"The Fox-Grape, whose berries are large and round, is divided into three
sorts, the white, the dark red and the black; the berries grow but thin
upon the bunches, which are plain without shoulders. They delight most
in a rich sandy lome, here they grow very large and the berries are
sweetest, but they will grow in any grounds, wet or dry; those that grow
on high dry grounds generally become white, and the colour alters to a
dark red or black, according to the lowness and wetness of the ground;
the situation I think must greatly affect the Wine, in strength,
goodness and colour; the berries are generally ripe the beginning of
September, and when fully ripe they soon fall away; thus much I have
observed as they grow wild. What alteration they may undergo, or how
much they may be improved by proper soils and due cultivation I cannot
say.
"There is a small black Grape, a size bigger than the winter Grape, that
is ripe in September; it is pleasant to eat, and makes a very pretty
Wine, which I have drank of, it was four years old, and seemed to be the
better for its age; the colour was amber, owing to the want of knowing
how to extract the tincture; this Grape is seldom to be found; there is
a Vine of them near John Taylor, Esq; at Middletown, Monmouth, and there
are some of them in Mr. Livingston's Vineyard at Piscataqua in
New-Jersey. I think they are well worth propagating.
"The frost or winter Grape is known to every body, both the bunches and
berries are small, and yield but little juice, but the richness of the
Wine may make up for the smallness of the quantity; the taste of the
Grape is austere till pretty hard frosts come, and then it takes a
favourable turn and becomes very sweet and agreeable; this Vine shoots
forth great numbers of slender branches, and might do very well for the
south and southeast sides of a summer-house or close walk, if all the
useless and barren branches were cut away.
"The Vines of America are fit for strong high espaliers, but if I
mistake not, he must watch them narrowly, must take away every
unnecessary and unprofitable branch, and trim them sharp and close, that
means to keep them within bounds."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account