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Terms of Subscription : $2.(>0 per annam, in advance.

B P. STUDLEY & CO., PRINTERS.

■' r ^
I 0-

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

September— Work for the Month 231

Twitchell's Acidometer 231

Training ChUin Culture - - - 232

The Scuppernong Again - 233

A New Grape — The Theodosia - - . . . . . 234

Grape Culture 235

The September Number - - - .239

Eeports on Grapes 240

The Coming Man AVill Drink Wine; or, Common Sense vs. Prohib-
itive Laws --- 247

Concerning Wine 249

Temperance - - 253

The Zymotechnic News -------- 253 '

Editor's Letter Box 254

SPECIA.L COISTTRIBUTORS.

Hon. MAESHALL P. WILDER, Boston, Mass.

■6'. S.' O^Alttl^llOLOMEW, Esq., Westfield, N. Y.

Hon. FRED. MUENCH, Femme Osage, Mo.

Hon. ISIDOR BUSH, St. Louis, Mo.

M. H. LEWIS, Esq., Sandusky, 0.

GEO. EISENMEYER, Mascoutah, 111.

THEOD. ENGELMANN, Mascoutah, 111.

SAM. MILLER, Bluffton, Mo.

GEO. W. CAMPBELL, Dalaware, Ohio.

Hon. JNO. R. EAKIN, Washington, Arkansas.

A. B. ROBERTS, Walla Walla, Washington Territory.

CHAS. H. FRINGS, Editor Zymotechnic News, St. Louis.

R. D'HEURBUSE, Esq., New York.

F. R. ELLIOTT, Esq., Cleveland, Ohio.

^r:'

GRAPE CULTURIST.

Vol. II.

JANUAEY, 1870.

No. 1.

A HAPPY NEW YEAP.

We can not omit, when entering
u]ion our editorial duties for 1870, to
offer to all our readers, old and new,
the compliments of the season. May
the sun of the new year shine more
genially upon their efforts than that
of 1869 ; may their favorite plant
thrive, from the Atlantic to the Pa-
cific; may their casks be filled with
the best juice of its fruit, so good
that it will find a ready sale, gladden
the hearts of all who drink it, and
comfort the afflicted ; and may they,
in the enjoyment of all those bless-
ings, not forget the Grape Culturist,
but welcome it to their hearths and
homes, lend a willing ear to its coun-
sels^ and derive much benefit from
them. ]May the}' not forget, also, to
send their contributions of useful ex-
perience to its columns, and we thus
mutually teach, while we learn from
each other.

We are induced to enter upon the

second volume, even before the 1,000

subscribers are registered, which the

paper must have to pay expenses, b}'

the earnest request of many friends,

who seem to think they cannot do

.vithout it, and Avho all say that they

1^ i,VQ sure it need only be known among

^the grape growers to be appreciated

**• and supported. We have spent noth-

^^ ing for advertisements ; we do not offer

any premiums of sewing machines,
gold watches and jewelry, we are too
proud to resort to such means, to en-
list the sympathy and exertions of
our readers. If the Grape Culturist
cannot, by its intrinsic merit, by the
information and advice it brings to its
readers, induce them to exert them-
selves in its behalf, if it cannot carry
its recommendation and its passport
to the firesides of its I'eaders, on its
own plain and unassuming face, then
let it die, the sooner the better. The
public cannot hire us with mere pecu-
niary gain to write for them, without
also the consciousness of doing some
good, and giving our readers the full
equivalent of their subscription.

Some of our agricultural journals, no
doubt with the best intentions, have
mentioned our paper, and stated '^^that
they almost considered it a necessity,
were it not that many of the agricul-
tui-al press of the day had a vinej'ard
department " in which all matters
relating to grape culture were dis-
cussed. Xow, while we thank them
for their kind intentions, we cannot
help but differ from them in regard
to the value of such information as
they allude to. It reminds us of the
space and the premiums generally
allotted to the wines in the premium
list of the St. Louis Agricultural and

CD

The Grape ChUturist.

Mechanical Association, where all the
premiums offered for wines generally
amounted to about S50 annually, while
they give $1500 for the best blooded
stallion ; and where the Isabella wine
is put upon the premium list year after
year, although ever}" one at all con-
versant with grape growing knows
that it is entirely unworthy of culture
in this vState. The editors of such
journals, not being practical grape
growers themselves, publish any and
every thing sent to them, good or bad,
practicable or impracticable, and thus
sometimes do their readers more harm
than good, although they may have the
best intentions. What the grape grow-
ers of the country need, is not so much
an immense amount of writing upon
the subject — -for we have a superabun-
dance of that already — but a careful
selection and compilation of the most
practical experience, an exchange of
ideas of practical working men, re-
vised and sifted impartially and liber-
ally, with a fair show for everybody,

by a practical grape grower and wine
maker, who will at the same time
chastise all humbuggers (of whom we
have not a few among us, more is the
pity) with a scourge of iron, AVe
will try and supply that need, and to
do it well, we ask the help and sup-
port of our readers. Send in your
contributions from all parts of the
country, exchange your views, and
we will give you ours in return, thus
making the Grape Culturist a wel-
come visitor at the fireside of every
gi-apo grower. To our brethren of
the press we return thanks for cour-
tesies received, Avhich they will find
us willing to return at all times.

"We send the Grape Culturist to
all its old readers again, as we feel
sure that we shall not lose any of
them, and hope they will foward their
subscriptions promptly, with addi-
tional names from their friends.

George Husmann.

Bhijfton, Jamiaru '■'>, 1S70.

JAXUARY

work for the month

Many vintners consider this a month
of rest, and spend their time behind
the stove, or still worse, in lounging
about the country store or bar-room,
allowing their precious time, of which
not an hour should be lost, to slip by.
It is generally this class who complain
about being crowded with work, and
not able to get through, in spring or
summer. There is abundance of
w^ork even in January-.

Ground for new plantations may be
grabbed and cleared, in fair weather;
if they were not able to prune all
their vines in the fall, this may be
continued, and cuttings made of the
trimmings. For modus operandi,
see article on Pruning the A^ine, in
November number. Vol. I. Do not
allow your grape-wood for cuttings to
become dry. It may be bundled up
in the vineyard, taken home, buried in

Care of Frozen Vines.

sand or kept in the cellar, and trimmed
and cut into cuttings at your leisure,
in the shop or room. Cuttings ma}^
be made nine to ten inches long, cut
with a sloping cut close below the eye
on the lower end ; leave about an inch
above the eye on the upper. Tie in
convenient bundles, and bury in the
ground or in sand in a cool cellar.

You can also prepai*e material for
trellis, as it is seldom too cold for the
use of the axe out of doors. Posts
should be seven feet long, and about
three inches square, made of red cedar,
mulberry, honey locust, white oak, or

any other durable timber, set two feet
deep, and about twenty feet apart in
the rows.

If a vineyai'd is old and exhausted,
this will be a good time to manure
it. The best manure is new sur-
face soil, leaf mould, and decomposed
vegetable matter or compost. Animal
manures, if used at all, should be well
decomposed, as they create a rank,^
succulent growth, productive of rot
and mildew, and also impart a dis-
agi-eeable flavor to the fruit and wine.
All manures may be put on as a top
dressino-.

Fur The Grape Cultiirist.

CARE OF FROZEN VINES.

Friend Husmann -.

Lately I heard a letter read, which
was an inquiry; "The vines came to
hand froze in one solid mass; what
shall I do with them ?"

Now, as I had a hand in packing
those vines, and in a certain measure
feel myself responsible for their wel-
fare, I will inform your readers, at
least, what to do in such a case.

The sudden cold snap in November
has taught us a lesson that should
not soon be forgotten. Vines to go
a considerable distance should be
packed in such a manner that cold
will not affect them, unless exposed so
long as to actually dr^^ out the moss
and all. This rarely takes place,
however; but when a box comes to
hand in cold weather,, tbat is frozen
solid, you have only to put it into a
cellar or pit until it thaws, when all

will be right. Thawing in the dark
and excluded from external atmo-
sphere^ will leave most things in the
condition they were in previous to
being froz.en ; while, if taken out and
suddenly thawed in a warm tempera-
ture, and exposed to light, they will
speedily perish. I have had apples
frozen in tight barrrels for six weeks,
yet come out tine in the end. Per-
haps you remember an invoice sent
you some years since, from a thou-
sand miles east, that was a month or
more on the wa}', yet all kept safe
except the potatoes.

Hoping that the vine growers may
see fit to make up a subscription large
enough to warrant you in continuing
the Grape Culturist,

I am truly yours,

8. Miller.

Blikton, Mo . January Ist, 1870.

The Grape Culiurist.

THE WINE-CELLAR

If 3'ou wish to get 3'our wine clear
and fine, and ready for sale, rack it
frequently, bringing it in contact with
the air each time. This is done more
effectually by running it through the
rose of a common watering pot, which
can easily be attached to the faucet.
But above all things, clean your
casks well of every particle of the
lees which may adhere to them ; do
not consider them clean until the
water with which you wash comes
out peri'ectly clear. Then fumigate
with sulphur, before you put in the
wine, and if 3'our wine has fermented
thoroughly and rapidly you will have
no trouble in getting it clear. Should
it be veiy obstinate, 3'ou can rack
evei'Y two weeks. Even if you in-
tend to keep it through the summer.

it should bo perfectly clear and free
from lees before May. Keep your
casks well filled, and let the bung fit
tight. This is the principal month
for racking and clearing your wines.
The cellar should be kept at a tempe-
rature of about S-D*-'.

If you have empty casks, clean them
thoroughly, then turn them over on
the bunghole, so that all the water
can leak out ; let them lay so for a da}'
or so, then fumigate with sulphur, and
bung tight. The sulphuring should
be renewed about once every six
weeks; and, before the casks are used,
throw in a pailful of water, shake
thoroughly, so as to take out the
smell of the sulphur, and your cask is
read}' for use.

From Tiltiiii'.> .Juiirnul of HorticiiUiire and Floral Magazine.

CALIFORNIA AVINE8.

Mr. Charles L. Brace, in his recently
published book, The New West, speaks
very plaiidy about the wines and vine-
yards of California, and tells some
truths which are not much to the credit
of the California vignerons. He says
that most of the vine^-ards are ^culti-
vated by small growers^ who have sel-
dom if ever tasted a good wine, and
who imagine their own the very best
wine in the world ; that the wines have
suffered from being overpraised ; that
instead of being weak, and of a high
aroma, they are deficient in aroma, and

altogether too rich in alcohol ; that the}'
do not compare favorably with the good
and light table wines of Europe ; that
in fact, on a broad scale, wine making
in California has been a failure, shown
by the fact that, with a production of
three million gallons, only sixty-three
thousand dollars' worth were exported
in the last six months of 1867, or thirty
thousand dollars' worth less than in the
same period of 1866 ; and finally, that,
in many places, the price has fallen to
one-tenth, and even to one-thirtieth the
price of French claret.

California Wines.

Mr. Brace further says, that the fault
loes not inhere in the grapes, the soil,
or the climate, all of which are extremely
well adapted to wine making, but is to
be found, in his opinion, in a lack of
honesty and tboronghness, both on the
part of the manufacturers and on the
part of their agents. He says that the
Port is doctored, and the Angelica is
prepared for us (at the East) by adding
sixteen or eighteen per cent, of brandy ;
that the casks are often carelessly coop-
ered, thus injuring the wine at the start ;
that the wine is often not old enough,
and ferments on the passage ; that it is
re-doctored in New York, and then
palmed off on the public for pui'e Cali-
fornia wine. Tlien there are other difli-
culties. ^Jr. Brace saj's he s.xw one
wine-cellar occupied half as ^a stable,
and half as a wine-store ; and he justly
adds, that any one who knows anything
of the sensitive nature of fermenting
wine can judge of the effect of the sta-
ble odors on its qualit}^ . Too much
dependence has been i)laced upon one
variety, the Mission Grape, which the
writer says is the favorite, because they
tried it first, and it happened to succeed.

Vines are planted about six hundred
and eighty to the acre, trained low, and
seldom staked. The yield is from four
hundred to a thousand gallons per acre.

The Zinfindal, White Muscatine, and
White Riesling are among the kinds
grown for wine.

