The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-27
THE GRAPE FoK VIRGINIA.

THE GRAPE FOR VIRGINIA.
We are frequently asked, both by letter
and privately, what is the best grape for
Virginia. We can perhaps best answer
this question by giving an account of our
own experiments during the past four
years. We have grown on trial about one
hundred and twenty varieties, placing each
kind on various soils, slopes and situations,
il order to make the experiment more tho
rough. We have planted from one dozen
to one hundred vines of each kind, taking
care to secure good vines, true to name.
They have been well set on ground in fair
condition, and in some cases on land SUBJ
soiled, under.drained, and thoroughly en-
riched.
The vines have been well trimmed and
thoroughly cultivated till they indicated
their probable value. We have not ac-
capted or condemned any kind upon the
result of single crop. But now, at the
close of the fourth year, we are disposed
to accept some results as final, especially
where they coincide with those of expert
mentors elsewhere. We can set out vine-
yard now which will yield paying returns
either for market or for wine varieties also
immensely superior to those ordinarily
known in this State. We also think we
know where to set it. 1t has been made
quite clear that southern OF eastern slop
will not do for most grapes in our sunny
climate. These locations are too hot and
dry. A vineyard should be planted on the
hill top. The high plateau is best of all.
Gentle slopes are not Objectionable. Coarse
varieties, like the Concord, will do in the
valleys. We must not try to initiate the
hillside vineyards of the old country,
adapted to their climate. If we have to
use hill, north and west slopes are best.
In all cases deep ploughing or trenching
is indispensable to get paying results, and
as thorough after-culture as the best farmer
gives his corn. Our vines are grown on
the high banks of the Potomac; on clay
soil, or on sandy loan, and on coarse gravel
mixed with clay. We have had large crops
of Concord, Ives Seeding, Hartford Pro-
life, Salem, Norton's Virginia, Herbmont,
Delaware, Clinton, and Devereaux. We
have had, also, large crops of many of the
new varieties which we consider too poor
to encourage planting.
The above-named varieties have held
their foliage and ripened large crops in spite
of the excessively dry weather, and we
think may be relied upon in that part Of
Virginia adapted to grape culture, unless
in very unfavorable seasons. OF these the
Ives Seeding, Hartford Prolific and Della.
ware are the earliest. The Herbmont is
the latest, and is not fully ripe before DC.
tober. The Delaware and Salem are the
best table grapes for most tastes. though We
prefer little more acid. The Herbmont,
Devereaux, Norton's Virginia, and severa
of that class, come from the family o
Chicken grapes, and are very juicy, ant
sprightly in flavor. They make good
wine, and are exceedingly wholesome and
grateful to the taste, especially of persons
recovering from fevers. These grapes
should be grown and eaten abundantly in
this climate. They form a natural cor
receive to the bilious tendency of the au
tumn months. Light wines can be made
from them, or the juice can be expressed
scalded and kept sweet in tight bottles
furnishing healthfnl beverage at all sea
sons.
For family use we have found out larg
number of very fine grapes which are no
sufficiently copious bearers to set in tn
vineyard. Several of the Rogers Hybrid
deserve place in this list, especially tn
Wilder, Herbert, Merrimac, and number
/, 8, 4, IL, 10; the Walter, Eumelan, Iona
Israella, Maxatawney; Allin's Hybrid
Alvey and Rebecca the Arnold Hybrids-
Canada, Cornucopia and Diana. The lisa
bella and Catawba should not be omitted
but few vines set where they can run ol
the out-buildngs or on trees They viii
rot otherwise most seasons. The presen
season they are ripening good crop witt
us even in the vineyard. A few vines Q
each of these varieties will give suppl.
covering the whole grape season. Som
of them ripen as early as August, other
not till the middle of October, and may b
kept till New Years.
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RICHMOND COLLEGE.
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