The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-07-09

CULTIVATION OF THE GRAPE IN CALIFoRNIA.-The
Governor of California, who was authorized to
name the members of the commission appointed by
the Legislature to investigate the very important
question of the Importation of foreign vines and
the manufacture of wine, has made choice, among
others, of Colonel Haraszthv. Mr.. Haraszthy is
the proprietor of the largest whey of the United
States. He has a vineyard of 400 acres planted
with 800 600 vines. He has made the vine
his special study, has already 1S6 foreign varie-
ties under successful cutiva alton, and produces
not only most excellent quality of brandy but
also wines of every va riety, champagne, hook,
sherry, claret and port, some of which are already
well known. During the present year he has con-
tracted to furnish Government 3 600 gallons o
the last named wine for the use of the navy The
volcanic soil of the district in which Mr. H. has
| established his vineyard is admirably ADAPTED to
| the cultivation of the vine. The climate is excel
lent; there is neither frost nor hail to fear there
| no prolonged humidity to mdew the grape: there
| are no storms; the crop is uniform from year to
year; the return certain; the yied-60O to l 600
gallons per acre-is constantly much more abun.
dant than any known in other wne-growipg
countries, and the wine of quality that stands all
changes OF temperature and can be transported by
land or sea without injury. The vine has been
cultivated in California for about so years. Until
1857 it was only raised small farms, which were
| watered by irrigation. In 1857 the attempt was
made to succeed, without the artificial use of water
MIR. II. planted 60 acres, and by constant use of
the pillow, keeping the soil light and open SO as to
receive all possible moisture from the atmosphere
has achieved perfect success. There are now
about II 900 of vines planted in California.
From 4 900 to 5000 additional may now be
expected to be planted yearly. Foreign varieties
succeed remarkably WELL 200 cuttings imported
by some French cutivators having averaged thirty
pounds of grapes per vine at the expiration of two
and half years.
In view of these facts the California Legislature
has resolved to aid the development of the vine
culture in that country. Colonel H., who is now
in New York and about to leave for Europe the
latter part of this week, will not only select the
best foreign varieties and superinten their i'm
portation, but will study the different modes of
making both wines and brandies, and make
special report of his mission his return. He
will also make selections Of large number of fig,
olive orange, lemon, ctr0n and almond trees for
cultivation in California, and hopes, by special in
ducements which he intends to hold out to the vine
dressers in Europe, to induce many of them to en-
migrate to America. We wish him every successl.
IN LETTER FROM ALExANDRIA.--We call specia
Alexanahai.to the letter of our correspondent in
was maaa' Va, in relation to the attempt which
byteran cha sunday last to close the Second Pres
excitement in IN The outrage has created intense
ohANpVAL, THE Spy -
vidua' at Annapolis the a. arrest of this ndi-
In the service OF the Soutbas" OF being spy
his subsequent release by orda. ooniederacy, and
readers. hos of our |
whist IN TINS city some time ago, letter W.,
inadvertently dropped by him, which fully Eva, was
the cause of his release and the nature of his
tons with the Government. In that letter. which
!. addressed to the Secretary of War under date oe
.'. zstn' he requests free pass to Msssaohu-
sets, and adds;