Innumerable experiments have been
made at great cost, and countless fail-
ures experienced, in making Cham-
pagne wine ; but success seems now
not far distant.

It is curious to learn that the Ca-
tawba Crrape is a great favorite with
some growers in a climate where the

Black Hamburg and the Muscat of
Alexandria can be grown to sell for
eight cents per pound.

Such is the bad reputation of the
Californian wines at home, says Mr.
Brace, that, out of four hundred thou-
sand gallons made by the Anaheim
Colony, two hundred and fifty thousand
are still in bond, and the ruling price
is twenty-five cents per gallon.

In spite of all these mistakes and
crudities, the writer we quote makes the
safe prophecy, that California will come
out all right, and be as vast a vine-
growing and wine-making State as
France herself .

[In copying the above, we can onl}'
add that we have not read anything
which, in the main, expresses our views
on the subject of California wines more
plainly than this article. The author
evidently writes with a just apprecia-
tion of the difficulties under which the
wine growers labor there, difficulties
which we can all the more appreciate,
as we have labored under them our-
selves and still suffer from them to a
certain extent here. We allude to the
inexperience of our grape growers, to
the want of systematic and scientific
treatment of our wines, and to the tena-
cious adherence here to the Catawba
by our vintners, as tenacious as the
adherence there to the Mission grape.
We exactly coincide in his views about
the character of Californian wines.
We have tasted hundreds of samples of
them, here ami at the East, and the
objections we had to them were, not
their want of bodj^, for they are only
too heav}^, but their total want of bou-
quet, flavor and sprightliness. They
drink more like cordials than wines,
and have about the same effect on the

6

The Grape Culturist.

system. This ma}^, to a very great
extent, be owing to the manipulations
of dealers — in fact, California grape
growers have candidly acknowledged
to us that their wines would not stand
a V03-age around Cape Horn, without
addition of spirit ; but we also believe
that the climate and soil exercise a
great influence in this respect. May
they not be too far south to produce
wines which can be compared with the
Hock wines, the light white and red
wines of France, etc. ? We think ex-
perience teaches us that the nearer we
approach the torrid zone in the culture

of the grape, although the wines may
have more bod}^, consequently intoxi-
cate sooner, they become deficient in
bouquet, and in that sprightly, invigo-
rating effect which wines grown in the
temperate zones have upon the system,
and which makes wine, wliat it should
be, the most spiritueUe of drinks, the
" dispeller of sorrow."

We offer these thoughts to the kind
consideration of oui- California friends,
and shall be happy to hear from them
upon the subject, and to be corrected,
should they think us wrong in any of
our views. — Ed.]

REPORTS ON GRAPES.

Arenzville. Dec. 20, 186!)

Mr. George Husmann,

Deal' Sir: — Having just received all
the numbers of the Grape Culturist
up to December, I take the liberty to
express my perfect satisfaction with the
same, and j^on may consider me a lifo
subscriber ; it is just the journal every
grape grower ought to read. Perhaps
some remarks on certain varieties of
grapes maj^ not be out of place here,
and to begin with my favorites, I will
say of the Delaware, that it j^ielded a
full crop this year, without any rot or
mildew, and a fine growth of wood for
next year. I made about 100 gallons
of wine of it, that is now almost clear,
of good body, fine flavor, and color. I
shall plant more of them. Creveling is
my next favorite, very productive with
well set bunches, tolerable healthy in
foliage, and makes a wine of fine flavor,
without any foxy aroma to it.

Cynthiana, Arkansas, Herbemont,
Rulander and Louisiana, fruited with
me the first time. As I got the plants
from you three years ago next spring, I
had not enough of each to make wine
from. I put them all together ; that is,
the grapes from four vines of Cynthiana,
one Arkansas, four Herbemont, one Ru-
lander, one Louisiana, of which 1 made
ten gallons of a bright purple colored
wine of great body. The grapes were
also entirely free from rot and mildew^
but with the closest examination I can-
not discover any difference between the
Cynthiana and Arkansas, likewise the
Rulander and Louisiana.

Norton's Virginia have not borne
much yet with me, but am much pleased
with the growth of them, and I have a
prospect of a good crop next year. (I
would remark here that all the late
ripening grapes alwaA's ripen well
here.) Concords I have mostly on the

Reports on Grapes.

north side of a hill, with about fifty
vines on a southern slope ; those on a
northern slope were very fine, without
any rot at all, while those on the south-
ern slope rotted some, though not very
extensively. Roger's Hybrids, Goethe,
has not fruited yet. No. 3, Massasoit,
set the fruit well and very full, but when
the berries were of the size of peas the
fruit and leaves all became spotted
and dropped off, and very nearly ruined
the vine. No. 4, or Wilder, is a splen-
did grape and very productive. No. 15,
Agawam, almost worthless ; it is too
fox}' and rots. No. l9, Merrimack,
fine. No. 30 also very fine, except that
the berries are a little smaller. Ives —
if this is is not more productive next
3'ear than it has been, I shall dig them
up again. lona and Israella, if I had
my money back that I spent on that
glorious Grant production, I would be
willing to say no more about them. I
would not recommend them to any-
body. Martha promises well, onl}- a
little too foxy. Maxatawney, health}-
and fine, though ]iot very productive so
far. Catawba and Diana, rotted over
two-thirds of the crop. Hartford Pro-
lific, excellent for market. I have other
varieties growing, but will abstain from
making any remarks at present on
them.

I am very much interested in raising
new seedlings, in particular of the
Creveling, of which I have about two
hundred seedlings growing, most of
which I expect to fruit next summer.
I have also seedlings of Hartford, Con-
cord, Delaware, Catawba, and of a
German grape called the Oestereicher,
which I expect to all fruit next year.
This fall I again planted about one
pound of seeds of the following vari-

eties : Cynthiana, Louisiana, Creveling,
Concord and Delaware. Should I suc-
ceed in getting anything promising, I
shall send you some of them for trial.
Yours truly,

Henry Tiemeyer.

Areszville, Cass Count}% Ills.

[The Cynthiana, Norton's and Arkan-
sas, are very much alike in fruit and
foliage, but there is a great difference
in the v^'ine. The same is the case with
the Louisiana and Pailander. Ives will
be productive enough when the vines
become older. We hope 3'ou may
raise something good among your seed-
lings, and if 3'ou do we shall be glad
to try it.

Your report is an interesting one,
and as j^ou seem to be a close ob-
server, we hope to hear from you again.

ALBEMAtiLE COUNTY, VIRGINIA.

While from the West I read of too
much rain, and, in consequence, rot in
the vineyards, here every farmer had
good reason to complain of drought, —
June, July, and August, — in the imme-
diate neighborhood of Charlotteville,
hardly three times a shower ! which
each more properly could be called a
sprinkling, as at no time the rain sunk
in well tilled soil, deeper than one inch.
As I planted but last fall, and charge
the loss of nearly the half of 5,000
Delawares then planted to this drought,
you will understand why I perhaps rel-
ished this weather but little.

But if newly planted vines did suffer,
older ones and especially bearing
ones seemed to enjoy it so much more.
The Delaware, on rich red soil consist-
ing of decomposed marl, with greenish
blue and red marl subsoil, for the first

The Grape Culturist.

time held its leaves as well as could be
desired. Here, on such soil, it ranl^s
amongst the good growers, which I am
sorry to say the Creveling does not.

During the last four seasons I have
had opportunities to see here the follow-
ing varieties under cultivation, which I
rank according to merit, as follows :
Norton's, Delaware, Catawba, Clinton,
Concord, Herberaont, Creveling, Alve^',
Diana, Ives, Adlrondac, Rebecca, Isia-
ella, lona, Maxatawney, and Ta^dor's.

Norton's in their fourth season (after
planting) averaged 12 pounds of grapes
and 15 plants from layering ; gathered
Sept. 15, the must scale showed 89°.
Delawares were ready for shipping
the first week of August. The latter
part of the same month saw but very
little fruit left on about 2,000 bearing
vines, mostly in their third, a few in
their fourth season. Those in their
third season bore about 2,h pounds of
ver}^ fine fruit. These had been thinned
out to from, at an average, 15 to 18
bunches each, because it was thought
that Delawares in their third season in
the summer of 1868, which were over-
tasked with 45 bunches in some instan-
ces, were none the better for sueh se-
vere work. Well, the}^ ripened about
24 bunches, but at least 10 to 22 days
later than those with less fruit. It may
seem but little to get but 2 J pounds of
grapes per vine, but I believe the ad-
vantage is with the little weight, the
third and increasing quantity every later
year. For this there is here now the
best of prospects, as there is no scarcity'
of young canes of I inch diameter to
9 to 15 feet long.

The principal market was New York,
reached by Adams' Express in 18
hours, at an expense per pound of 2j

cents. Delawares sold readil}- this
season at from 35 to 25 cents per
pound ; though peaches were in the be-
ginning of August a drug on that mar-
ket at 50 cents a basket. Whatever
was left over, mostly because not good
enough for marketing, was gathered
and pressed Sept. 15, and showed 84'^
on must scale. Concord brought T}
pounds on gray soil in their third
season, better than four 3'ear olds on
red soil ; ripened with, yet not quite as
earl}^ as Delaware. IVIarket price 20 to
15 cents per pound. Gathered Sept.
11th, accoi'ding to must scale 75''
Clinton 14 pounds a vine. Sept. 15th,
must 99°. This rampant grower will
some day perhaps stand with the Ru-
lander at the head of the list, in this
section. But as I have seen but two
vines in bearing, I have not \ei had an
opportunity to judge of the wine by
itself. Alvey 4 pounds per vine. Sept.
5th, must 96°. Diana about 3 pounds
per vine. Must 82°, pressed Sept. 5th.
Ives', in their fourth season, 4 pounds
per vine, very foxy. Must 70°, pressed
Sept. 5th. lona, in their fourth season,
wretched grower so far ; fruit, what
there was of it, good. Of sixty vines of
that age, I had trouble to cut 30 pounds
of grapes. I believe if I had not care-
fully cut every single berry even, the
weight would not have reached half a
pound per vine. Cut and pressed
Sept. 11 ; must weighed 94*^. Catawba,
in their fourth season, 15 pounds per
vine. Price in New York, 20 to 16
cents per pound. Forgot to make note
of weight and time of pressing ; think,
however, it was 83*^ and Sept. loth.
Herbemont were so much tasked by
layering, that but little fruit matured.
Must 81*^, Sept. 15th.

Reports on Grapes.

9

There is no doubt in my niind that
Catawba did better here this year tlian
Norton's even, but as such favorable
weather is not to be looked for often,
all Catawbas over three years old were
grafted with Hcrbemont, Norton's, etc.,
during the month of November.

The grapes of nearl}^ all the varieties
were pressed three weeks too soon,
which was necessitated by inroads made
by ants. This pest showed itself as a
small yellow variety, and before dis-
covered at it their work was charged to
wasps. Perhaps some reader of the
Grape CuLXUPasx knows of something
better to extirpate them than careful
tillage ?

So far, we have but a few acres here
in bearing ; two j'ears hence, we will
have in this immediate neighborhood
at least 50 acres in bearing, Delaware
predominating.

Kespectfully,

Fred. Hildebrand.

Charlotte&ville, Dec. 9, 1869.

St. Joseph, Mo. , December 25th, 1869

Dear Editor :

I have been reading the " Culturist "
during the last year with great interest.
It appears that j'ou have no corres-
pondent from this portion of the State ;
hence I have concluded to give you the
result of the last season's efforts in this
part of the State, in the culture of
grapes.

From the best information that I can
gather after considerable inquir}', there
must be over one hundred thousand
grape-vines planted within six or eight
miles of St. Joseph — the greater part
near the city. Here, as elsewhere
some of them are well cultivated, some
half cultivated, and others scarcely cul-

tivated at all ; and, also, some are in
full bearing, some only commencing the
last season to bear, and others only
planted the last season. 1 may add
that more would have been planted, but
for the reason that the grasshoppers or
locusts have been so destructive of
young vines in this vicinity for the last
few years, that most persons were de-
terred from planting. No eggs having
been deposited by the grasshoppers
during the last fall in this country, the
prospects are that planting will be more
largely engaged in during the coming
spring.

