The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-07-03
CRYSTAL SPRINGS CORESPON-
DENCE.

CRYSTAL SPRINGS, July l, 1878.
| EDITORS CLARION: According to prom
| ise in our last, | will give you a brief des-
cription of visit to the vineyard of n.
| Piazza & Bro.
| Accompanied by Major T. c. Dockery, OF
! DeSoto, and by Mr.. n. Piazza (the latter
gentleman having kindly loaned his buggy
and horses for the oceasion,j we started
I about four O'Clock, P. NJ, for the vineyard,
which is about 312 miles south OF Crystal
Springs.
A tier a pleasant drive over rather an uu-
dalating country, but bountifully watered
with fine running streams, we came to Il
nicely whtewashed cottage on the hill. At
the gate, we were accoSted in the Italian
language. by a middle aged man, who, from
his humble garb, had been hard at work.
He pointed to small piece of land behind
his house, and said he wanted to show us
the Italian mode OF training tomato plants.
Cultivating the tomato largely, myself, for
market, l was glad to yet all the intorma-
ton l could on the subject. he said: "All
in market, now. L show you how | trim
'em." The succors, and lateral branches are
all taken out, in order To hasten the early
maturity OF the fruit. Mr.. Lazarus Piazza,
who owns the little cottage, said he had al
ready sold in the Chicago market, nearly
500 worth of tomOtOeS from less than one
fourth of an acres of land, and that he com
| manced shipping early in May. With all
the facilities of hot-hOuse and cold frames,
| he beat me in getting early tomatoes into
| market. while he had nothing but a few
| boards and brush to protect his early plants.
| He procured his seed from Italy. which are
| inferior to our seed. Everything looks
| thrifty about the place. His nice young
! vineyard and peach orchard, both show at
| tention. Leaving him, we were soon in
sight of the large vineyard of Messrs. Pr
| aZzl IL Bro. The house is located in a fiat
| valley. formerly mill pond; but, through
| energy and perseverance, has been reclaim
| ed and brought into cultivation Every
Lining shows tidinesS and industry, so con-
spicious in the older European countries.
| In front of the gate, leading to the house,
| stretches long arbor of scuppernong grape
vines. He has beautiful flower garden an 4
| walks in front, and the cedars are beautiful
| Nv trimmed into fantastic shapes. In the
| retr of the dwelling house, courses Turkey
| Creek, a clear and pretty stream, tumbling
over rocky beds. The vineyard occupies
| about seven acres of rolling ground, lead
| ing down to the flat. The varieties Guilt
waited, are the Delaware, Ives Seeding. and
| Concord. The fruit began to ripen about
| the last of June--the Concord about the first
week in July, this season being earlier than
! common. Mr. Piazza has an Italian, who
/ has served out his time in the Italian vim =
| wards and seems to be proficient in the
| business. He had something which resem-
| bles a reaping- hook, and as fast as we could
| walk, he was trimming out the foliage, in
| order to let in the sun, and prevent the
grapes from rotting. Mr.. Piazza has on
! hand 300 crates ready for shipping. A crate
holds about a quarts or so many pounds.
They are carefully cut and placed in the
quart boxes, so as to snow of to the best
| advauta ge-put into the crates, and shipped
to New Orleans or Chicago, wherever they
| command best prices. Grapes are now
worth, in New Orleans, from 10 to 20 cents
per pound. Mr.. Piazza expects to ship be-
! tween five and six tons. Those not shipped,
will be made into wine. After doing the
vineyard, we were escorted down into til e
cellar but, all being Murphyites, could
not give to his wine the test which it de-
served. Coming from the cellar, it was
dusk, and after a pleasant ride in the night,
! we were at home once more.
Respectfully,