Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1869-01-16

on hand, but most Of il was too new for
Use. Still, where thore is so much wine,
the only place where / saw it for sale,
was on the boat, and it is said that the
people of wine growing countries arc
temperate, these people prove it, for they
do not drink wine ut all
Az IIammondsport, with the best cul.
tivation and the most judieious manage
ment, SO far as their experience has taught
them, and we cannot 90 beyond this, the
Catawba only ripens OH the verge of
frost, and it looks as though few days
less Of sunshine would he fatal. AT
Cleveland and OF tho islands tho Cataw-
ba has a much longer time 10 ripen, aud
often it is certainly sweetcr than it was
at llammondsport this year.
The extent Of what must be consider
ed the choice grape land Of our country,
can now be aSccrtained. The shore Of
Lake Erie, on the southern coast, las
about 100000 acres, the islands and the
peninsula $4,000, the eastern shore Of
Lake Michigsn $4,000, but much Of this
is sandy and inferior soil, the Upper Mis-
sssippi over 1OO, 900, and the six lakes Of
New York 10000, making total of
about 900 acres. To this should bo
added at least twice as much for Cali
fernia, making in all about 1000. 900
acres. This is not large amount Of
grape land for so large a country, but
there is enough to give every one who
has tasto for the business chance to
engage in it. 1t is not likely that this
grape area will be much extended, unless
/ D., Ii 1
the Southern States, which shall be such
slow growers as to fill the whole of the
long season. l am aware that many
claim that the Catawba ripens well in
North Carolina, in East Tennessee, and
OH the Maryland and Virginia shores.
In some seasons it possibly may, but
some who tell these things do not know
when Catawba is ripe, or indeed when
other kinds of fruit are ripe, or have de-
sirable qualities. 1t is true that Cataw-
bas were sent to this market in mid-sum-
mer, from South Carolina, but they were
not ripe, or, at least, were not eatable.
However, time proves all things If they
can perfect the Catawba in the South,
the sooner they engage in the business
with proper understanding Of what
constitutes grape culture, the be't,r.
While the shores of Lake Keuka have
been planted in part, ON the shores Of
the other lakes little comparatively has
been done. On Lake Kouka land with
out improvements is held at 5000, and
when planted and in bearing at 81 900.
On most of the other lakes, where con-
ditions are highly favorable for thorough
cutivators, land is much cheaper.
The remaining grape locality in the
State of New York is on the Hudson
River, at Croton Point, twenty-five miles
above the city. 1t is true that there are
other localities in the western part of the
State, but they belong to the Lake Shore
region. There are perhaps two hundred
acres of land on the Point, and sixty
five are i'll vineyard. Dr. Underhill, the
owner, was one of the first planters in
this country, and for many years he sold
large crops of Isabellas ia this city at
fifty cents pound. 1t seems impossible
that such an opportunity to sell pro-
duction of the soil ever can come to any
individual again. The fruit is shipped
Immediately from the vineyard on boats,
and it arrives in good order There is
|
our whole land. Water is on three sides,
and the mountain scenery and the river
views are superb.
The cultivation is thorough, and the
management is the result of the Doctors
long experience. The Isabellas and Ca
tawbas about equally divide the ground.
The Norton's Virginia is planted to some
extent, is highly esteemed for wine, and
its foliage remains green after that of
other kinds is killed by frost. DIR. I'm
derhll has an extensive wine cellar and an
expert superintendent. Besides this vine
yard he has another of eight acres on his
hill farm, adjoining the farm of St. Clair,
high above the river. 1t is not claimed
that the Catawba ripens perfectly here,
but other kinds do well and the Hudson
river hills ought to excel tor growing all
varieties of second class grapes. n. c. NJ.
Phases of New York Life,