It is needless for me to tell you that
the past season has been unfavorable
to grape culture, except in favored lo-
calities, and as to the most healthy
varieties.

The Catawba here generally rotted to
some extent — in some localities worse
than others. I suppose that, upon an
average, not more than a half crop was
obtained, and that was rather late ma-
turing, so that the quality was not gen-
erally first-rate. "We think, however,
that we have discovered here the Ca-
tawba can be cultivated with a fair
prospect of success upon some of our
river hill lands, the soil where they suc-
ceed best being of a light ashy color,
very light and porous, with an inter-
mixture of particles of limestone and
sand ; and, in elevated and warm situ-
ations, a southeastern exposure being
preferred. In all other kinds of soil
and localities, I think it to be unsafe to
rely on the Catawba for a full crop in
this part of the State.

The Hartford Prolific is entirel}^ hardy,
and, notwithstanding the abundance of
wet weather during the last season, the
vines and foliage were perfectly healthy.

10

The Grape CaUnrist.

They set a large crop of fruit last sea-
son ; in some localities the}' were in-
clined to, and did rot sliglitly ; but I
mav say a good full crop was obtained,
whicli ripened well, and the fruit was
very little inclined to drop from the
bunches.

The Delaware set finely with fruit ;
was not in the least affected with either
mildew or rot ; but in a great many
cases the foliage dropped from the vines
before the fruit was ripe, in which
cases the fruit of course never ripened.
Although the Delaware is much admired
here for the beauty and excellence of
its fruit, yet no one, I think, would be
willing to plant them here to an}' con-
siderable extent.

The Concord is the grape now most
cultivated, and seems to be perfectly
at home here. The foliage during the
last season was perfectly healthy ; the
vines set a heavy crop of fruit that ri-
pened in the most perfect manner, with
so little inclination to rot that it is
scarcely worth}' to be mentioned. It
seems to be everything that could be
desired in the way of productiveness,
and in this county, where our tastes
have not been cultivated, we think it
to be a pretty good liable grape and
begin to like Concord wine.

To give you an idea of the produc
tiveness of the Concord here the past
season, I will just state that my neigh-
bor, Jacob Madinger (with whom you
are accjuainted), had a patch of Con-
cord vines, nearly an acre, last season
being the fourth season from planting,
and they had been injured two seasons
badly by the grasshoppers until they
were not larger than they would other-
wise have been the third season. He
selected an average row of these vines,

and gathered and weighed the grapes ;
the result was over twenty-two pounds
of well-ripened grapes to the vine. I
believe that other vines in this country,
where they were well cared for, did
equally well.

The Norton's Virginia has not been
cultivated here to any great extent ;
but what have been cultivated have been
healthy, bear well, and the grapes make
a most excellent wine. The Diana
rotted pretty badly the last season, and
the vines are too tender to stand our
severest winters ; produce fine grapes in
a favorable season.

The Taylor has not set fruit well, and
is being discarded.

The North Carolina Seedling is
healthy; bore good fruit last season;
ripened well, without rot.

The Israella promises well ; bore fine
clusters of fruit last season, of good
quality, and was not affected with either
mildew or rot.

The lona dropped its leaves ; does
not seem to be healthy, but upon fur-
ther trial may do better.

The Clinton bears profusely ; had no
rot the past season, but did not ripen
as evenly as usual. It is hardy, and is
growing in favor.

The Goethe, or Rogers' No. 1, did
well last season. The vine seems hardy
and healthy ; is a vigorous grower, and
fruited well last season.

The Ives' Seedling has fruited but
little here ; but what few vines fruited
last year, bore perfectly healthy fruit.
The vines are hardy, and make a very
strong growth of short-jointed wood.

We have a good many other varieties
upon trial, the most of which have not
fruited, and of course no report can be
made as to their success.

Reports on Grapes.

11

Myself and my partner (Allen H.
Vories, Esq. ,) have a vineyard of about
twelve acres planted ; will most all be
in bearing the coming season. Our
vine3'ard consists principally of Con-
cords) Hartford Prolific, Virginia Seed-
ling, Clinton, and Ives' Seedling. We
have some, eighteen or twent}' other
varieties on tiial. You will see that
we have no grape for white wine to take
the place of the old Catawba. We
want to plant some white grape, or
grape for white wine, but we don't
know what to plant. AYe are bewil-
dered with the great number of new
varieties being forced upon the public,
which, if we could believe what is said
of them, must be perfection itself; but
we are constantly reminded that what
seemed to be perfection and everything
to be desired last year, is thrown aside
this year as almost worthless, to give
place to the Walter, Eumelan, or some
other new grape which it is said will
supersede all others. We are afraid to
plant our ground, for fear we vvill find
next year that we have the wrong grape
on it. Mr. Editor, what shall we do?

To conclude this already too lengthy
communication, I will just say that we
consider grape growing in this pait of
the State as a success. We now plant
Hartford Prolific, Concords, Virginia
Seedling, and Clinton, and, in fact
many other vines, with as much cer-
tainty of getting a return as the farmer
plants his corn, and we feel satisfied
that no part of Missouri is better adapt-
ed to the culture of grapes, either as to
the quantit}' of grapes to be produced,
or as to the quality of the fruit, than is
the country immediately around the city
of St. Joseph. I am, very truly, etc.,
H. M. Vories.

[Thanks for your interesting report*
We are well aware of the advantages
your part of the State afl^brds, although
we cannot admit that it is better adapt-
ed to grape growing than other sections
^ve know.

We think your Delawares had mildew
on the leaves, or they would not have
dropped them.

We think we maj^ safely advise j'ou
to plant Goethe, Martha and Maxa-
tawney for ivhite loine, as we have
fruited them all during five or six years,
found them uniformly health}- and pro-
ductive, and hear favorable reports of
them from all parts of the country.

You ask "What shall we do?" in
regard to planting new varieties. We
answer : Do not plant extensively of
any new grape, until it has undergone
at least four and five years' trial in
your State. We are very reluctant to
recommend any new grape for general
planting, but think you w^ill not risk
anything with the three named. What
we want is a substitute for the Catawba,
to make a light, agreeable white wine,
without its liability to disease, and we
are convinced we have found them in
these for our section.

It is well to try al! new varieties ;
but it will not do to plant largely of
them until they have been fully tried.
This may be profitable to those who
propagate them, but quite the reverse
generall}' for those who pay for them
and plant them. — Ed.]

LA^'CASTER COUNTY, PA.
FniEKD iluSMANX:

As 3'ou are receiving reports of the

success and sometimes failures, of

I grape growers in the West and South,

which is very interesting to those re-

12

Tlie Grape CuUurist,

siding in other localities, perhaps a
short account of our doings and pros-
pects on grape growing, and the vari-
eties that succeed best in our limestone
soil of old Lancaster count}', Pa., might
be interesting to some of the readers of
the Grape Culturist.

The season of 1869 was very v/et
here till about the middle of Jul}-.
Grape vines began to show some mil.
dew. From the middle of July till the
middle of September, (though we had a
few showers) it was generally quite a
dry spell. During this dry spell, the
mildew was arrested, and the vines re-
covered their healthful vigor. The
earlier varieties ripened perfectly. Dur-
ing last of September and October,
we had heavy rains, that saturated the
soil thoroughly. This wet spell pre-
vented the late varieties from ripening
fully. However, such varieties as Con-
cord; Caroline, Black Hawk, Martha,
Hartford, Cynthiana, N. Carolina seed-
lings, Telegraph, Maxatawney, eight or
a dozen of Rogers' hybrids, with half a
dozen Fox, and several varieties of
Cordifolia and ^^stivalis, ripened per-
fectly on my own ground. The Isabella
too, in most localities, after a failure of
several years, again recuperated, and
produced good grapes as of yore. Even
the Catawba, in some instances and
favorable localities, tried hard to re-
cover its old reputation. The Delaware,
like all of the Vincfera class, was, as
usual, generally a failure. Only in
some favorable nook will it perfect a few
small bunches — very good where it
succeeds.

Should we be spared another season,
and the Grape Culturist continued, as
we hope it may be with a largely in-
creased subscription list, I may then

again send you report on grapes — of
old ones, and some new ones that have
not fruited with me, but- their appear-
ance of growth is very promising.
These are five varieties of Mr. Arnold's
h3^brids, of Canada, four of St. Un-
derbill, of New York, and three of Dr.
A. P. AV3iies, of South Carolina, — all
cross breeds — not forgetting the appear-
ance of Miss " Peggy," of Iowa.
Very respectfull}',

J. B. Garbeu.

[Thanks for the report. When you.
class the Delaware with the " Vinifera,"
however, we think you will find your-
self on untenable ground. We have
seen true seedlings of it, which looked
so near alike to some of our wild
uEstivalis, that it would take more than
a " Philadelphia lawyer " to distinguish
them. Besides, the Delaware does not
stand alone in that class. The Creve-
ling bears a very close resemblance to
it in growth, foliage and wood, and we
know where it originated, whatever
doubts there may exist about the Del
aware. — Ed.1

LiTiz, Lauciister Co , P;i.

Our grape crop was not large. The
weather was too dry after mid-summer,
thus the berries were smaller than last
year, and the Clinton lost its leaves
badly for a while, but later did better*
The grapes were ver^'- good. Clinton
must weighed 92*^ on Oechsle's scale.
Concord I did not try with the scale*
but they were most excellent for eating.
Martha did well also, and we made a
small sample of wine of it, which I
think not hard to take.

Yours truly,

John Huber.

Grape Humbugs and their Disseminators.

1 "^

GRAPE HUMBUGS AND THEIR DISSEMINATORS.

Unfoi'tuiuitel}' wc have, amoiiii; the
multitudes of earnest workers and
thinkers in our noble profession — men
wlio toil with earnest zeal for the
o-ood of the cause, also a small pro-
portion we may class as the sharks
and hyenas, men who are continually
ogling after the purses of their neigh-
bors, seeking how^ they ma}- devour
them, without regard whether those
taken in by them will receive the value
of their money, or whether they must
pay a high price for an entirely worth-
less thing. We feel it our duty to
warn our readers against all these
birds of pre}' which come to our
notice, although the task is not a
pleasant one. "We shall give only
facts which come under our observa-
tion, and will state here, once for all,
that our columns are open to all who
think themselves aggrieved or unjustl}-
assailed, to make their defense.

Dr. J.C. Hj^de, formerly of Bluffton,
lately of Portland, Callaway count}^,
Mo., now of Brocton, N. Y., has taken
the liberty, on a speculating tour
made by him last fall, to exhibit
grapes as the Salem, which, he stated,
came from Bluffton, which were not
Salem. Latel}' he has asserted to a
friend of ours, who visited Brocton
and its surrounding vineyards, that we
had no true Salems at Bluffton, but
had, during the confusion existing in
regard to the numbers of Rogers' Hy-
brids, received the wrong number.

Now, the Salem vines at Bluffton
came from two sources, of the relia-
bility of Avhich we will allow our

readers to judge. The wood from
which the greater part was grown
came from a vine in our old vineyards
near Hermann, which was sent lis
from the Experimental gardens at
Washington, as No. 2;2, which Wm.
Saunders, Charles Downing, and many
members of the Am. Pom. Society saw
bearing on our grounds and pro-
nounced the true Salem. Hon. Mar-
shall P. Wilder, George W. Campbell,
and others whom we always consider-
ed good authority, pronounced it Sa-
lem at the exhibition, fall of 1867 ;
and Ave would rely on them at all
times, in preference to Dr. Hyde.
The other vines at Bluffton came from
the Salem-on-Erie nui'series, in the
spring of 1868. Whether this stock
is reliable, we leave the public and
themselves to say. At least, they seem
to think so. But the best of the mat-
ter is, that none of them have fruited
at Bluffton ; consequently Dr. Hyde
could not obtain any fruit of them
there.

The upshot of the matter seems to
be this ; Dr. Hyde is at Brocton now,
seems to be strongly interested in the
Salem, and because we could not, in
justice to our readers, give a very fa-
vorable report of the Salem at Bluff-
ton or Hermann, the last year, as it
suffered a good deal from disease, and
has never j-et set fine bunches with us,
he tries to get over this by spreading
a report that the Salem Ave ha\'e is not
true. Such means to bolster up the
sinking reputation of any variety do
not seem honorable to us, hoAvever

14

The Grape Culturist.

well they may suit the notions of
honor "Dr. Hyde may have. The fact
is, we have never seen bunches of the
Salem Avhieh at all compared with the
illustrations of it sent out by its dis-
seminators, )}or (Jo we expect we ever
tvill.

