The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-04-05
COlvim's Vineyard.

communication III Jackson Parish Standard.l
Editor Standard: = While "bobbing
ar0und' through the land of Jackson a
few weeks ago, night overlook us at
the residence of old friend, A. H.
Colvin, in the north eastern portion of
this parish, about nine miles from
Vienna, where We were Hospitality en-
~tertained and cared for by our friend,
his kind lady and good boys. At dawn
when Aurora gaily breaks in all her
proud attire, We arose from our sweet
sleep and pleasant slumbers and were
electrified by a glass of Mr.. C.'s spark
ing S~cuppernOng wine, made by him.
self the last year from his Furnishing
vineyard, o just beginning to bear
and pay him for his expense and trouble
III its fifth year.. After a sumptuous
breakfast. Mr.. COlvin took us through
his magnificent vineyard of 10 acres and
explained to us the varieties of his grape
vines and the particular excellence of
each in its order. The larger portion of
his vineyard is in ScuppernOng, as it is
considered the best and most certain
for q crop every year Of all the grapes
now in cultivation in the United States.
1t does not bloom, Mr.. G.. tOldus, before
June, when all the frosts and hail
storms are over, and does not rot while
maturing like some other varieties. Mr..
c. thinks that Flowers grapes, a species
OF the ScuppernOng, Whichh has no leaves,
bears red fruit and makes red wine, is
superior to the general Southern favor
tie, the ScuppernOng. MI. G. is cultiva-
ting his vineyard o. the most approved
and scientific principles Of the day, and
has entered upon the grape culture as Il
permanent thing, and the most protita-
BILE business that suggests itself to our
people in this section of country. In
stead OF using the common wood frames
to support his grape vines, he has intro
duced the most recent and improved
and more durable structures of galvan-
lied wire for his ScuppernOngs to run
upon. As his vines grow year by year,
he stretches more wires from row to
row, until the vines meet and form q
perfect harbor over the whole face of
the vineyard. The grapes fOtm and
grow upon the top of the vines. Mr..
COlvin has made a large cellar neal his
residence where he deposits in barrels
his yearly make of wines. He informed
us that he made last year two hundred
gallons of wine from his vineyard, all
OF which he finds II ready market at
home at SIS per gallon, for medicinal
purposes, as being purer and superior to
the other wines offered for the same
purpose.
Mr.. G.. has several brothers in his i'm
mediate neighborhoOd who are also
cultivating vineyards with success, and
look forward to the day not far distant
to reap a rich harvest from their ven
ture in grape culture in jackson parish.
We have written this article, Nj. Ed
itOr, to show the good people of old
Jackson what can be done in our midst
in the way of grape culture, to present
them with facts and figures which can
not lie, and to induce them, if possible,
not to worship too often and too con
slant at the altar of "King Cotton but
to turn at least a portion of their devo-
lions to other and more important po-
~tentates in our agricultural diversity
and interests. In other words, we would
say to our people, diversity your crops
as the surest road to profit and indie
pendence.
Mr.. Colvin is a reading man and q
thrifty, money-making farmer, with
large family, and surely he would not
invest his money and labor in an enter
prise that he was not convinced it would
pay. In five years more he expects t.
make from 5000 to 1000 gallons of wine
worth at So 90 per gallon, $4,000.
REUBENITUS PITCHERHOUsE.