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Fuller, Andrew S.
The Grape Culturist
1866, New York, Orange Judd & Company
2nd edition
The Grape Culturist (1866) by New York horticulturist Andrew S. Fuller is one of the earliest and most confident rejections of dependence on European grape varieties.
Instead, Fuller champions the potential of native American species, writing, “Although we may regret that the European grape is unsuited to our climate, yet we may congratulate ourselves that we have indigenous species from which new varieties have been produced which rival, in point of flavor at least, any of the foreign ones.”
This comprehensive treatise covers every aspect of viticulture in America, including planting, grafting, pruning, vineyard management, pests and diseases, and propagation methods. Richly illustrated with more than 100 black-and-white engravings, this first edition depicts scions and grafting techniques, propagating houses, root systems, layering methods, dozens of trellis designs, insects, and even fantastically detailed renderings of grape clusters and tendrils.
Fuller also provides an extensive list of grape varieties, from widely cultivated types such as Catawba, Isabella, and Le Noir to finer selections including To Kalon and Rulander (Pinot Gris). At the time, Catawba was considered the standard American vine, and Isabella enjoyed unrivaled popularity in New York.
This work is not merely instructional but a horticultural declaration of independence, capturing a pivotal moment in the creation of a truly American wine culture where native species were celebrated as the future.
An American viticultural revolution in print, this richly illustrated first edition turns grafting and grape clusters into acts of patriotism and artistry.
Pp. [1] f.e., [2], vi, 7-262, [2] advertisement, [2], [1] r.e.
Original blue-green cloth binding, with decorative blind-stamped border and gilt vine leaf on the front cover; gilt title and grape cluster on the spine. Ownership stamp and signature on the title page (‘J. E. Lester’). With 105 illustrations, some full-page, others integrated in the text, all of a technical and explanatory nature. First edition in excellent condition.
Dimensions (inches): 7.5 x 5 x 0.5
Andrew S. Fuller (1828–1896), American horticulturist and author of classic works on grape, fruit, and forestry cultivation.