It is not the first time, however, that
the Doctor resorts to such practices.
While agent for Dr. C. W. Grant, for
the sale of his gi-apes, he praised the
lona and Eumelan in unmeasured
terms, and Dr. Grant took good care
to have his letters disseminated. His
expressions in regard to the Eumelan
were about as follows: The vines had
been on the way for two weeks, before
they arrived opposite Portland. It
took then two weeks more to make the
journey from the Pacific railroad to

Portland, a distance of sny four miles,
and after all these "adventures by
flood and field," they were planted by
the worthy (?) Doctor, late in the sea-
son, and then made the astonishing-
growth of thirt}^ well-ripened eyes of
wood, which, of course, was abundant
proof of the inherent health and mira-
culous vitality of that extraordinary
grape. Now, the truth about that
wonderful vine is, that our friend Mil-
ler saw it at Dr. Hyde's in the begin-
ning of September. It had then lost
all its leaves, and had made a growth
of about two feet.

Comments are unnecessary. We
leave it to our readers how far the}'
will place reliance in the statements of
this gentleman (?) in future.

THE CHEMISTRY OF W^I^s^E.

BY CHAS. H. FRINGS.

We come now to the nitrogenous sub-
stances contained in the must, and the
changes to which they are subjected
during fermentation. These substances
have been called by a general term, glu-
ten, and although the chemist makes a
difference, this is all sufficient for prac-
tical purposes.

Without the presence of gluten, in
the must, there could be no develop-
ment of lees. It is therefore a ver}^
necessary ingredient of 7nust ; but in
ivine it is, not alone superfluous, but
even injurious. As long as the wine
contains gluten, it is subject to contin-
ual changes, which often are very inju-
rious, even ruinous.

Both substances, gluten anil tannin,
if contained in the wine, continually
strive to unite, (by which process they
become insoluble), and then form a de-
posit in the lees. This process, which
is very beneficial to white wine, is in sa
far injurious to red wines, as it discol-
ors them.

If, therefore, a fermenting fluid con-
tains more gluten than is necessary for
a rapid and thorough fermentation, it is
injurious. It is, however, an established
fact, that all grapes grown on rich, vig-
orous soil, contain an excess of nitro-
geneous substances, which, ho^vever
nourishing they may be, should not be
in icine, and as long as it contains them

The Chemistry of Wine.

15

we can not call the wine finished. In
olden times many means were employed
to extract the superfluous gluten, and
very often kept as secrets : such as ad-
ditions of lime, salt, etc. A more ra-
tional method is the process of sulphur,
ing the casks, before fermentation com-
mences, which is generally adopted in
Champagne, for those musts from which
spai'kliug wines are made, as it is of the
utmost importance in sparkling wines
that the}' should not contain any fer-
menting substances ; because these
would either burst the bottles, or make
the wine cloudy.

It is also adopted on the Rhine,
for red wines, and the result is an
excellent wine, which will keep very
long.

All these manipulations are super-
fluous, however, if all ingredients are
contained in the must in due propor-
tions ; and where it does not contain
them naturally the missing substances
may be added — a subject to which we
shall in due time return.

To divest the wine of gluten, after fer-
mentation, there are also many meth-
ods, which, however, should be applied
with great caution. Among these are
oxydization by air treatment, heating
etc. , which will be fully discussed in their
proper places.

Additions of chemicals, such as sul-
phate of lime, so often used in refining
of cider, etc., are very injurious to wine,
and should not be used. Those meth-
ods of fining wine, which are now so
common in use, as gelatine, isinglass,
filtration, etc., dispose only of those
substances which have already become
insoluble, and which are apparent to the
eye. Wine which has thus been clari-
fied will become cloudy again, as long

as it contains dissolved fermenting sub-
stances. The method to clarify wines
by exposing them to cold, leads to
somewhat the same result. If the tem-
perature is reduced to about from 40°
to 25° F., young wines will not ferment
any further. The insoluble particles of
gluten yet dispersed in the wine will
sink to the bottom. At the same time,
however, nearly all the tartar, which
would be deposited later, as insoluble,
is now cast out. Thus it comes, that
wines which were bottled in a warm
temperature will deposit tartar, and with
it gluten, when they are put into a cold
cellar, although they may have appeared
perfectly clear. If they are removed to
a warmer temperature again, the deposit
will dissolve again, and the wine be-
come clear.

Although it must therefore be ad-
mitted that the cooling of wine, or its
storing in cool cellars, is of use, as far
as it facilitates the deposit of tartaric
acid, the benefits derived from it are
still not important enough to justify the
building of expensive cellars, especially
as the wines grown in many sections of
this country contain but little crystal'
lized tartaric acid, in the form of tartar,
but mostly free acids. The greatest
quantit}' of tartaric acid, in its crystal,
lized form, is contained in California
wines, which may almost be called a
saturated solution of tartar. The more
kali a certain soil contains, the greater
will be the amount of tartar in the
grapes grown on it ; Avhile those grapes
grown on soil which contains but little
kali have more free acid, which is more
perceptible to the taste.

To he Continued.

Tlte Grape Culturist.

Fi-oin Tilton's Journal of IlorticiUture and Floral Magazine.

TEEATMENT OF THE AMEEICAX GRAPE-Yi:XE.

BY EDWARD F. UNDERHILL, BROCTON, N.Y.

The question of the proper method
of planting, training, and pruning the
native grape-vine of America, is one
of especial interest and importance to
a large class of our people who have
invested their means in vineyards. In
the text-books on grape-culture, in the
horticultural journals, and in the re-
marks of grape-growers at their meet-
ings for discussion, the subject is dis-
cussed, and the most diverse opinions
and views are expressed : and, unable
to arrive at a definite conclusion as to
the merits of the diflTeront theories
propounded, the practical grape-grow-
er is compelled to grope blindly in the
dark until a tedious and often costly
experience shall suggest to him the
proper coui'se he shall pursue in the
management of his vineyard.

Before stating the results of person-
al observation on this subject, let me
briefly recur to the early history of
vineyard -culture in America. Our
first experiments were with the for-
eign vine, and these signally failed;
and it was only when the Isabella and
Catawba were discovered and dissem-
inated that our people believed we had
native grapes of sufficient merit to
justify their culture in vineyards. In
many localities, there was a desire to
try the experiment ; but the people
had only indefinite and crude ideas of
the manner in which vineyards should
be laid out and managed. Hence in-
formation was sought of those who
had been in the vine districts of Eu-
rope, and especially of the Germans

and French who had taken up their
residence in America, and who could
state, with more or less intelligence
and particularity, the methods pursued
in cultivating the vine in Europe.

Close planting is a marked peculiar-
ity of the vineyard-culture of Ger-
many, the vines being usually placed
three feet asunder in each direction ;
making nearl}' five thousand vines per
acre. In North-Eastern France the
distance is scarcely over a foot, and
nearly forty thousand vines are re-
quired to plant an acre. The reason
ascribed for pursuing this method is
tte thinness of the soil, and the consc"
quent necessity of circumscribing the
growth of both root and vine : and, in
the Champagne district, the latter is
never allowed to attain proportions
beyond those of a shrub tied to a
small stake.

Having only the methods in vogue
in the vine-bearing districts of JS'orth-
ern Euroj^e as examj^les, our earliest
vineyards wore generally laid out and
managed in conformity therewith.
Mr. Longworth planted his first vine-
yard of Catawbas onl}^ three feet apart
in each direction ; and, though he sub-
sequently increased the distance to
four feet, I am informed that he re-
garded that as the extreme limit of
departure which should be made from
the European models. At North East^
Penn., Mr, William Griffith planted a
large vine_yard with vines four feet by
six. At Westfield, N. Y., a German
has a vinej'ard planted three feet by

Treatinent of the American Grape Vine

17

three. Buchanan, one of the earliest,
and Mead, one of the latest writers
on grape-culture, recommend four by
six feet as the extreme distances ; and
I do not recollect an}' text-book which
suggests a distance greater than six
feet in either direction for planting in
vineyards.

But, however closely our vines were
planted in early vineyard cultivation,
the experience of practical cultivators
soon demonstrated that the American
vine required more room for growth,
if the best results were to be attained;
and, from three feet by three, the dis-
tance has, from time to time, been in-
creased, until, now, eight feet by eight
is more commonly adopted than an}'
other, where the vines are to be train-
ed to wire trellis.

But there was one locality in which
vineyard-cultivation was commenced
nearly thirty years ago, and Avhere the
planters were far removed from out-
side counsel. They were compelled
to study the nature and habits of the
vine, and thus deduce methods for its
treatment. Extending south-west
from the head of Canandaigua Lake
in the State of New York, a distance
of several miles, is Naples Yalley,
which, to-day, has over a thousand
acres of vineyard on one of its sides.
Hills a thousand feet in height en-
close it ; and there, for many years,
the American Neapolitans lived seclud-
ed from the world. The Erie Eail-
way, a branch of which is now but six
miles distant from it on the west, was
then undreamed of. No steamboat
was launched on Canandaigua Lake to
facilitate communication Avith their
transmontane fellow-beings. The cum-
brous stage-coach, clambering over

mountain-roads, brought them intelli-
gence of the scandals and the gossip-
ings, and the disorders and the crimes,
and the convulsions, social and gov-
ei'nmental, native and exotic, which,
in those days, sorely tried the temper
of the sons of Adam on this mundane
sphere. There they lived, had their
periodical spasms of politics, voted the
regular ticket, got married, multiplied,
and did a good many things in a pecu-
liarly American way; for, isolated as
they were, the injunction of the Fath-
er of his Country to ''beware of for-
eign influence " was to them a work
of supererogation, because " foreign
influence " had no special desire to en-
counter the perils of stage-coach nav-
igation on bad mountain-roads to make
itself felt upon the manners and cus-
toms of the citizens of Naples Valley,
N. Y.

Thus it was, that in the year of
grace 1840, when Mr. McKay, an in-
telligent lawyer, determined to plant
a vineyard in that region, he had no
one who had ever seen a vineyard to
give him counsel and advice. Arbor
and garden training on high trellises
were the only methods in vogue in
grape-culture of which he had any
knowledge ; and, in planting an acre
of Isabella vines, he put them in the
ground a rod apart in each direction,
— a system of planting which required
a hundred and sixty vines for the acre.
And, to make sure that his ground
should be rich enough for grapes, he
took advantage of the fact of a drove
of cattle dying in the valley from some
malady, and dug deep pits in the
ground he intended for his vineyard,
in each of which he placed the carcass
of an ox, refuse bones, and leather-

18

The Grape Culturist.

shavings, and over each carcass he
planted a vino I lie made his trellises
seven feet high, and they were soon
completely covered with the vines.
For a time, he gathered good crops, —
once, as much as six tons from the
hundred and sixty vines planted on
that acre of ground. "But, as the roots
grew rank in a soil of such excessive
richness. Nature employed its forces
in endeavoring to restore the equili-
brium between vine and root ; and the
result in later j'ears has been a re-
dundancy of wood and foliage, and but
little fruit.

During subsequent years, as the
methods pursued in other vinej-ards
became known, the wide planting in
the McKa}' vineyard was the subject
of considerable criticism ; and this was
not without its effect upon those who
afterwards established vineyards in
the valley-. And though never toler-
ating the plan of close-planting, yet
the Naples people did lessen the dis-
tances, in many instances, to twelve
feet by twelve. But the example of
high training, however, was followed ;
and the general height of the trellises
is from six to six feet and a half
With the room thus accorded to the
vine to grow, the necessity of summer-
pruning was scarcely ever felt; nor,
indeed, Avas it introduced until a few
years since, when Germans found their
way into the valley, and planted vine-
yards. But the contrast between the
fruiting qualities ot theirs and their
neighbors' vines soon caused them to
discontinue, or to greatly modifj', the
extent to which they practiced that
system of pruning.

