Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-04-26
THE FARmBRs' COLUMN.


The increased attention which is being given IN
this country to the culture Of this delicious fruit
must be a source Of great satisfaction LEES to the
epicurist ana the moralist than to the economist.
since it promises the most beneficial results in what
ever aspect it may be considered We scarcely know
Of anv crop which offers greater inducements, aside
from the consideration Of immediate profit than the
grape and yet the profits attending its culture
by no means so remote as many people are apt
suppose. The grape vine is hardy and natures very
rapidly, and on every farm there are abroad acres
amounting to several millions in the aggregate,
which are considered valueless for the ordinary
purposes Of cultivation but which are well adapted
to vintage utility, and might in little time become
the most profitable Of any. The richness Of the
wild and free growth of the native grape as witness
ed in the forests throughout the country, and in
every variety Of soil and Cline is full of instruction
as to what might be expected if the hand Of culture
were applied in furtherance of natures efforts; and
the marked success which has thus far attended this
culture leaves it no longer matter Of experiment
doubt that It'll an established success 1t has in
its success produced results which beyond i'm
mediate estimation The culture of this important
fruit will be sure to make itself felt in every depart
ent Of social life and viii constitute an important
landmark in the path Of civilization itself 1t has
done so in the past of Europe why not in the
future of America
In France, where about one-thlrd of the soil is
devoted to vintage purposes grapes have been found
so conducive to the preservation Ct health, well
to to its restoration when impaired that those dis
trcts particularly celebrated for their vineyards are
resorted to by inVads with an effect usually as de-
cided as it is beneficial
The pure grape possessing the richest sanitary
qualities, which is found aburdantly in the French
vineyards is, in its true state, of transparent hue
when held to the light, and no hard bulb is percept
ible HaYing resolved itself into juice, it is ther
but liquid inclosed by the outer covering. The
grapes imported from thence do not preserve this
normal luscousness as they require to be gathered
before the ripenIng process is completed Though
the same degree of luXuriance may not attend 1T
culture in this country in France tits yet capable
of development which cannot fail to add largely tt
our luxurious and refined wants we'll as to thost
Of necessity.
But, apart from all other considerations. Their
are those of moral potency. 1t is an acknowledge
fact that in the wine producing countries of Europ
the besetting sin of drunkenness is vastly less il
proportion to population than in the United Gates
and, indeed, in all countries where the scarcity
wine gives rise to the substitute of ardent spirits
the general beverage According 10 Tue UO'erH
ment returns of the year 1885, the people of Franc
consumed 5OOOO,OOO gallons Of wine; and thi
amount, distributed among population of $4,000
600, showed fewer returns Of drunkenness than
afforded by the statistics o. New England during tn
same year, out Of population Of 100000
The inducements to the culture of this fruit ar
great and manifold and it is to be hoped that thos
already engaged in it will not sacken their efforts
which should be seconded by all our associations 70
the promotion of the agricultural and horticulture
interests of the country.