Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-06-09
$tauntotl Spectator,
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1886.
GRAPE-CULTURE AND WINE-MAKING.

Enquiring of the Secretary of the Bald
win District Fair if it was the purpose OF
the vineyard-men and wine-makers OF Al
bemarle, Nelson, and the adjacent country
to unite with the Association in October
with an exhibit of their wines, he replied
that we might assuredly rely on large
contribution in that way from our friends
over the mountain. This is, indeed, pleasing
intelligence, for it will be display of pro-
gress in a great industry which has already
commenced to work wonderful results in the
profits derived from the soil in the Pied
mont region in this new departure to which
its culture has been appropriated. 1t will
be the largest exhibition of Virginia vim
tages outside of their locality ever made in
the State, and the commencement of SINH
lar displays to be continued, which, grow
ing annually, will give the Old Common
wealth another point in rich development
of natural resources.
Hundreds of references could be made to
essays and descriptive literature of the
adaptability of Virginia to grape-culture,
and consequently a country producing wine
in the contributions of our own citizens
who had studied and investigated such
matters. To them and to DR.. Norton, and
others of our early amateur vintagers, all
honor is due for their zeal and investiga-
tions in behalf Of development. At crit
ical period of our producing interests, as
well as before and since that time, we have
received the benefit of the information and
practical knowledge of those familiar with
grape-culture and wine-making in Europe
and in the United States. In 1866, Scotch
gentleman, who was familiar with these III
terests in Europe, visited Virginia and re-
NAMED here several months, during which
time he made close observation of our
natural resources. He was ajournalist and
published in the New York World the re-
suits of his Investigations during his So
iourn here. At that time, emerging from
the desolations of war, we had but little ex-
cept our hospitality and the bounties OF
Heaven in the bestowment of wonderful re-
sources and fine climate to which we could
invite the kindly offices of the generous
hearted stranger to consider in orr behalf.
Passing over volume of many good things
he had to say for our Old Commonwealth,
her people, and her interests, we reproduce
few paragraphs of his utterances as he
surveyed the opportunities which grape
culture afforded to enterprisiDg invest
ments.
ssWhy has Virginia hitherto paid so lit
tie attention to this most profitable, easy,
and beneficial branch of agriculture? Is it
that she lacks the climate or the soil? On
the contrary, it is demonstrable, not only
by the deductions of science, but by sue
cessful experiments, as far as they have
gone, that many parts of Virginia
great fruit belt of the Blue Ridge especially
are in every respect equal, in many SUI
perior, to any wine-growing region, not on
ly on this continent, but in the known
world. Here, as it never was in either
France, Italy, or Germany, the vino may
truly be said to be indigenous. Here among
the sunny slopes of the Blue Ridge may be
found luscious wild grapes, flung broadcast
everywhere by the courteous hand OF Ma
ture, almost equal to those among our best
garden varieties. Here, by the advantages
of geographical position and climate, iso
thermal location, singularly favorable COM
binations of soil and other adventitious &C
cidents, can be found more completely ag
gregated all the known influences affecting
the successful cultivation of the grape than
any other portion of the earth hitherto Sc
lected for that purpose. Indeed, Virginia
can as truly claim to be the mother of the
II
nent as she is of those young and vigorous
Western States that sprung from her womb,
and have recently become so renowned for
the cultivation of the grape"
Prophetically and beautifully spoken
words are these, and the results of few
years of scientific and practical experiment
by our brethren who dwell on ''the sunny
slopes of the Blue Ridge" have demon
strated them to be true.
Continuing, the correspondent of the
World discusses many features of the
grape growing interest, and we make fur
ther quotations.:
every many more qualifications go to
make up the necessary condition for a sue
cessful cultivation of the grape, and in one
and all of them Virginia stands eminent
whether we consider her climate, soil, or
average fall of rain. The climate of a
place is determined by two things-its lati-
tude and its height above the sea-level So
that, owing to the differences on the earth S
surface, what are called the isothermal
equal heat) lines are located very irregu-
larly. Now, it has been proved that the
isotherm of 70 degrees-the one most favor
able for wine-culture in the United States
extends over large portion of Virginia.
The amount of Summer-rain that falls in
any locality is also matter of the most Sc
rious consequence, and in this, too, we find
Virginia more favored than any other State
in the Union which has hitherto devoted it
self to the culture of the grape. The amount
of Summer-rain that falls in the Northern
States is from nine to fourteen inches, and
it is known that the culture of the grape is
impaired just in proportion as you advance
from the lower to the higher figure. This
excess of moisture is fatal to the grape by
producing rot Such is the influence of
moisture combined with heat and little cir
culation of air that damp, foggy morning,
followed by a close, warm day, occurring in
the Ohio Valley at any time in June or Ju-
ly, will affect the vines unfavorably, and,
when happening at the most critical period,
three such days occurring together will de-
StfOy WnOle crop. LII CHo nOuutdlnS OI
Virginia there are immense regions where
the fall of rain never exceeds eight or nine
inches, and where from full exposure to sun
and air and perfect natural drainage the
rot is utterly unknown.
sAgain, if we consider the important
question of soil, we shall find Virginia IN
rivalled. The best vineyards of the world
are on hills and rolling uplands, on dry,
warm, porous soils, with good natural I'M
der-drainage, free from excess of vegetable
matter and animal enrichment, more or less
Astounding in lime, and with free exposure
to sun and wind. Over three hundred miles
of the beautiful slopes of the Blue Ridge is
precisely such formation, created by Ma
ture as if for the very purpose. 1t is one
map of gneissic or feldspathic rock, which,
in disintegrating, detaches silica, alumina,
magnesia. lime, potash, soda, oxide of IRON
all indispensable elements in that dry,
warm, porous, calcareous soil, without
which the vine can never flourish"