In connection with the facts I have
stated, I will add that the vineyards

of Naples Valley, notwithstanding the
excessive rain-fall of the summer, are
to-day more healthy and better loaded
with fruit than any I have seen on an
extended tour thi'ough the vine dis-
tricts of New York State and the
shore of Lake Erie ; and though there
was some rot among the Catawbas,
there was not enough to prevent a fair
crop.

It would seem to those familiar
with the general practice in planting
vineyards, that a distance between the
vines of twelve feet by twelve, requir-
ing but throe hundred and two vines
to the acre, would certainly be suffi-
cient to satisfy the most extreme ad-
vocates of wide planting. But exper-
ience at Naples Valley has shown that
even a greater spread on the trellis
ma}" be necessary to insure the pro-
duction of fruit. It is a common re-
mark among practical vineyard-culti-
vators, that for the rank-growing va-
rieties of grape-vines, like the Isabella,
Catawba, Concord, Diana, and Clinton,
a lean, poor soil is essential ; and that
the use of fertilizers, except in extreme
cases, tends to increase the growth of
wood and foliage, and to diminish the
production of fruit. While, under cer-
tain circumstances, there is a phase of
truth in this statement, j-et facts
which have transpired in Naples Val-
ley have shown, that, under other cir-
cumstances, a very rich soil may be
profitably used in vineyard-culture, if
other prerequisites are at hand.

Some years since, Hon. E. B. Pot-
tle, President of the New-York State
Grape-Growers' Association, found an
Isabelhx vino on his place from which
he had been unable to get any fruit.
With nearly thirty acres of vinos in

Treatment of the American Grape Vine.

19

successful bearing elsewhere, he could
only attribute his want of success with
this to the richness of the soil in which
it grew. Though the vine had a
spread of twelve feet on a high trellis,
the shoots made extravagant growth.
Thinking that this untoward tendency
of the vine in not fruiting might be
owing to its being restricted in the
space it required, he determined to try
the experiment of giving it a spread
of twenty-four feet on the trellis. The
result was like magic. The vine soon
covered the space given it; it was no
longer difficult to be kept under con-
trol ; and, the next season, it produc-
ed a crop of nearl}^ a hundred pounds
of excellent grapes, and has continued
in well-doing ever since.

To still further try the merits of
the S3'stem, he this year took out al-
ternate vines from a certain spot in his
Isabella vineyard where but little fruit
had been produced of late, leaving
each vine twenty-four feet of trellis to
cover; and in this instance the vines
have become largely fruitful. In an-
other case, he allowed the vine to run
twelve feet upon one side of the stem,
but on the other side kept within a
space ot six feet on the trellis. Where
the additional space w^as given the vine,
there will be a yield of about forty
pounds of grapes : on the other side,
there will not be more than ten.

I was shown still another illustration
of the working of this method of wide
planting and high training on a rich
soil. As previously stated, the McKay
vinej^ard has lately borne but little
fruit, by reason of the large amount
of fertilizing material put into the soil
at the time of planting. A.t the sug-
gestion of Mr. Pottle, the present

owner of the property last spring re-
moved alternate vines from certain
rows, leaving the remaining vines
thirty-three feet apart in the rows.
Here the result was the same. Though
the trellis is not yet fullj' covered, the
vines will each yield from a hundred
to two hundred pounds of fine, showy
clusters of gi\apes ; while on the ad-
joining rows, where the vines are but
sixteen feet and a half apart, there
will not be over twenty pounds of in-
difterent fruit to each vine.

If, from the facts I have here pre-
sented, there are any laws to be de-
duced, of practical significance in vine-
yard-culture, they are these : —

1. The normal gi'owth of a grape-
vine is in proportion to the richness of
the soil in which it is j)lanted.

2. When the root has so far increas-
ed in its size as to disturb the relative
proportion which should exist between
it and the vine, it will spend its ener-
gies in endeavoring to restore the
equilibrium by an increased growth of
vine, the efficiency of which will be
seriously impaired for bearing fruit.

3. The distanco to be observed in
planting vines along the line of the
trellis must depend upon the richness
of the soil.

To this system of wide planting and
high training (the result of which, as
presented, are beyond dispute) I have
heard but a single objection or criti-
cism. A gentleman of large exper-
ience as a grape-grower and wine-
maker in this country has asserted to
me that grapes grown on vines thus
treated ai-e inferior in quality tathose
which are grown on vines closely
planted; and that, for use in the man-
ufacture of wine, they are especially

20

Tlie Grape Cidturlst.

defective in not possessing the neces-
sary saccharine properties. As this
is purely a question of fact, it can only
be determined by a practical test; and
arrangements have been made by the
New York State and Lake Shore
Grape-Growers' Association to have
the musts of grapes grown under these
different conditions tested this fall by
the must scale.

But, besides the wide planting and
high training peculiar to the vineyards
of Naples Valley, a resident grape-
grower, Mr. A. J. Byington, has for
many years practiced a system of
pruning peculiar to himself, which, in
connection with wide planting, has
been attended with the most marked
success. As the system is the result
of intelligent study and observation, I
will endeavor to state the theor}' upon
which Mr. Bj-inglon proceeds.

During the season of growth, Na-
ture has pushed out from each bud left
on the vine at pruning a shoot, from
which laterals and even sub-laterals
have in their turn been produced, with
leaves, tendrils, fruit, and buds. Dui*-
ing the autumn, the green wood ripens,
and forms canes : the leaves fall on
the approach of winter, and there re-
mains on the trellis a tangled mass of
wood. The vine above and the root
below ground are supposed to have at-
tained an approximate, if not such an
exact equilibrium as Nature would
dictate. But, if the vine is to give us
its best results, only a small propor-
tion of buds on the wood of the cur-
rent season must be allowed to pro-
duce fruit the next ; and hence, time
out of mind, the practice of pruning
or cutting away more or less of the
ripened Avood has been resorted to.

This has been done either in the au-
tumn, winter, or spring; and either
period has been regarded as appro-
priate, though, in the spring, it has
been held to be important not to post-
pone the operation until the season
becomes so far advanced as to cause
the vines to bleed after pruning. But,
whatever done, the practice has been
to cut away the wood to from two to
four canes if long pruning is practiced,
or to spurs if spur-pruning is the sys-
tem adopted. The result of the oper-
ation is, that the normal balance be-
tween root and vine has not merely
been disturbed, but has been almost
destroyed ; and when dormant vegeta-
ble life awakens in the spring, and a
large unpruned root sends forth its
sap, it finds but few buds where there
should be many ; and, .it once. Nature
sets herself to work to restore the
balance. The shoots grow rank, and
from these laterals push out, and the
vine is difficult to control. With an
abnormal growth, the shoots are nec-
essarily weak, and the weakness of the
shoot is imparted to leaf and fruit-
cluster ; and if, during inflorescence,
there be rains, imperfect fertilization
is much more likely to occur, followed
by blasting of the fruit, or sloughing
of the berries when farther advanced.
And this system, pursued 3'ear after
3'ear, so far disturbs the course of Na-
ture as to leave the vine a ready prey
to disease.

If, then, pruning is essential to vine-
culture, and yet pi'uning as ordinarily
practiced is deti-imental, if not ulti-
mately destructive, to the vine, it fol-
lows that the prevailing systems are
inherently vicious, and that some oth-
er method of pruning must be prac-
ticed to meet the requirements of
grape-culture ; and this brings me to
the system of planting, training, and
pruning adopted by Mr. Bj'ington.
(Tb he cotit hived )

Editors Letter Box.

21

EDITOR'S LETTER BOX.

[Were we to acknowledge the man^'^
expressions of sympathy and appreci-
ation of the Grape Culturist, which
we daily receive, we are afraid our
" Letter Box " would occupy the greater
part of the journal. We take this
occasion to thank all our friends for the
kind interest manifested, and promise
them we shall try to the utmost to make
the Grape Culturist worthy of their
patronage. In the Letter Box, we con-
fine ourselves to answers of inquiries
having a practical bearing on grape
culture and wine making, and hope thus
to serve their interests best. — Ed.]

Walla Walla City, Washtxgtox Teh., 1
November .5, 1^69. ^

Mr. Geo. Husmann :

Dear Sir : I am much interested in
those articles on the trailing culture
of the vine published in the Grape
Culturist. This system, in such a
climate as ours, I believe will possess
some great advantages which I pro-
pose to discuss.

I will say first, however, that in a
climate where rot or mildew is .prev-
alent, such, a system w'ould surel}' be
very disastrous. The first advantage
derived from the sj'stem here would
be the saving of the exj)ense of trel-
lises, as posts and wire are both very
expensive here. Posts are worth ten
cents each and wire twenty cents per
pound. My experience heie has led
me to the practice of allowing my
young shoots to grow out on the
ground during the summer, and fasten
the bearing canes up to a stake two
or three feet high — only sufficient to
keep the grapes from touching the
ground; and I often allow the ends

of the vines to droop over on to the
ground and layer them in June or
early in July, thus making the vines
pay at both ends. And during the fall,
while digging the layered vines, I
find fine bunches of grapes partiallj^
or entirely covered with earth, in
perfect condition, except that those
that are under the ground will not be
properly colored. I find that the
nearer the ground my grapes grow,
the larger they are and the earlier
they ripen ; and occasionally, when
the grapes are exposed to the open
sunshine, they get scalded or cooked;
and, at the same time, I find that
grapes too much shaded do not suc-
ceed well, but are very scattering on
the bunches.

I practice almost entirely the re-
newal system, cutting my vines down
to the ground every fall, and taking
up a new" cane for bearing wood.
Thus, you wdll see, I treat my grape-
vines the same as raspberries or black-
berries ; and I find that all the long
dissertations on the arms, stump,
spurs, and other systems of pruning,
is lopped off and chopped down to a
very simple process with me : it only
being necessary to cut off the old
wood, and take ujj new instead, keep-
ing in mind the -while that as a vine
extends its roots it will, from 3"ear to
year, support more bearing wood, and
accordingly I have more canes, or
longer ones. This, to a novice, is not
ver}' definite instruction as to the
amount of bearing wood ; but he who
raises grapes will soon discover that
such a thing as telling exactly how
much wood to leave is not easily done,

22

7'he Grape Cultnrist.

and that the only correct advice on
this head is to prune "judgmaticall}'."

I have, however, found that all old
countrj' peoi)lc are inclined to prune
too close, and not leave bearing wood
sufficient to consume the energies of
the vine, and, as a result, there will
be an overgrowth of vino, and what
few bunches of grapes do form will be
smothered out, unless you are con-
stantly summer pruning. AVe practice
summer pruning, but not so much as
seems to be the case with you. It
consists principally in regulating the
young shoots intended for bearing
wood the next season, and pinching
the fruit spurs where the shade is
likely to be too dense.

But in my rambling letter I have
ran entirely away from the subject of
the trailing chain culture. My object
was to give you an outline of my sys-
tem of pruning, and you could see
whether, in a climate where such prac-
tices succeed, the trailing culture
would not likel}^ be very advantage-
ous.

]^ow, I will tell you another thing
about grape-raising here. Yines al-
lowed to run on the ground like pump-
kin vines bear the very finest of fruit,
and ripen perfectly and evenly, lying
right on the ground. Why I would
wish to have the vines raised at all
would be to keep the grapes from
gettiug dirty. Yours, respectfully,

A. B. EOBERTS.

[If 3-ou can get along without culti-
vating your vines during the summer,
trailing chain culture may do, other-
wise we see a serious objection in the
necessity of disturbing them during
summer, and "laying back" on the
other row. Yours must be a Lcreat

countr}^ for grapes, and we would
like to see it. — Ed.]

Marion Hill, near Kichmond, Dec. 21, 1869.

Dear Sir : Enclosed please find Sl.OO
for Grape Culturist, for the year 1869.

You have my thanks for the numbers
sent me. I have found them to be of
great and deserving interest, and just
the thing needed by the grape grow-
ing public. I reallj^ hope you will be
able to make it not only a permanent
institution, but a pa3-ing one.

My experience is not yet sufficient
to justify me in urging m}' views of
grape growing upon your readers, or
I might occasionally find leisure to
drop you a line. I am satisfied, how-
ever, of the success of grape growing
and wine making in this section. It
is to become a great business here,
some day.

