Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-08-08

VIRGINIA A VINE GROWER. "A c rre>-
pendent Of the New York World writes on

VIRGINIA VINE GROWER. a c RES
pendent Of the New York World writes on
this theme as follows;
There is scarcely portion Of Virginia that
is not, more or less adapted to the cultivation
Of the grape; but taking into consideration all
the elements that tend to invite remunerative
Observation-Disclosures as regards climate, mOis-
ture soil easy access to the great markets of
the Atlantic coast, or Location IN old established
and desirable neigh borhoods-the is perhaps
no portion in Virginia-it is not too much to
say of the United States which surpasses, it
it can compare with what is so we'll known as
the Fruit Belt of the Blue RIDGE" embrac-
ing not only most of what is known as the
Blue Ridge Mountains, but also the Ridges
and their valleys that run far down into the
Piedmont, or 'Redland' country on the east,
and the spurs and watersheds that, on the
west, reach out into the great "Valley of Vir
ginia'' This region lies under a mean tenn
perature of Y degrees, for the four summer
months of June. July, August, and September,
and comes within the region Of from eight to
ten inches Of summer rain in what, from its
Citrate, has been called the "Catawba Sec
ton, the Catawba grape being indigenous to
this region. And this degree Of summer rain
is the very best for grape culture, VIXEN com
bined-as it is through this whole region Of
Virginia-with a dry porous, calcareous sol.
But, as if these natura! advantages were not
already sufficient, u geographic al accident
comes in to give this highly favored region su
premacy over ali other comp,tIt Is. The
North Mountain, which Is everywhere from
1900 to 1000 feet higher than the top Of the
Blue Ridge is really, TO the latter, nothing less
than high sheltering wall 1t breaks the
cold winds of the Northwest that come sweep
ing over the vast plain which stretches from
the Arctic Ocean almost to the base OF the Al
leghany mountains it, and the mountains
west of coudense the moisture of these winds
and rob them of their snow. "Man never
built such wall to protect vineyard, says
Mr. Hotchkiss, enthusiastically, ito throw
back upon it the accumulated warmth of re-
hector three hundred miles long and two thou
sand feet high.
There are tens of thousands of acres OF land,
being vainly offered for sale in Virginia to day,
at prices ranging as lew as 81 or IS per acre,
and even lesa. Taking IS as the price per
acre, allowing $50 per acre for the cost OF cul-
tivation, according to Mr.. Nicholas Long
worth $ estimate--and assuming las a very low
figure indeed) that each acre, when the vines
are in full bearing, will produce 800 gallons-a
skilfull agriculturist could purchase and cult
vate tract Of 100 acres for $4,000, which
would, in very few years, yield bin 10000
gallons Of wine, worth $3.50 per gallon, or
$4,000! isputable as such facts may be,
tenn pting as it may appeer to the Northern ag-
riculturistsdesir of embarking upon career
of fortune, Of course we can never again expect
them to come among US 50 long as-according
to the teachings Of the New York Tribune
negroes are supposed to be hanging like strings
of sausages upon the limbs Of our forest trees,
and our honest good hearted, hospitabe. tarm-
ers keep looded blunderbusses to blow oHo9the
brains of any Northerner, who dares to come
and look at valuable properties they are so
eagerly offering for sale.