The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-09-03
THE GRAPE CROP.
Aslanec AZ II BY an IntelIirenocr Man
The Largest and Best Crop Ever Known


Here.
Never has there been so large and ex-
cellent grape crop in this section ofthe
country as that Of the present year. There
have been years in which there has been
a wild proiusion Of grapes, but there has
always been some drawback. Rains have
rotted the berries, or mildew has ruined
them, and then heat or some other unto
ward circumstance has marred the crop,
but this year this.excellent fruit has been
entirely free from all such drawbacks, and
all owners Of vineyards are congratulatng
themselves upon their good fortune.
There has not been too much rain. nor
"too much anything else" combined 70
injure the grapes, and now the vintage Is
at hand and the largest, as we have said,
that has yet been seen in this locality. A
reporter OF this paper on Wednesday last,
in company with Capt. Richard Crawford.
Of Etnavllle, went over the vineyard OF
the latter.
This vineyard Is very fine, large one
covering thirty.six acres Of ground and Is
situated on the hillside west OF the Etna
mill and facing easterly TO the river.
| The grapes grown in this yard are nearly
all Of the Catawba or wine producing
species, and one could hardly believe the
immense amount OF fruit these vines have
produced this year. The trip Of the He
brew spies through Canaan and the grapes
they saw on their trip could not have been
much more wonderful than the profusion
Of grapes our reporter beheld in his trip
ON "wednesday.
In reply to our question about the quail
| ity OF the crop, Captain Crawford said:
"Neyer has such degree OF perfection
been attained. Every berry in pod or
bunch Is large and fully developed andthere
Is no rot nor any other defect. No man
ever saw. such bloom as this. Our crop
this year will be entirely satisfactory. II
will mature much earlier than ordinarily.
It will be gathered with rather less trouble
and when gathered will prove much more
satisfactory 10 the grower, for he will have
no difficulty in handling the crop, as it
will be uniformly ripe, and you can see
for yourself the quality and quantity Of
tie grapes. Look, too, for q moment at
the great number OF punches on vine.
This, some grape growers would say, y a.
the expense oil the wood, put II Is
not az the wood Ia healthy and you can
see there is no indication OF decay nor
trouble to the vine. These Catawhas are
ordinarily pllcked about the middle or
towards the close oil September, but the
Intense heat OF the last ten days has caused
them To mature much more rapidly than
they have done heretofore, and next week
most Of them will be plucked."
as not these land hereabouts admirably
adapted 10 grape growing| was next
asked.
ayes sir, SUCH land in France or Ger
many would be priceless, but in this coun-
try Il Is barely appreciated. The exposure
; is uneaualled, the land lying go as to com
mand the rays Of the sun all day. This
land the adjoining vineyards are so sltuat.
/. ed that the chilling winds which blow up
the valley and from the creek, are COM
paratiyely harmless, and the soil poss'
: esses all the qualities essential TO grape
growing. These are natural advantages,
aud to an experienced grape grower these
river hills afford unparalleled opportpni.
Ties, not only 10 exercise his knowledge Of
the business, but to realize handsomely
on it In peeanisry sense.h
Other VINEYARDS, aud adjoining this one
. and in the sane neishborhood as New
Ions, Gonsalls, lately owned by Mr.. @.
!, Hess, Of this city, and the Kreusch vine
yard, just east OF this city, are also in the
most fourishing condition possible, and
fnii c. c! cranes.
TIE grapes raised in this locality are
gathered and either shipped in bulk to
Cincinnati, which appears to be the marx,
ct or they are pressed at the vineyard and
, lthe wine made here, and then sold. Faith
err Kreusch aud Mr.. Hess have been in the
habit Of doing the latter, and SO iarvery sue
cessiully. This industry has become very
large 10 the last eight or ten years, and "a
) annually INCREASING. Thele ara hundreds
Of acres devoted to grape raising on the
) Ohio side Of the river alone, and on this
side there are also many yards, although
smaller ones.