Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-04
VINEYARDS in pr. William County. VA.

10 m. Editor Of hr .ihmnd.m Gd,Iir:
Noticing in your paper an ;mconn; ii some
vineyards in fauquicr county. think it may
not be amiss to write 4 few words; describing
what is being done in Prime" William county in
that line of business. Leaving he cars II
Gainesville, and taking the road for llaynarkct.
one may notice u large vineyard LAID out by Capt
Herald, which did not examine. but hear
that tine vines are doing well. At llaynarket
IS the farm Of the NlessrS. Pratic, who intend.
believe, next spring, to lay out i considerable
extent of ground in vines; they have only been
in possession short time, but already have
made considerable improvements, having put
up large barn and I most conmndious dwell
ing house, rs well as having set out numerous
fruit trees, etc About half mile from lay
market is Mr. Witticher's farm. on which there
is most fourishing vineyard. extending to up,
wards OF ~ acres, in its second year II 1t had
been desirable, one variety OF the vines would
have borne largely but lis it is not considered
advantageous to allow them To bear to any OK,
tent at this early stage, the blossoms were not
allowed to set. The few that were permitted
to come TO maturity, were OF line SIZE ana Ma
vor Next year there will no doubt be All abun,
dapt CROP Some two miles from there on. Is
turesuuely situated, with fine house, barn. etc,
conveniently placed on L small cmnencrn: com
handing some fine views oil the ncl ghbOrlng
country. Mr.. IIciuekcn has laid out TWO vine
Yards: one, being in its third year, has borne
most satisfactorily, ConcordS pclawarr> aud
Hartfords being the principal varieties. The
large vineyard. extending to ten acres, Is III It's
second year. and in consequence was not allowed
to bear many grapes. The growth OF the vines
was most luXuriant, fully demonstrating the lit
ness of the soil and climate Tor grape culture,
and convincing even the muSt >ccptlc;l! that
there is almost absolute certainty Of their doing
remarkably well, and being Il most profitable
speculation. Those even who were loud cSi IN
their sncers at the absurdity Of attempting to
grow grapes in this locality would now like to
have few vines for their own Use at least. The
large vineyard consists principally OF Concorl>,
Dclawaros, Norton's Virginia and the Sucz
grapes, besides Il few experimental varieties 800
The Delaware is 4 particularly line table grade,
being of q fine color, and in handsome clusters,
as we'll as Of most delicious flavor. l nc Con
cord, though essentially 4 wine grape, is " hen
fully ripe, Of 4 very pleasant flavor. During
my visit the business OF VINE making was pro-
ceedng most satisfactorily. Now. do not be-
lcvc it possible that Americans will sit down
! ana allow lllS m0St piolllaplt pi"'|tl VI NV"
bandry to pass entirely into the hands Of Tor
eigners. 1t seems at present, however, That
there is every prospect Of such being the case.
Wine making is no longer carried on by rule
of thumb, but it is q service which is daily
becoming better understood Let vine grow
ing become general. and American wines good
and cheap; then, and only then, will the Amer
leans be truly temperate nation Drunken
ness seems to be at present far too common
amongst the Anglo-Sayon race. Let once cheap
and good wines be easily procurablc, they sill
soon push out all the vile spirits, and both they
and their numerous seductive an; delctcrioils
compounds will become things of the past
Yours truly. JOCK ELII"T