The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-14
The Late Nicholas LOneworth.

We extract the following interesting
particulars from long biographical
sketch of the great Cincinnati Vintner
whose success in cultivating grapes,
made him national reputation:
Nicholas Longworth was the founder
of Grape Husbandry in this country
For many years he was the persevering
advocate of e-culture-under every
encouragement and at any outlay for
foreign grapes or those Of our own SOIL
The readers of the Commercial will re-
member that as late as three or four wears
ago he advertised for cuttings of all kinds
of native grapes, still experimenting, and
after all that he had done, looking to the
promised success of the future as anx.
iOusly as if he had done nothing. We
might almost say that he invented the
Catawba grape. He certainly was the
first to recognize its Importance, and in
troduce II TO public favor. He used to
say, in looking at his Seeding grapes, in
which he took great pride and satisfac-
ton, and of which he had thousands, that
he wished for a new lease of life that
he might grow grapes that would sur
pass the universal favorite, the Cataw-
ba." He was accustomed to say that in
his judgment, if he could be spared to
! cultivate his seedlings, he could improve
upon the Catawba, and that "grape of
1 greater excellence than that would be
worth millions to this country"
A distinguished horticulturist writes
Of Mr.. LongwQrth's work on The straw
berry culture:
"To Mr.. L. we owe the immense crops
of Strawberries for which our markets
are noted. No ridicule could drive him
from his position on the 'strawJsyYy ques-
ton, nor prevent him from driving il
home to the people annually through the
press, till it was household word 10
every family in the country"
MIR. Longworth's first hint as to the
most important secret to strawberry
culture, is said to have been given him by
an old and rather illiterate German wo-
man, who had knack at raising splendid
strawberries whether others had any or
not. She knew something of the different
sexes of the plants, and the necessity
there was for there adjustment. From
her uncouth statements of the case, Mr.
|
mystery, and with his genius proceede
with the experiments that soon became
demonstrations; and strawberry gard
eniDg became a science, and Cincinnati
as famous for her strawberries as her
grapes.
Mr.. Longworth was a judicious and
liberal patron of art. lie saw the marks
of high capacity in Hiram Powers, and
that great artist owes his early ability to
break the crust of his own inexperience
and the worlds indifference, TO the saga
city and muniiioience of Mr.. Lengworth,
whose habit it was, rs many of his
friends will remember 20 relate many
anecdotes Of the youth Of Powers, and
exhibit some of his choicest works.
Z" As an example of the facility with
which small amounts, comparatively, Sc
cured what has since become Of i'm.
mense value, il may be stated that Mr.
Longworth once received as q legal fee
from fellow accused of horse stealing
and who had nothing else to give, tive
second hand copper. stills. These wer,
in charge Of Joel Williams, who kept
, tavern adjacent TO the river, and who wal
[ large property holders here in early
days. On presenting his order, Mr.. VIII
. liams told Longworth be conld not lie
the stills go, Tor he was just building a dis
illery in Butler County, but be would Civ,
; him lot of thirty three acres on Western
Row in lieu Of the article. Mr.. Longworth
whose view of the value of propsrt
here, was always in advance OF publ,
opinion, gladly closed with the proposal
These thirty. three acres occupied iron
on Western Row from Sixth TO Long
worth, running west for quantity, an,
this transaction alone, taking int
view the prodigious advance in rea
estate here, would Of itself hav
furnished the basis of an immens
!. fortune, the naked ground bein
now worth nearly ten millions Of dollars