Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-03-23
From the Farmer and Planter.
VINE CULTURE,

~ Your Usclll anu III 'uFt;tlll aSIlCulluI"i
publication, still, Inject nothing in it with
respect TO. the vine culture in our State.
There is evidcity Il disinc!hIation to COM
mun:catc amy statement about this new
branch of Industry. The planters arc full
of Sugar Cane us We'll lis the papers.
We'll, let them alone; but let me tell
you my story, or my experience rather
Last winter, and especially last spring,
was fatal to The vines. owing to the low
temperature. Most Of the vines were
killed down to n,ar the ground: except
the Scurpcrnong. This appears very
strange, since this vice is native Of oNr
warm, sandy soil, near tho ocean. Not.
witll>tandng this misfortune, the class of
Vines of the CataA ha kind and Burgundy,
put out the latent buds and the salEe
fruit buds, the whole bearing moderate
crop. We had i'll June a"d the begin
ping of July, 4 very long spell of wet
season, which proved y great injury to
the grapes by the rot; but was followed
by an equally long portion Of dry wealth
er, Which caused the grapes TO mature un-
equally: but still tic ripe ones We're o!
excellent quality, llron:s' s!na? in q'ant-
;y as 70 the juice. Ny vintage will pro
lace excellent wine ,li> year, such Il: 10
stand comparison with the best European
kinds. Ii recalls to my mind the cclc-
hra'rd vintage OF l3ll-the famous
= Cossct Vine" renowned ior its superior
iiy even to this day.
Afcr SO many rcvcrscs and mlahars
in the culture OF the vine anal making of
Wine among our people, it seems to me
that what We lack is intelligent perscver-
ancc. We have thr soil the climate is
more congrniaI than Ohio. My obscrva-
ton force; uron my mind the positive
conviction that we have III the Scuppcr:
nong. at least, the wine that never fails.
The European may fail at times. and the
Catawba also: though net go badly. Il hose
two last vines arc very much injured hy
caterpiIiars eating up the leaves, and thus
injuring the grapes and preventing their
perfect maturity. Fires lit up about the
vineyards at sunset, III June ard July,
will afford 1 fiery tomb to the butterfly
that lays the eggs.
The stumbling block after all, is, tic
Wine mai; ing-:lle art uf making pure
wine<-the art of vrc-t;lction-thc p:ac-
ticai knowledge Of the Jaw of fcrmeata-
ton applied TO viaetaction. This calls
for proper cellar wherein to press and
terment. Mine is of solid granite-thc
wall two feet thick 1t requires proper
machine for mashing aud pressing. Mine
were made here by Mr. Enright, Il supe-
rior cotton gin maksr-of course made
on my plans. 1t requires thermometer
and Bcaumc's hydromcter 10 determine
the specific gravity Of the must (thc pure
juice OF the grapc,) which will soon tell
if the mast will make wine or vinegar.
heard that friend of mine, not be-
ing aware of the danger of the carbonic
acid gas which is generated in the act Of
fermentation, owing to the badly con-
structcd cellar, was very near losing one
or Two valuable negro men who attended
to the cellar. TIle said gas is non-sup.
porter of combustion, and is not re&rir,-
bic, and Of course asphisciatcs, as much
so as if dropped in The ocean. | mention
this for warning. In French works on
vincfaction, there are whole chapters or
this subject, which shows the Importance
OF this hint.
When saw my must marking l3o de-
grees of the hodometcr, thought my
head would turn, so glad was | at the rich
result Of my toiIsolue and inccssant la
bors; and then my cellar having for weeks
an eqna5!e temperature, vibrating only
two or four degrees. between 6Go t., for
Whole weeks, while out doors tile varia-
items, from day to d:'y, where 80 and
more degrees i.
The consequence has been moderate
and well regulated fermentation, AID the
wine is proportionably good already. !
am in perfect exstacy-l am intoxicated
with joy could shed tears of pleasure,
at 50 complete success-l have not Id
bored in vain. We may cxciaim with
Archimcdcs, 81 haze .1ound u!' To he
sure we cannot snatch at once valuable
truths from nature but to obtain so rich
result, is the pride of my heart; though,
perhaps, Yet imperfect i'll the result, and
with respect to the greater perfection, ex-
pcrcncc and perseverance, will teach MS.
Behold, therefore, tho principal step OF
my unliring labors realized; and behold
the many years of careful observation
and improvements OF my vines, OF pecu-
niary sacrifices, OF wear and tear Of body
and mind, at last rewarded.
am deSirous to teach all these things
here on my place practically, but not BY
letter. | have advertised that shall do
SO, for a small compensation.
Your friend,