New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-20
IONd ISLAND.

the Hudson River bends 10 the east and n mountain
crowds TO the shore The channel is and the
rent is swift for what the the opposite shore
comparatively near That is the Island Of Iona IT
tans about 300 and 1t has long famous the
OF Dr. Grants labors In fruit culture and partcu
larry in the growing aud testing Of grapes best suited to
American climate and soil But the abors Of every man
to an end and now after many years OF endeavOr
health and advancing age forces the Doctor to give
TO younger hands, who, in their turn, like every
Of the race viii give way also, and II will not be unpront
able TO review Dr. Grants abors and ascertain the sum
Of active life directed by intelligence and skill When
DR.. Grant came into possession Of Iona he found small
farm which the hardly lived After the needed
improvements had been made, he commenced by plant
ing 20 acres OF Caawba grapes which he thought highly
OF, but sferward he propagated the Delaware, then
hardly known and such became the demand that large
glass structures suited for the purpose were erected to
extent wholly unknown In this country. Indeed Dr.
Grant originated with this grape the method OF growing
from the bud on large SCALE and he has been Initiated
throughout the country. The original Judgment which
the Doctor pronounced on this grape and upon which he
invested many thousands OF dollars, has been confirmed
by the public at large and the Delaware grape has
been fixed upon o standard In quality by which all
other varieties are 10 be judged.
When one lands at the rocky dock and steps upon the
island, building equal In size and pretension TO fash
ionabe hotel Summer watering place. meets the eye
with central tower rising among the trees and which
many vecl flushed and furnished there is large
hall in the upper story the walls Of which lined with
the books OF OF the largest private libraries in the
country and there organ largo enough for fash
iOnabe church. In the tower Is upper room whence
has river and mountain view of the most striking
character Turning landward behed apple and pear
orchards beautiful cedar groves lawns drives and vine
yards and, above ALL the propagatng houses, of which
there each from 100 TO 80 feet long, making In the
aggregate fully two under glass
In the preparation OF the ground for planting, Dr.
Grant has bestowed uncommon and skill indeed It
will be difficult to find so acres anywhere else in such
perfect condition. First 1t is made rich, and, to keep
So large quantities OF bought at the cattle
yards In New York AS much more made on the place.
which end several hundred uns Of marsh hay are cut
back OF island where muck also is dug the two
brought TO- the barnyard and In addition to the stock on
the place. cattle belonging to the neghborng farms are
taken to keep Winter, by which means compost
OF great value is made This outlay for manure
is Indispensable consideration, first, of the natural
barrenness OF SOL; and. second of the immense yearly
growth OF vines required TO supply the demand and be-
Sides where only product grown the coil contin
ually Is deprived Of the elements Of that product
In part Of the island large spring. whence water
is pumped into an elevated by small steam
engine and from this iron pipes which penetrate In
every direction under ground and they come to the sur
face at points properly elevated that with hose
every part Of the cultivated ground be watered
Then the blowing done from foot TO two feet Deep
the necessity for which has led the Doctor to construct
what are considered by good Judges the best for
deep culture now known, and, manure being literally
applied the soil has productive powers superior TO any
choice garden plot.
Here the Delaware grape was grown and sent out to
all parts Of the country Next the Iona originated
and Il was propagated still more extensive scale. 1t
IA now well established, having been planted in large
vineyards in the most favored grape regions OF our coun
try Every year gives increased satisfaction and as IL
seems almost TO have finer qualities than Dr. Grant had
claimed its value to the country in money cannot now be
estimated.
In selecting and proving grape that shall be
acceptable to good judges and which shall meet the
public wants many things required 1t must not only
be good but 1t must differ from Others even that which
is superior or to repeat Is Eeihps and years OF time
and much expense are necessary. Besi1es Ehere Is
always doubt OF future reward for there Is patent
Government protection OF any kind, and there is
danger OF unprncped competitors getting cions roots
and entering the market with the originator More than
this II will be necessary 10 have manYvarietes trial
ct the same time; of these will appear promising
aud after much outlay with such TO
ind them fail 20 meet Xpectations when they are thrown
away without any possibility Of reward Still is neces
sary for these risks and TO make these
sacrifices that tho country may be benefited with I'M
proved kinds or they will DO introduced When
valuable variety Of any production Is brought out
originators must that they will receive the
reward due their outlay. experience, aud sk which
reward must como early OF II will not coue at oil.
The final lAbors Of Dr. Grant result In the discovery OF
grape called the Eumelan, which he describes as
having the following qualities; u has been on trial for
many years, has been tested in almost every
Northern State, u vigorous hardy, and productive,
tipens uniformly ind thoroughly. is two weeks earlier
than the Delaware sugary and as rich as the Iona,
and among native varieties II is the best black table
grape Hitherto the best red wine made In this country
has been from Eorohs Virginia. but the Eumelan makes
equally good wine WHILE table grape, IL Is 80
superior as to be beyond comparison As for hardness
Il strongly resembles the Concord which saying much
This grape, the Island Of Iona and all the property
above described passed into Of two young
men, Messrs Hasbrouok & Bushnell, who for ten years
have been Dr. Grants employ managers and sgents
and they oil ought TO be best fitted TO succeed TO
the possesslon Of this establishment with It's national
renntation.