Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 1.djvu/270

 him of the Alicante which he had drunk in Spain. The poor returns from the experiments of Delaware and Dale do not appear to have discouraged the Company in England. In 1619, they dispatched to Virginia several French vine-dressers with many slips of the finest vines that Europe afforded. These vine-dressers reported that the grapes of the Colony far excelled those of their native Languedoc, not only in abundance but also in variety; that the fruitage of one variety was so large that they refused to believe that it was the grape until they had opened the skin and examined the contents; and that they had planted their cuttings at Michaelmas, and obtained grapes from them in the following spring.

The Assembly of 1619 showed as much solicitude in encouraging the cultivation of the vine as of the mulberry tree; every householder was compelled by law to plant ten cuttings and to protect them from injury, and at the same time was expected to acquire the art of dressing a vineyard, either by special instruction, or by personal observation. The Company was so much interested in the promotion of vine culture, that marked favor was shown to all who undertook it with zealousness. Mr. Whitaker, a leading planter, was so energetic in advancing this as well as other measures of great benefit to the Colony, that it was promised that two servants should be sent him, the most valuable gift which could be made at this time. The Governor of Virginia had already bestowed upon him a reward in the shape