process is then very simple. Having
plowed and subsoil- -p,owed your land, mark
of your vineyard carefully with line or
stakes, that the rows shall be straight both