The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-06-29
VENECULTURE.

From May Report S. c. Department Agri.
culture.
GREENvnLE, S. G., April 16, 1881.
Col. 4. P. Butler, Commissioner
Agriculture, Columbia, S. c.
DEAR SIR IN your official capac-
ity it occurs to me that you might
aid myself and others in procuring
skilled labor in what: t.sas; t. s9sis Is new
industry mean the culture OF
the eegfape and wine making. We
zS%ant men who have been brought
up in the vineyard and educated IN
the manufacture of wine. In this,
as in other agricultural industries,
the trite saying:
ssHe who by the pIow would thrive,
Must himself either hold or drive"
has peculiar 1orce.
It is only within the past few
wears that viniculture in upper
South Carolina has assumed the
proportions: OF a business, although
from the earliest settlement Of the
country, it was the custom to plant
. a few small grape vines about
every household to furnish fruit for
the family. >
During the past fail and present
spring several vineyards, ranging
from three to ten acres, have been
planted near the city, and in the
next few years I am satisfied the
acreage will be largely increased,
provided the industry is not bur-
dened by adverse legislation.
My own vineyard embraces some
twenty-five acres and [ expect to
increase it to fifty or more. Our
first vintage of any consequence
was last year, and the yield was
from $500 to S7O0 worth of most
excellent wine, and the friends OF
this industry were greatly encour.
aged by my success.
In my opinion there is no portion
: of the United States better adapted
to the growth of the grape than the
Piedmont region of South Carolina.
Here both the Northern and South
ern varieties find congenial soil
and climate. The land is fertile
and production, and sufficiently
rolling to insure good drainage,
seasons regular, rainfall moderate,
winters mild, dew point low and
absence of early hosts. In proof
of the adaptation Of this por'
ton Of the State to the growth Of
the grape it may be stated that the
wild grape vine grows in our forests
and hedges in greatest luxuriance.
producing annually abundant crops
of fruit.
Permit me to say that the best
remedy for the vice OF intemperance
will be found in the general culture
of the grape, and the proper use Of
IT'S products. I do not look for a
remedy against intemperance in
legislative enactments. Extreme
measures, such as total prohibition,
are the offspring of hasty and in.
considerate legislation. They are
spasmodic in character and ofshort
duration, and the reactionary
effects are often hurtful in their
results. More good can be accom-.
pEshed for the cause of temperance
by cautious and moderate legisla.
tion than by the adoption of harsh
and extreme measures.
Very respectfully,
S. S. MARSHALL.
The Department notes with
much qualification the interest man
ifested in viniculture. South Caro-,
lima ''is a true vineland," and the
culture Of the grape will ere long be
general and profitable. The ar,
rangements for bringing immi-
grants to South Carolina are now
- completed, and parties desiring to
engage in the cultivation of the
grape can be supplied VIII ex'
perienced persons by applying to
DR.. E. N. Boykin, Superintendent