Dr. Jones, who has a small vine-
yard in my immediate neighborhood,
has fruited the Concord, Ion a, Dela-
ware, Black .Hamburg, Ives seedling,
and Diana, for two years, and, thus
far, no rot or mildew has made its
appearance on any of them, though
the Catawba, fruiting onlv a short
distance off, was bad)}' affected with
them. The doctor regards the lona
as being veiy far sujierior to any other
grape grown b3' him; and, in fact, it
is a veiy fine grape, but I do not think
it will compare witli the Delaware, or
even the Taylor, as wo have it here.

I have now nearly twelve acres in
vinej^ard, most of which will be in
bearing next season, though to tell the
truth, I have not done my vineyard
justice the last year. I have had
politics on the brain, and grape grow-
ing and politics do not consort well,

I^'dito?''s Letter Box.

23

though ivine and politics may. Here
after, I am going to give my "own
business " the pi'eference over that of
the ungrateful public. But enough.
I am rcspectfull}', j-ours etc.,

G. K. Gilmer.
[You must be in a favorable region
for grapes, if Black Hamburg, Diana
and lona succeed there. Please let
us hear from you again. \Ye hope
your vineyards will remunerate you
better than politics. — Editor.]

Beaver, Dec. 24, ISOO.

Mr. Geo. Husmann :

Dear Sir : I wish you to inform me
whether you have any dub rates for
the Grape Culturist, separate from
the one you publish. I wish to get
up a club for the Culturist alone.

I believe I was informed, by a friend
of yours in St. Louis last week^ that
you charged less for clubs. I will
take 3^our valuable monthly for myself
at any price. The information is for
others. I have been in the habit of
pruning my vines at all times during
the winter, when I had an hour to
spare. Do I injure the vines by so
doing, or had I better put oif my prun-
ing until late in the winter, say month
of February ? B}' answering this, j^ou
will oblige Yours respectfully,

M. Darragii.

Beaver C. H., Beaver Co., Peuu., Box 17.

[For our club rates, we refer you
to our advertisement. You can safely
prune your vines during mild spells
in the winter, though we prefer and
recommend fall pruning. — Editor,]

Hamilton, Caldwell Co., Mo., |
December 21, 1869. j

Editors of Grape Culturist :

Enclosed I send you S3. 00, as sub-
scription for the Grape Culturist and
Journal of Agriculture, to commence

with January, 1870. So far I have
read the Grape Culturist with much
pleasure, and wish you success to j'our
undertaking. As you desire to hear
from all your grape-growing friends,
I will give you my experience, so far.

In the fall of 1868 I prepared two
and one-fifth acres, by plowing and
subsoiling, for a vineyard. The land
had been under cultivation about eight
years, and was once partly heavy-tim-
bered and parti}' brush land, yielding
some years as high as 75 to 80 bushels
of corn to the acre. It is sloping some
to the south, and protected in the
north and west by timber, and lays
about 150 feet above Grand river bot-
tom. I planted last spring one acre
of it with two year old Concords, the
balance with Norton's Virginia, Hart-
ford Prolific, and 150 Ives'. I bought
the plants from Henry Michel, St.
Louis, and can recommend that firm.
I planted the vines last April, 6x10
feet, and gave them the best cultiva-
tion during the summer. Most of the
vines made a gi'owth of from 15 to 20
feet, and a few grew as much as 2.3
feet. I pruned back to from 4 to 6
buds in November, and intend to se-
lect 3 of the strongest buds next spring
for new canes^ if you think the strong-
est vines could stand it. Just for cu-
riosity's sake, I let about a half dozen
bunches stand, although a great many
of the vines set as many as 4 to 6
apiece. Those that I let stand ripened
nicely.

Intending to try a few more varie-
ties, I askj'ou the following questions :

1. Will Cynthiana, Goethe and Max-
atawney ripen early enough for me ?

2. Where could I get cuttings of the
Martha, and at what price ?

24

The Grape Gulturist.

Please answer the above questions,
and oblige,

Yours, very respectfully,

Ferdinand Arbenz.

[If your vines have made so strong
a growth, you can safely let them bear
some. The Goethe, Cynthiana and
Maxatawney will ripen anywhere in
the State. For Martha cuttings, we
refer you to our advertisement in the
December number. — Editor.]

scientific enough to say positively. I
call it the " Cumberland."

A. G. WlLLET,

Ml-bkreesbouo, Tens., Dec. 18, 1869.

[Thanks for the plants. They shall
have a fair trial, and we will report
on them in due time. — Editor.]

"Cumberland," — I have a grape vine
which I send you a plant by mail. I
wish you to have it planted, and let
me know what class it belongs to.
(Sent by mail). The fruit is repre-
sented as good ; foliage something like
Scuppernong; plant stout but scrub-
by, would require no stakes ; hardy
here; roots freely from cuttings.
Young wood roots at every joint if
merely left on the ground. Native
of banks and islands of Tennessee and
Cumberland rivers, but scarce. It is
to all appearances entirely different
from any other species, but I am not

Lexington, Mo., Dec. 33, 18*>9.

George Husmann, Esq.:

I adopted your plan of covering
some of my vines, by throwing dirt
with a spade. Last November I cov-
ered Allen's Hybrid, Ontario, Clara
and Herbemont. In the spring, when
I uncovered them, I found them nearly
all dead oxcept the roots. The Her-
bemont was cut back before covering.
About one-half of the tip end was dead
when raised in the spring.
Yours truly,

E. W. Bedford.

[Perhaps your vines were injured
by frost before covering. We have
never had the ej'es rot in winter, but
always covered before a severe Irost,
— Editor.]

OTPIELLO. (Arnold's Hybrid No. 1.)
A hybrid between the Clinton and j from Canada to our State.

Black Hamburg, raised by Charles Ar-
nold. Described in American Horti-
cultural Annual for 1868, as follows:
" Bunch and berry very large, much re-
sembling the Black Hamburg in appear-
ance. Color, black, with a fine bloom.
Skin thin ; the flesh very solid, but not
pulpy ; flavor pure and sprightl}^, but in
the specimens we have seen, rather acid.
Ripening with Delaware."

We have seen the grape but once, in
fall of 18G8, and then in a very dilapi-
dated condition, as it had been gathered
some three weeks previous, and suf-
fered a good deal from transportation

Wc thought
the flavor then rather flat and tame, com-
pared with the other hybrids of Mr. Ar-
nold. AYe have seen the plants grow
only the last summer ; they mildewed
slightly, but recovered after the rainy
weather had ceased, and made a satis-
factory growth. Should it prove heal-
thy, productive, and of as good qualitj'
as claimed for it, it will be a valuable
market fruit, on account of its large
bunch and berry ; and we would advise
those who cultivate grapes with a view
to marketing, to try it on a limited
scale. Editor.

2t)

7he Grape Culturist.

THE CAROLINE GEAPE.

G. HusMANN, Esq.,

Dear Sir: — I see by December num-
ber of Grape Culturist that our mu-
tual friend, Samuel Miller, Esq., has
discovered that " some new things
have turned out to be old ones ;" thus
getting old grapes under new names.
Just so. I too have received many a
new grape, represented as of extraor-
dinary qualit}', and after years of care
have found them transformed into
some well known old variet3^ In this
way I have received some six or eight
Isabellas, three or four Catawbas, be-
sides fox and frost grapes not counted.
But as I am simply an amateur, I find
a pleasure nevertheless in thus testing
all the said to he new grapes. 'Tis
said ''farmers like to be humbugged,"
and it seems horticulturists are no ex-
ception.

So Mr. Miller says "the Caroline
has proved to be the Concord." May
not friend Miller have had his cuttings
of Caroline mixed with Concord ?
Accidents will happen in the best
regulated families.

The grape I have for Caroline, and
of which Mr. Miller got wood some
years ago, is certainly not Concord.
It is true the general appearance of
the vine and fruit, its freedom from
disease, health, vigor, &c., resembles
the Concord verj' much ; but still
there is a difference, that any good
judge of grapes will notice at a glance.
In this case, we might almost say
" there's a distinction without a differ-
ence." But to describe the difference
so as to be understood is beyond my
command of words. I received the
Caroline from a friend in Cambridge,

near Boston, Mass. He stated that
the gentleman from whom he got the
cuttings found tlie plant in the woods,
and removed it to his garden. The
plant with me has never been touched
by mildew or any disease. The fruit
always ripens perfectly. In quality
it is fully equal to Concord.
Eespecifully,

J, B. Garber.

COLUMHIA, LANCAtiTER Co , Pa.. }

December -i-.', isiii). )

[We are glad to hear from our vet-
eran friend, and welcome him to the
ranks of our contributors, hoping that
he will often favor us with his views^
as he is one of the oldest grape grow-
ers in the country, and no one has a
better right than he to " talk and
Avrite grapes." But in this case we
must side with our friend Miller. We
have not been able to see a)iy differ-
ence between the Concord and Caro-
line ; and as friend Garber himself ad-
mits that the difference is very slight,
and does not say that it possesses any
quality superior to Concord, we can
not see that the grape growing public
would be benefitted by its introduc-
tion. If may do for amateurs, like
friend Garber, who test it for the mere
curiosity and love of the thing ; but
we can see no practical benefit in it
for those Avho raise the grape for
•profit^ even if we grant that it is a dis-
tinct variety. It is useless to swell
our already large list of varieties still
more, unless we can add something
which is in some respect vastly supe-
rior to anj-thing we have at present ;
and we can not see that we have such
a grape in the Caroline. — Editor.]

Air 'Treatment^-- Club Bates.

AlE TEEATMENT.

Geo. Husmann, Esq. :

Dear Sir: — In your December num-
ber, page 369, your correspondent D.
W. T., on "air treatment," no doubt
unintentionally errs, if he states the
cost of apparatus to be $200 ; for $25
pays for pump, block tin pipe, and
hose, to work wine in casks of 40 to
100 gallons. Larger pumps, etc., to
operate on must, cider, etc., in tanks
or casks of any size, to make 20 to
40,000 gallons per month, cost only
§45. Such apparatus are at present
furnished by the patentee, to ensure
their proper construction, and to save
vexation, time and money to those
first using the process, though he don't
deal in the ai*ticles. For no ajjparu-
tus of a certain construction is pat-
ented, but only the mode to ferment,
germinate, purify or improve, by cur-
rents of air — or other gases — which
the patentee recommends to employ,
for fermentation in a divided state, to
ensure success. An air pump admits
the use of pure air from without; the
block tin pipe, bent to suit, with fine

perforations for some length, the ter-
mination stopped, has as yet been
found most convenient to introduce
and remove by the bung-hole of a
cask, is cheap and expeditious to han-
dle— more so than D. W. T.'s pro-
posed arrangement, begging his par-
don ; faucets to each cask will be
found objectionable. Any informa-
tion on the subject is cheerfully and
freely given by the patentee to all ap-
plicants : as well to those employing
the process free for family use, as to
manufacturing parties charged; for he
wishes to have it fully understood and
intelligentl_y used, when the process
can not fail to give favorable re-
sults.

Yours very truly,

E. d'Heureuse,

Xf.w Yohk, Dec. 23, 1809 P. O. Bos 6844.

[We hope to hear from Mr. D'Heur-
euse again, and that he will more fully
explain the advantages derived from
his method, as well as its proper ap-
plication.— Editor.]

By special agreement with the publishers, we are enabled to club the Grape
(Jllturist with the following journals, at the an))exed rates:

Grape Culturist and Journal of Agriculture $3 00

" " American Entomologist 3 00

" " Colman's Kural World 3 00

" " Horticulturist 3 50

" " Zymotechnic News (English and German) 2 25

To those sending- us the iiamcs and post ofiice address of six subscribers, we
we will furnish the sixth copy/ree.

Vol. I. will still be furnished at the reduced rate of $1, comxtlete. To those
who desire it bound, we will furnish it bound in muslin, with index and title page,
at $2.25, post paid; or they can be supplied with the cover at $1.00 each.

28 Grape Oulturist Adoertislng Sheet.

Cash Advertising Terms for 1870.

TWENTY CENTS PER LINE, AGATE TYPE, EACH INSERTION.

Cover Pages Twenty-Five Cents per Line.
BUSINESS CARDS, FIVE TO SIX LINES EACH, $15 TER ANNUM.

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUIT,

Warranted Genuine and of Superior Quality, in Large Quantities, at

Reduced Rates.

