The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-12-25

S35 1t affords us pleasure to lend our
columns in aiding to spread the following
correspondence published in the December
number of the american Farmer, on Grape
Growing in Cecil county. We were not
aware that any such extensive vineyard
existed in this county as that owned by Mr..
Nipple:
Maryland Grape Growers Association.
To tie Editors Of the Maryland Farmer:
Knowing that you always take lively
interest in anything that promotes the wei
fare of the farming community in Mary
land, l would draw your attention to one
branch of horticulture, to which think
our State is very well adapted. but which
so far, has been neglected.
1t is the growing of that delicious fruit,
wondered at, as in the West, Northwest.
South and even North of us, the liveliest
interest is taken at present, in the growing
of Grapes, and wine making; and the day
ed, instead as at present imported; but
that will not be all. When good wholesome
light wine can be sold at such low figures,
that every laboring man can drink it, those
poisonous intoxicating drugs, that now
bring to many families, misery and poverty,
will, like all other wine growing communi-
ties, cease to be the curse of the country.
Why is it then, that our Maryland farm
ers have been SO remiss in this branch of
agriculture l have no doubt that the
many failures, in raising grapes has been
the cause. The only grape heretofore
grown for wine, was the Catawba. They
were more of Southern origin and unsuited
to the Middle States and further North
They require higher mean temperature,
in June, July, August and September than
we usually have, even in the Middle States,
but now we have instead of one, many val
liable varieties, largely grown from the
Ohio River to Lake Erie. Now, we have
to learn which of them are suited to the
different climates, soils, and aspects, and
We nave diSo ~ uiSCoNcI INC treatment, IN
general of each kind. l visited in the
beginning of last September, the vineyard
of seventeen acres of Mr.. Edward p. Hip
pie "a very intelligent grape grower,) at
Town Point, Cecil, county, Maryland, who
has twelve acres of Concords, the third
year from planting, and therefore not vet
in full bearing.
They were loaded with the finest punches
of grapes, | have ever seen, many punches
weighing over ten ounces understand
that he has picked from those twelve acres.
over twenty thousand pounds of grapes,
which were sold principally in the New
\ ork market, and some were made into
wine. have travelled for the last twenty
six years, twice in each year, through the
West, and have seen many vineyards, par
ticularly in Ohio and Missouri. but have
yet to see finer vineyard, with better
developed and ripened grapes, than the one
at Town Point. l have also seen and tast-
ed some Delaware Grapes, raised near
Owings Mills, Baltimore county, which OK
celled by far, any ever saw in the West.
This confirms my ideas, that Maryland is
as good if not better State for grapes,
than any in the West.
All we want is to find, which of the
many kinds will do best for our climate,
soil and situations, and the mode of culture
of each. To that end it is necessary, that
all the grape growers of our State, and the
adjoining counties of Virginia, should be
brought often together, to exchange their
experience and ideas of grape growing
To that end, you, Messers Editors, and
the Agricultural papers of Baltimore and
other places, could aid them very much by
calling on all those engaged in this inter-
esting branch of horticulture in our State,
to send their names, either to Mr.. Edward
P. Nipple, Town Point, Cecil Co., Md, or
to me, with view to getting up Il grape
growers society, like they have now in
every State in the West, and in almost
every county.
/ would also advise all, to subscribe to
the Grape Cu'turist, edited by George Hus-
mann, st. Louis, Mo-, wherein they will
find already, some interesting articles from
Mr.. Nipple, and a Mr.. Charles F. Schmidt,
of Baltimore. Should you be willing to
aid the farmers Of Maryland in getting up
lively interest in favor Of grape growing,
you would confer a great favor.
| have already planted seven acres of
COncOrdS ClintonS Delawarns C,SSidy' =
Ives Seedlings Hartford Prolitics, Salems,
and others of Rogers Seedlings and Martha S
and have purchased Virginia Seeding,
Cynthiana and Hcrbemonts for next spring
planting.
Very respectfully, your obd't sev't.
G. II. MITTNACHT,
PilceS1illn RaltiIan IT, MI