Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-02-19
For the SPECTATOR.
Grape Culture in Nelson County.

/ Few of your readers will be prepared
for the statement that there are now
sirty acres, at q moderate calculation
bearing grapes in this county. The
writer has just paid visit to the Cas-
mile and half northwest Of Green.
field. Mr.. Charles Marshall, a talented
young lawyer of the Lovingston bar,
Mr.. Louis OFT and Mr.. Fritz Baier, the
proprietorss Mr.. Baier is a native Of
UIm, Wurtemberg, Germany, and Mr..
OFT of Munich, Bavaria. Their vine
yard embraces ten acres of Concord,
Clinton, Catawba, Norton, and Isabella
vines. Their first vintage last Fan re-
suited in making over 2,0O8 gallons .ei
choice wines, white, red, clarets, &C.
The writer, in company with Mr.. VIM.
Hilbers, late of Brighton, England,
who has become the owner of farm
near Greenwood. had the opportunity,
with Capt. Austin Paul, late a represen-
tative of this county in the Legislature,
of enjoyingthe pleasing.task of sampling
these wines, and, though no connoisseur,
cannot but think they will compare fa-
vorably with those of any vineyard in
Virginia of the same age. The vine-
yard is on the southern face of the Blue
Ridge, at an elevation that commands O
view of the Rockfish valley
and it's amphitheatre of hills. Besides
this vineyard, Mr.. Ro. Allen, native
of Augusta, has 6 acres. and Rev. B. M.
Wales acres, and DIR. Coleman acres,
within short distance of Castle Hill |;
Mr.. VIM. Sigare, 6 acres Mr.. w. Cor
don, 10 acres; Mr.. j. w. Robson, 8 acres :;
Messrs. Lents & Hechsheimef, 10 acres,
near Montreal Mr.. Hudson Martin, %
acres Mr.. J. w. Bowen, 2! acres, near
Fauber's mill; DR.. Baylor, acres, &C.;
W., McCue, II acres, near Alton. Mr..
OFT was in Richmond in the interest of
the wine fnterest of Virginia, laboring
to bring about cooperation among all
who are engaged in grape culture, to
effect means to establish market for
their wine, and to give it character and
reputation. He is one Of the most in
telligent and practical men concerned
in this enterprise, as his many commu-
nications in the Southern Planter on
this subject will shoW. The people of
Virginia, now that diversity Of crops is
indispensable to enable them to COM
pete with other sections in agricultural
products. should cherish this Interest,"
It is demonstrated TO them by such in
telligent foreigners as OFT, and Hotop,
and Hechsheimer, and others, that such
a large scope of our Piedmont country
is just as well adapted, In soil, exposure,
&C., to the makingof the finest
qualities eff wine, that the most skepti-.
cal should now Danish doubt and mis-
givings, and encourage this new enter
prise by every means in their power
The county of AlbemaYle has planted
near two hundred acres of vineyard.
The writer has not seen the statement
which DR.. Pollard was preparing in re-
gard to the extent of this interest in
Virginia, but from the best data within
his reach he feels safe in saying there
must now be one thousand acres plant
ed in grapes. The intelligent and en-
st. Andrew of Prince Ed
ward, with the cooperation Of the
Chronicle and Jeterso,aian at Charlottes-
vile to hold up the hands of the South
ere Planter in encouraging the farmers
of Virginia to persevere in sustaining
this enterprise, will do much to encour-
age immigration to Virginia, 1t behooves
the Legislature to pursue an enlightened
policy, and there Is no step that would
this interest more than an
act exempting vineyards and their pro-
duets from taxation for ter years, until
they could stand alone.
BLUE RIDGE.