CONCOKt) per 10, 000 $250 00 MAKTIIA, extra strong per 100 $ 75 0«

" per o.OOO 125.00 CYNTHIANA, " pir 1(10 100.09

" per 1,000 35.00 IVES " per], 000 50.00

HARTFORD PROL per 1,000 45 00 " " per KM) GOO

" " per 100 6.00 RULAKDER '• per 100 30.00

For prices of all other Varietie.s, we refer to our PRICE LIST {gratis), and to our new ILLUS-
TRATED DESCBIPTIVE CATALOGUE, containing valualjleinformat ion on grapes and grape
culture, whicli will be mailed, free of jio.stage, to any aildress, on receipt of 25 cents.

A GERMAN EI>nTON of same, by Fr. Muench, price 25 cents (less than cost), has just beea
published . Please address

ISIDOR BUSH & SON, Bushberg, Jefferson Co., Mo.

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUITS.
[Nursery Established in 1857.]

A splendid stock of Vines and Plants are ofTered the coming Fall and Si)ring,
including nearly every variety known to be of valnc. The popnlar and white Grape

3fAR Til A, OR {WHITE CONCORD,)

In large or small quantities. Also, Arnold's new Hybrids, Eumelan, Walter, AVee-
hawken, Christine, Ilinc, and all valuable numbers of Rog rs' Hybrids; also,
Delaware, lona, Israella, Concord, Hartford, Ives, Norton's Virginia, etc., etc., in
all about one hundred distinct varieties.

Kittatiuny Blackberries and Clarke Raspberries in large quantities, Juciinda
and Charles Downing Strawberries, Downing's Seedling Gooseberries, Cherry,
Versailles, White Grape, and Black Naples Currants, etc., etc.

Send stamps for Ulusti-ated Catalogue and Price Lists to

OEO, W. CA31PBELL, Delaware, Ohio.

Grape Vines, Strawberry Plants, Raspberry, Blackberry & Gooseberry.

Also, a few Peach and Cherry Trees, the linest growtli-:. Particul ir attention
will be paid to small orders of phmts to be sent by mail. For sale by

SA:?HJKI> :TIIL,IiER, Bliiftton, Mo.

Grape Caltttrist Advertising Sheeet.

A MONTHLY JOURNAL

roR.

ALL BRANCHES OF FERMENTIC ARTS:

MANUFACTURING OF

Wine, Beer, Spirits, Vinegar and Yeast.

The '' Zymotechnic Neavs" will give a detailed record and discussion of all
improvements which obtain publicity, both in the Old and New World. The
more important ones of these improvements will be subjected to the most care-
ful tests in the chemical laboratories and technic establishments, amply at the
editor's disposal, and the results thus gained will also form part of the commu-
nications of the " Ztjiotechnic News."

The " Zymoteciixic News " will appear both in ENGLISH and GERMAN,
and the yearly subscription for each one of the two editions is but 81 in advance.

ONLY ONE DOLLAR A YEAR !

All Business Men standing in any practical relations to Z3-motechuic Pursuits,
more particularly

PRODUCERS OP WINE, BREWERS, DISTILLERS, RECTIFIERS,

WINE AND LIQUOR DEALERS, VINEGAR AND YEAST

MANUFACTURERS,

Ought to subscribe for a copy of the "Zymotechnic Neavs" in order to rest
assured that nothing new in the technical appliances of their pursuit will escape
their notice. If but once in a while a single item of interest and value to them-
selves has been made available, the small expense of $1 a 3'ear will have possi-
bly been repaid a hundred-fold in a short time.

All letters and remittances are to be directed to the undersigned.

N. B. Correspondence conducted in English, French and German.

(P. O. Box 2,742.)

St. Louis, Mo., December, 1869.

CHAS. H. FRINGS, Editor,

202 SOUTH FOUKTH STREET.

Grape Cidturist Advertising Sheet.

c3rJEtj^:E^:Hi viisrEsi

The Bluffton Wine Company

Offer a large stock of thrifty, finely rooted GRAPE VINES of all valuable antl
popular varieties, together with all novelties in this line.

Descriptive priced Catalogues sent to any address on application to

WILLIAM WESSELHOFT, Secretary,

BlufftoUf llissoiiri.

COOPER,

1618 Jaclxson street^ St. LouiSf 31issoui'l,

Oflers his services to Wine Dealers, as manufacturer of all kinds of casks, fer-
menting vats and cellar apparatus. He guarantees satisftictory work and lowest
prices. Refers to some of the principal wine dealers in the State of Missouri, for
whom he has made casks and vats for a number of years, and especially to the
Bluffton Wine Company, No. 22 South Main street, where casks and vats of his
manufacture can be seen by those interested in the business.

^ 3E1. j^L. ]E^ 3^ "^^W O Q> 30> I

TTTENTY KZIISTDS! *

Immense Stock, especially of

Concord, Ives, Delaware, Hartford, lona, Catawba, Isabella,
Clinton, Rogers' Nos. 4, 15 and 19, etc.

Cut from Bearing Vines before hard freezing, and stored in frost-proof Cellars.

Very Low for Cash. Price List Gratis.

ALSO, LEADING VAEIETIES OF GEAPE EOOT IN STOEE.
Can ship South safely at any time.

31. H. LEWIS, Sandusky, Ohio.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

GRAPE WOOD

FOR

Grafting or Propagating.

CYNTHIANA $ 5 00 per 100 $35 00 per i ,000

HERMANN 1000 " 75 00 "

MARTHA 300 " 2500 "

DEVEREAUX 3 50 "

RULANDER 2 50 ^' 20 00 "

LOUISIANA 3 50 " 20 00

MAXATAWNEY i co " S 00

TELEGRAPH 100 " S 00 "

CASSADY 75cts. " 600 "

CREVELING 75 " " 600

GOETHE 75 " " 600 "

lONA 75 " " 600 "

ISRAELLA 75 " " 600 "

LINDLEY, (Rogers' 9) 15 ''' '' 600 "

MASSASOIT, (Rogers' 3) IS '' '' 6 00

MERRIMACK, (Rogers' 19) 15'' '' 600 "

NORTH CAROLINA SEEDLING. 75 " '^ 600

ROGERS' HYBRIDS, Nos. 2, 8, 12. 75 " " 600 "

SALEM 15'''' 600 "

WILDER, (Rogers' 4) 75 " " 600 "

Herbemont, Cunningham, Delaware, Hartford and Ives Cut-
tings, at Special Hates.

WE HAVE A LIMITED QUANTITY OF

WOOD FROM BEARING VINES,

From our former Vineyards at Hermann^ for Sale.

All who wish to try them, will be furnished at the above rates, by addressing.
Small packages will be sent by mail, post paid.

GEORGE HUSMANN,

BLUFFTON, MO.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

c3rTtJi^ip:Hi "^iisrES-

ISIDOR BUSH & SON

TNVITE THOSE IN AVANT OF

GRAPE VINES FOR PLANTING IN THE FALL

To examine their superior stock of plants, which will be furnisJied in lai'i^e quantities, at
the lowest market prices.

Our New Illustrated Descriptive Catalogue,

Containing valuable information on grape culture, will be issued in a few days, and
mailed to all applicants upon receiving 25 cents.
Price Lists gratis. Address —

ISIDOR BUSH 6i SOH^

Bushberg, Mo.

PUBLISHED ^ND FOR S-ALE

BY

COIsTRA^D T\^ITTER,

ST. LOUIS, MO.

MuENCH, Frederick, School for American Grape Culture. Brief but thorough

guide to the laying out of vineyards, the treatment of vines and the production

of wine in North America.
MuENCn, F., Amerikanische Weinbauschnle und Weinbereitungsleh7'e, etc.

Either one of these books will be mailed free of postage on receipt of one dollar.
HusMANN, George, 2Vie Cultivation of the Native Grape and Manufacture of

American Wines.

On the receipt of $1 50 this book will be mailed to any address.
Schmidt, J. A., The Diseases of Wine, how to prevent and how to cure them,

according to the doctrines of M. Pasteur.

This book will be sent, free of postage, on receipt of $2.

C. WITTER keeps a large assortment of books treating on the Culture ot
Grapes and Manufacture of Wines.

Catalogues sent on application. Please address letters,

CONRAD WITTER,

122 S. E. corner Walnut and Second Sts., St. Louis,

J

THE

GRAPE CULTURIST.

Vol. II.

FEBRUAEY, 1870.

No. 2.

THK WJJ.ILL „LAPE (Rogers' Hybrid No. 4.)

30

The Grape Culturist.

THE WILDEE GEAPE (Eoger's Hybrid No. 4).

Of all the many hybrids grown by
Mr. Eogers, there is none, perhaps,
more generally disseminated and
appreciated than this. And as a
table and market grape, it fully de-
serves it. We know of no black grape
which is better qualified than this to
rule the market, while the vine seems
to be cosmopolitan in its habits, and
as it also ripens eai'ly enough for the
North and Northeast, we think it de-
serves to be generally planted. The
cut which we have chosen for our il-
lustration, we consider a perfect re-
presentation of a viedium sized bunch,
although it is often cited as an illus-
tration ol Agawam, or Eogors 15.
We have often seen larger bunches,
however.

Originated with Mr. Eogers, of
Salem, Mass., a hybrid of Black Ham-
burg and the wild Fox grape, and

named by him in honor of that vete-
ran pomologist, Marshall P. Wilder.

Bunch, medium to large ; shouldered
moderately compact; berry very large,
round, black, with fine bloom ; flesh
tender, sweet, very juicy and luscious,
of very good though not strong flavor;
skin thin, hangs well to the bunch.
Of all large berried healthy varieties,
we think this decidedly the best in
quality for table and market, while
its handsome appearance and good
keejiing will insure it a ready sale.
Eipens with the Concord ; vine a
vigorous, handsome grower ; produc-
tive and healthy, which seems to suc-
ceed almost anywhere.

For wine, we do not think it as de-
sirable as Goethe, but think it will
make a wine of at least fair quality.

Editor.

FEBEUAEY.

WORK FOR THE MONTH.

February is, for us here, one of the
most changeable months of the season,
and generally we can not do much in
the ground yet. For our Southern
brethren we suppose this and the fol-
lowing are the months for planting
and preparing the ground. In regard
to this, we will give a few rules,which
we think should have due considera-
tion, in a separate article.

Pruning may still be continued if
not finished, as it should be, in the
fall. In the South, we suppose put-

ting in cuttings will be in order, and
it may oven be done here, if the frost
is out of the ground. For these,
choose a rich and deep piece of soil,
thoroughly pulverized by repeated
deep plowings, which should have
been done in Fall. Harrow and level
well, then stretch a line along its
whole length, and if your cuttings are
nine inches long, take a spade and
open a cut with it along the line, open-
ing the cut above by moving the
spade backwards and forwards. Now

Preparation of the Soil for Vineyards.

31

push down the cutting so that the
upper bud is even with the surface
of the soil. Then press the earth
firmly against the cuttings with your
foot. We plant them about an inch
apart in the row, and the rows three
to four feet, so as to admit of easy
cultivation with a plow and cultiva-
tor. If you have plenty of material
for mulching at hand, such as old saw
dust, spent tan or leaves, it will be
found of great advantage.

Trellis may also be erected during
this month, but do not perform any
of those operations unless the ground
be dry enough. It is highly injurious
to the soil to work in the vineyard
when wet, as it will cause the soil lo
bake.

Grafting the vine may also be done
during mild weather, and we think
the generality of our readers will have
better success with the old cleft graft-

ing than with any other method.
Dig away the ground from the vine
you wish to graft, then pick a smooth
place, at least one inch below the sur-
face, cutting the stock there with
either a sharp knife or shears, and
then split the stock as in common
cleft grafting. Cut the wedge on your
scion rather long, or better still with a
shoulder on both sides. If the stock is
strong enough to hold the scion firm-
ly, no tying is necessary, but small
stocks may be tied with bass wood
bark or woolen thread, wound firmly
around the whole length of the cut-
No grafting wax is needed, but the
moist earth should be firmly pressed
around the cut, and the whole scion
covered with sawdust or tan bark.
The scion need not be longer than
one to two buds, and we prefer medium
sized wood for them.

