The Cultivation of The Native Grape, and Manufacture of American Wines | Page 3

for it strict adherence to truth and actual results.
I have not thought it necessary to give the botanical description of the
grape-vine, and the process of hybridizing, etc.; this has already been
so well and thoroughly done by my friend FULLER, that I can do no
better than refer the scientific reader to his book. I am writing more for
the practical farmer, and would rather fill what I think a vacancy, than
repeat what has been so well said by others.
With these few remarks, which I thought due to the public and myself,
I leave it to you, brother-winegrowers, to say whether or not I have
accomplished my task. To all and every one who plants a single vine I
would extend the hand of good fellowship, for he is a laborer in the
great work to cover this glorious land of the free with smiling vineyards,
and to make its barren spots flow with noble grape juice, one of the
best gifts of an all-bountiful Creator. All hail to you, I greet you from
Free Missouri.

GRAPE CULTURE
REMARKS ON ITS HISTORY IN AMERICA, ESPECIALLY AT
THE WEST--ITS PROGRESS AND ITS FUTURE.
In an old chronicle, entitled, "The Discovery of America in the Tenth
Century," by CHARLES C. PRASTA, published at Stralsund, we find
the following legend:
"LEIF, son of ERIC the Red, bought BYARNES' vessel, and manned it
with thirty-five men, among whom was also a German, TYRKER by
name, who had lived a long time with LEIF'S father, who had become
very much attached to him in youth. And they left port at Iceland, in the
year of our Lord 1000.
But, when they had been at sea several days, a tremendous storm arose,
whose wild fury made the waves swell mountain high, and threatened
to destroy the frail vessel. And the storm continued for several days,
and increased in fury, so that even the stoutest heart quaked with fear;
they believed that their hour had come, and drifted along at the mercy
of wind and waves. Only LEIF, who had lately been converted to
CHRIST our Lord, stood calmly at the helm and did not fear; but called
on Him who had walked the water and quieted the billows, with firm
faith, that He also had power to deliver them, if they but trusted in Him.
And, behold! while he still spoke to them of the wonderful deeds of the
Lord, the clouds cleared away, the storm lulled; and after a few hours
the sea, calmed down, and rocked the tired and exhausted men into a
deep and calm sleep. And when they awoke, the next morning, they
could hardly trust their eyes. A beautiful country lay before them, green
hills, covered with beautiful forests--a majestic stream rolled its billows
into the ocean; and they cast the anchor, and thanked the Lord, who had
delivered them from death.
A delightful country it seemed, full of game, and birds of beautiful
plumage; and when they went ashore, they could not resist the
temptation to explore it. When they returned, after several hours,
TYRKER alone was missing. After waiting some time for his return,
LEIF, with twelve of his men, went in search of him. But they had not

gone far, when they met him, laden down with grapes. Upon their
enquiry, where he had stayed so long, he answered: "I did not go far,
when I found the trees all covered with grapes; and as I was born in a
country, whose hills are covered with vineyards, it seemed so much
like home to me, that I stayed a while and gathered them." They had
now a twofold occupation, to cut timber, and gather grapes; with the
latter, they loaded the boat. And Leif gave a name to the country, and
called it Vinland, or Wineland."
So far the tradition. It is said that coming events cast their shadows
before them. If this is so, may we not recognize one of those shadows
in the old Norman legend of events which transpired more than eight
hundred years ago? Is it not the foreshadowing of the destiny of this
great continent, to become, in truth and verity, a Wineland. Truly, the
results of to-day would certainly justify us in the assertion, that there is
as much, nay more, truth than fiction in it. Let us take a glance at the
first commencement of grape culture, and see what has been the
progress in this comparatively new branch of horticulture.
From the very first settlement of America, the vine seems to have
attracted the attention of the colonists, and it is said that as early as
1564, wine was made from the native grape in Florida. The earliest
attempt to establish a vineyard in the British North American