Litchfield enquirer., 1858-06-10
THE GERMAN vINE-GRoWERS IN
MISSOURI.
Correspondence OF The N. Y. Tribune:
HLRMaNN. Mo. Nav 90. 1858,

| Even the strctest moralist must feel that
there is something about vine-growing coun.
try peculiarly suggestive of joy and gladness-
| We do not easily escape the old associations of
Hebrew terms the shoutinss and singings
in the yincyards'--the reioicings of the yint-
age-the vine languishing, causing the merry
hearted to sigh-the vine withered because ioy
is dried up from among men--wine and oil, the
i sign Of fuitful land These expressions ia
miliar from childhood, prepare one fer pleasant
| aspects iii a country of vineyards All ones
memories too of vine countries are of cheerful
sunny and temperate gnyety
81 felt enfions. in this syisit to the Missouri
vineyards, to sec what would be the effects of
this pursuit Oh American habits and though
the pioneers work in new country is not the
most easy and gay, yet l saw at once that
something of this CHEEKY influence was pervad-
ing even this population.
stopped first at Hermann about 80 miles
from ST. Louis, and in waiting at the tavern for
vine-grower, whose place was to visit, watch
ed the people coming in There was some
thing extremely social and careless about them,
yet at the same time they seemed like thrifty,
wellto-do people Very few called at the bar
for whisky or brandy but the most took
glass together of the light native wine, and
chatted socially over it, sometimes sitting at
table to do so, which civilized custom has vet
to be introduced in most parts of the United
States.
The only tipplers were old Missourians, who
called for whisky, aud damned the Dutch, and
all Dutch stuff
The talk Was good deal Of vines and land
At length the vinc-grower whom / expected
came in, and accompanied him through the
village. 1t is a very comfortable, thriving
looking little town. the houses built mostly of
brick, with pleasant gardens surrounding them.
The population is about 1900, of which l I'M
derstood there is not one an American. The
place has two Or three schools, supported by
public funds, aud two churches-one Luther.
an and one Catholic. My friends vineyard
lies upon one of the hills overlooking the Mis-
souri, " Elm herrliches Land p "A glori-
Gus country p he says with enthusiasm, as we
reach theetop and cast cur eyes over the land
scape. For miles away, on the side of the riv-
er where we were, there was broken view Of
vine-toppcd hills, while the lower slopes were
heavy with rich woods, and the valleys green
with grain. Beyond the river luxuriant
growth Of cottonwood and sycamore covered
the rich fats. In the country beyond these,
Mr. r. said, were some of richest plantations
Of the State, worked by negroes.
Mr. RS house was a~little house, such as
any new settler might have, but you notice the
contrast to the usual Americans cabin in the
few Towering trees left near by, and some tru-
ly German garden-beds laid out under the win
dows Otherwise, the whole hill-slope was
covered with vines, usua y trained on two
poles bound together, about five feet apart
This German had been there some twelve
years, and now possessed most valuable lit
tie property His wine had taken the prize
lately in St. Louis, even over Longwortll's Ca
tawba. Most Of the settlers, he said, were We
! ry prosperous, and their wine was coming into
gseat demand They covered the barren hill
tops far in the interior with their Vineyards
They lived good deal by themselves, and had
nothing to do with the slaveholding Americans,
and he believed had happier life than any
other Germans in the Western country. The
town had produced last year some $4,000 gal
Ions of wine.
The good situations for vineyards, he states,
cost 81 to s. au acre those which are al.
ready improved, SIS or $40. 1t needs three
or four years preparation before vineyard
pays its cost. During this time the vine-grow.
er can support himself by farming and other
|
should have some 5000 or $500 capital to build
his wine cellar and house, buy bis cattle and
pay extra labor. After three or four years,
the vineyard will yield on an average from $50
to 800 gallons OF wine to the acre a very ia
vorable site has been known to produce 1000
gallons and 400 was the lowest Mr. RS place
had given. One man, with industry. can man
age FIVE acres. The wine is worth from 81 Is
~ A. . <lrx Sc
common return. Mr.. r. had sold wood on the
place the first year for $500, and had received
one year 400 gallons from half an acre. 1t will
be seen at once that no other agriculture OF
the States presents such returns. Of other
expenses, the wages of labor are now from Is
cents to a 81 day, or $12 to SIS month
cow costs from slS to $40 pair of oxen
$45 to $50 horse, $50 to $40 Wood is
worth about $3.50 cord potatoes, 10 cents
bushel, and wheat SO cents. Labor is al
ways in demand, and as may be seen from the
prices Of food, is exceedingly well paid. The
best varieties Of vines he had found to be
the North Virginia Seeding, Catawba and Isa-
bella
1 Thus far, The climate has been more favora.
} BILE to the vineyards than it is in Germany
} They have had no year in which The yield has
not paid the labor while en- the Rhine, as is well
known, there will be years in which the propri
etors Of the vineyards get no return at oil, the
poor tenants, who make up the population d
vine-dressers, fall into great distress and power
ty. The worst weather IN Missouri is the sol
fry, moist heat OF July-only q few sorts car
survive this-but the frosts and storms Of Sep
TENDER and October, which destroy the vines o.
fruit IN Germany, the American vineyards en-
tirely escape. l asked Mr. B. What effect b
iieonsidered this culture Of tho yine to have OF