Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-10

Address Delivered by the Rev. Her
man BOkum before she State Hort.
cultural Society ON Deeemberz. 1867.

Address Delivered by the Rev. Her
man BOkum before she State Horti-
cultural Society ON Deeemberz, 1867.
THE mountainous regions Of Tennessee,
Georgia, Arkansas, Texas and Alabama
may perhaps rival and even surpass us in
the future, but their inhabitants at the
present are not of a clay Of which grape
growers is formed" Such are the not very
complimentary terms in which George
Husman, a wine grower of Missouri, closes
his excellent work on the native grape and
the manufacture of native wine. How far
these words are founded in truth the ex-
perience of few years is likely to show.
/ am disposed to think that the great
change which has taken place in the Geo.
nomic condition Of the people of Tennes-
see, and the mental activity which is one
of the results of that change, are likely to
disproye the prognostic of Mr.. Husman
j am the more disposed 10 express this
opinion since, in the course of my late
travels, / have met in every section of the
State gentlemen of commanding influence
who not only make the subject of grape
culture careful study, but who also apply
their knowledge TO experiments Of more or
less magnitude.
| propose to present few remarks Of
encouragement to those who have thus
engaged in the culture of grape, or who
have an opportunity of doing so.
The culture of the grape is highly pro-
ftabie. The fruit sellsat from ten to fifteen
cents per pound, and on railroads or steam
boats can be readily sent to distant mar
kets. Early in the year the vines have to
be pruned in order to keep the sap of the
plant within certain limits, and thus
improve the character of the fruit; the
branches thus cut off meet with a ready
sale. IL any cuttings remain unsold they
may be pat into the ground. Al the expira-
ton of year they are roots which, if
not needed by the owner, are generally in
good demand. The sale of the wine made
of the grape varies in accordance with its
quality, but, with few exceptions, is highly
remunerative. Mr.. Husman states that
one-third of an acre of the Concord grape.
planted five years before, had produced in
layers, wine, cuttings and plants, the round
sum or ten thousand dollars.
Tennessee is highly adapted to the Gull
ture of the grape. The climate of West
Tennessee is rather moist, but there the
Scuppernong is knoWn to succeed, and
other species of grape will, no doubt, grow
well there if fairly tried.
The grape can often be cultivated on
portions of land which do not admit of be-
ing cultivated in any other way, and, in
such cases, a means of income is opened to
the owner of land which does not interfere
with any of the other products of his farm.
In regions where the peach crop readily
suffers from the late frosts, the grape also
suffers, but even then a good year may
makeup abundantly for two or three which
are not good. planted in 1856, yine-
yard in low valley five miles from Knox
vile. lost two vintages in succession by
frosts, in April; in the third year, the
vines bore so we'll that they made up for
the losses of the two preceding years. The
banks of rivers and hills of considerable
elevation, where the peach crop generally
succeeds are most favorable for the culture
of the grape.
Much of the labor required in a vine
yard is so light that il can be done by
women and children, as source of amuse.
ment and delight The culture of the
grape, requires therefore, less hired labor
than other pursuits, and can be successfully
carried on WIN less expense.
The culture of the grape and the making
of native wine, is favorable to the cause of
temperance. When this mild wine is
made and habitually drunk, the people are
more temperate than they are in countries
where this is not the case. Those who are
in perfect health do not need even SO mild
a stimulus as is furnished by these native
wines. Bat as large portion of the peo-
pie of the United States are accustomed to
strong beverages, which act most iniuri-
ously on the mind, as well as on the body,
ii would be a great blessing if they could
be induced to substitute for them mild and
pure wines, which do not make the produ-
GERS or those who purchase them intemper,
ate, but which, on the contrary, make them
far more sober and peaceful than those who
import wines or who make these intoxica-
ting drinks by the means of the still.
In cases of debility, the native wine oc-
cupies place which cannot be filled by
any other medicine.
For the table of the Lords Supper, now
supplied generally with the most nauseous
articles, the wine growers will supply a
pure wine, and the church edifce, which
is now filed on such occasions with an at
" tiiOSc WIZ dic az
customed to the bar-room, will be per-
vGded by the grateful aroma of the native
grape.
There is no reason why any one should
be deferred from cultiVating the grape on
account of his not being FAMILIAR with the
subject. How to make beginning can be
taught by those who sell him the cuttings
OF roots in few minutes, and then he has
a whole year at his command before he is
called upon to take the next step.
As the wine-grower after having planted
his vines has to wait till the third year be-
fore hebegins to obtain returns for hisoutlay,
it would be advisable that those who have
but little capital at their command should
continue TO depend for their support on
their usual crops, until their Vineyards are
fairly established.
MULEs GOING SoUTH.-As the season