PREPARATION OF THE SOIL FOR VINEYARDS.

When we commenced grape grow-
ing, about twenty years ago, it was
thought indispensable by vintners to
trench the soil with the spade, to the
depth of from tvventy inches to three
feet, inverting the soil, bringing the
subsoil on toj), and burying the surface
soil below. This was not alone a very
laborious and costly operation, but also
made laboring in the vineyard during
wets[)ells in summer entirely impracti-
cable, as the clay subsoil brought to the
surface would stick to the feet, and
clog. The rich surface soil would thus
be buried underneath, away from the
influence of sun and air, and the vine

forced by deep planting — say fifteen
inches, at least — to root in it instead of
nearer the surface.

This seemed to us perverting the
nature of the vine, the most sun-loving
of all our fruits, and set us to flunking ;
and after a good deal of thought, and
observation, we arrived at the conclu-
sion that the system was altogether
wrong, and injurious instead of bene-
cial to the health and longevity' of the
vine. When we observed the wild vines
of our forests, we found that the}^ in-
variably rooted near the surface ; j'et
we found among them veterans which
had climbed to the tops of the tallest

32

The Grape Culturist.

trees, were over six inches in diameter,
and yet showed no signs of decay, but
looked as if the}' could live and flour-
ish for centuries to come. We could
see no reason why it should be consid-
ered injurious to nearly every other
fruit tree, to plant it deep, and the con-
trary should be the case with the vine :
even to such an extent that the so-
called "dew roots," or surface roots,
should be closely cut away each spring.
We experimented first with the latter
practice, by abandoning it on some
rows in the vineyard, and found no dif-
ference in the health of the fruity while
we remarked a wonderful increase of
vigor and health in favor of the vines
not root-pruned. We then set to work
in earnest to extend our theory also to
the preparation of the soil, and the
planting of the vines ; and, to begin at
the beginning, we made the cuttings
from which we grew our plants nine to
twelve inches long, instead of fifteen
to eighteen, as the old practice taught.
The result was magical. We found
that the lower bud of our short cut-
tings threw out numerous strong and
substantial roots, instead of the thin
slim roots distributed over every joint
on the long cuttings ; and the short
cuttings made double the growth of
wood of the long ones.

Next came the preparation of the
soil. We had a piece of wild forest
land to prepare, in the spring of 1861.
We had this carefully grubbed, all the
trees and stumps taken out, and then
bought a strong breaking plow, adapted
to the purpose, with a strong straight
colter to cut the roots. To this we
put three pair of strong oxen, and
plowed with it as deep as we could —
say a foot — keeping a couple of men

with axe and grubbing hoe ready to
cut such roots as the team was not able
to break. This was 'Allowed with a
Moline subsoil stirrer, vhich is nothing
but a flat, thick, somewhat triangular
share, running at the bottom of the
furrow, a strong colter in front to cut
the roots, and an adjustable wheel to
regulate depth ; to which two pair of
oxen were attached, and which only
loosened the soil, without turning it or
bringing it to the surface. Thus we
could loosen the soil at an average
about eighteen inches, and the whole la-
bor, harrowing and gathering the roots
included, cost us about 825 per acre,
instead of 880 to 8120, which we would
have had to pay for trenching with the
spade.

Our old vintners, of European expe-
rience, shook their heads at the " foolish
innovator," as they were pleased to call
us, and prophecied a speedy decrease
of vigor of the vines, and their failure
in a few years. It was unheard of to
them : their fathers, and their grand-
fathers before them, had always
trenched, planted deep, and cut dew
roots ; and when, instead of fifteen
inches, we planted our vines but nine
to ten inches, it could not succeed, but
must fail very soon. But we are happy
to saj^, their prophecies are not fulfilled.
The vineyard thus planted, now nine
years old, has not only produced more
and heavier crops than almost every
other one in the neighborhood, but
shows no decrease of vigor ; and some-
thing like four thousand gallons of wine
were made from the original three acres
thus prepared last fall . Nay, it has led
most of the vintners of the neighbor-
hood to follow the pernicious example
thus given, and now the spade is sel-

Notes on " Causes of Failures in Grape Growing."

33

dom used in the preparation of vine-
j'ards, except in very tough clay or
stony soil, where the plow cannot be
used. And a further benefit, and a
ver}^ important one, resulted fi'om it :
in wet seasons we could summer prune
and tie, whenever there was a day of
fine weather between the showers, in-
stead of wading in the mud as our
neighbors had to do, which enabled us to
perform these important operations at
the proper time, and to keep well " up
with our work."

Having demonstrated by actual ex-
perience that " our method" is a success,
WG would recapitulate a few conditions
of success :

1. Have your ground well cleared
of all unnecessary'^ incumbrances, as
stumps, trees, stones, etc., to enable
you to plow thoroughly and well.

2. Stir your soil thoroughly, and to
a uniform depth, so that the roots can
penetrate at their pleasure, and not

" seek it under difficulties." This will
also, in a measure, drain it. If you
can plow in fall so much the better, as
the action of the frost will make it
loose and friable. But leave it in its
natural position. Of course, locations
with very tough clay subsoil can not
well be prepared with the plough ; but
we doubt whether they are well adapted
to the culture of the grape, even when
thoroughly trenched.

3. Plant the right kind of plants —
strong, well-rooted one year old are the
best ; and do not plant deeper than nine
to twelve inches, spreading the roots
well.

4. Cultivate thoroughly afterwards.
Do not think you have performed your
part when you have planted well, and
your vines can now take care of them-
selves. If you have done all this, and
your location is a good one, you may
be confident of success.

Editor.

NOTES ON ^^ CAUSES OF FAILTJEES IN GEAPE GROWING.'

Mr. Editor:

Our mutual friend G. G. (in the
December number of the Grape Cul-
turist) "ventilates" a part of mj' essay
under the above title, and gives vent
to his indignation at my warning ex-
ample, Mr. S., who had spent ten thou-
sand dollars without coming near
reaching success, and therefore, in
his opinion ''knew just enough to
hitch the horse behind the car."

Although I had simply and clearly
endeavored to show that the mere
cost "per acre," of prepai-ing the
ground, planting, trellissing, etc., of

a vineyard, does not form a sufficient
basis of calculation for the capital re-
quired, "unless you have already paid
for the land, built your house, made
your fences, etc. ; although I had
quite distinctly endeavored to warn
"persons accustomed to different
pursuits " who have heard that grape-
growing was "a, pleasant and profit-
able business" and may go into it
" with high expectations -/' although
I had expressly stated in my remarks
on this subject, that " experienced
farmers; men who are used to rough it,
who do most of the work themselves,

34

The Grape Culturist,

etc., could get along with considerable
less outlay," fi'iend G. G., neverthe-
less says : " In conformity with the
opinion of Mr. Bush, ten thousand
dollai's are not an adequate capital;
how much, then, is enough to begin
with?"

I answer, "to begin with" it requires
very little, but to carry grape-grow-
ing to successful result, it requires
much indeed, far more than men
usually calculate, my practical friend
G. G., not excepted.

I had also justly apprehended that

the expenses of my friend S" , as

stated in the accounts furnished,
{Grape Culturist, Sept., 1869, pages
273, 274), may seem too large to other
farmers, especially to those who do
not keep accounts ; and Mr. G. G. has
only furnished the proof. A word
about those accounts may perhaps be
useful, even to such practical, prudent
and economical men as mj' friend,
G. G.

He need not have confessed that he
did not scrutinize said account of ex-
penses very closely ; the fact that he
wonders how the wide range which is
allowed for " fare to town and inci-
dental expenses," can bo compatible
with close economy — when this very
account shows that the entire cost of liv-
ing, the household expenses for three
years, 1866, 1867 and 1868, including
supplies, clothing, books and papers,
besides tare to town and other in-
cidental expenses amounted to $i925,
or to about $650 per 3'ear, — proves
that he has, indeed, not been very par-
ticular in scrutinizing said accounts.

Is it still a mystery to friend G.,

how Mr. S , with his wife, and who

formerly used to live in the city, could

even with proper economical manage-
ment spend that amount ?

Had friend G. scrutinized more
closely before he attempted to ven-
tilate, he would have calculated that
two hands for three ^ears at 830 per
month (including Ijoard) come to
^2160, and that the amounts noted by

S for clearing and all vineyard

labor does not exceed two thirds of
that amount ; and he would then not
have asked : "Are these amounts to
be included in the wages of the regu-
lar hands or have they been paid for
extra labor ? " They arc not only all
included in these wages, but nearly
one third of them form part of the
amounts noted as expenses under the
various other accounts.

ISTor can Mr. G., have built and
kept account of the cost, especially in
the years 1866 — 1868, if he supposes
that " a stable sufficiently largo for
his small stock with room enough
above for storing of fodder, etc.,
would not have cost over $200."

Those who do not merely note
their expenses, but keep book and
projierly distribute or classify their
expenses and charge each to its pro-
per account will better understand

the statement of Mr. S , and will

scared}' charge him with extrava-
gance.

Those who calculate the cost of
vinej'ards ]jer acre, make an allow-
ance for the labor required just so far
only as the planting and the cultiva-
ting may necessarily engage your
time or that of j^our hands. But you
hire your regular hands by the month
if not by the 3'ear, and 3'ou have to
pay and board them even if there be,
for short intervals, no work to be

The Scuppemong Grape and Its Wine.

35

done in your vine3'ard; there arc daj's
of rain; you set one hand for a day
at sharpening tools, etc.; there is a
dollar to be charged to tool's account,
the other j'ou send to the blacksmith,
to shoo 3-our horse, to repair 3-our
wagon or plow: there is another dol-
lar to be charged to either stock or
tools; you avail 3'ourself of a time
when the ground is too wet to be
worked in the vineyard, and set your
two hands and yourself to make a
convenient road from the grape hill
down to your house ; friend G. will
certainly find this verj^ prudent, but
having no idea of keeping account, as

Mr. S does, who charges the

wages for those days to Roads and
General Improvement account, he
wonders at the amount spent for
roads, which bethinks '^ would have
more prudently been postponed until
there was a shoAv for revenue."

That men like friend G, are ^better
fitted to start a vineyard from the
woods than friend S , I never dis-
puted, I have so stated in my essay;
but to one man like Mr. G. we find a

dozen like ]\Ir. S , and men by far

less fit than he was, to start a vine-
yai'd, with too high expectations
of future profits, with too low esti-
mates of the cost ; both not unfre-
quently based on the writings of such
eminent and enthusiastic grape-grow-
ers, but poor calculators, as I had
quoted in my article (Grape Cultu-
RisT, Sept., 1869.) And while it is
for ni}^ own interest, as a propagator
of grape vines, to encourage men in
grape-growing, 1 feel it a duty to
warn the inexperienced of the dangers
of failure ; and my pecuniary interest
cannot deter jne from doing it.

IsiDOR Bush.

THE SCUPPERNOXG GRAPE AXD ITS WINE.

Editor Grape Culturist :

Sir — I beg the favor of a reply to
your strictures on my article publish-
ed in your valuable journal, in Octo-
ber number, which I did not receive
until last w^eek. I fear injustice will
be done our favorite, the Scuppei"nong,
without it.

Your complaint of the length of
my article is just. The article was
intended more for a general than a
tabular statement, and it seemedi dif-
ficult to do the subject justice in a
shorter one. Perhaps I should fall a
snake or so (not more) in " the half
mile scent."

It is apparent from the article, 1st,
That grape culture and wine making
ai-e in their infancy here; and 2d;
That from the small quantity of grapes
and the number of birds and pillagers
we were compelled to gather our
grapes too soon. Such, of course,
will require sugaring. Much allowance
should be made.

You say I have very little concep-
tion of true wine, if I think one and
one-fourth pounds to the gallon must
be very little, what Avould you say to
two pounds ?

Nature, as you will concede, seldom
i produces a strictly normal wine.

36

The Grape Culturist,

Hence saccharoraeter, acidimeter and
gallizing. Things not unknown at Her-
mann in your time, and I presume at
Bluffton now. Mr. Ilusmann, in his
book on "The Cultivation of Native
Grapes and Wine/' says: (page 169.)
"After my purchasers have tasted
my wines they generally, with very
few exceptions, choose those which
either have been gallized in pai't, or
entirely." Having read that book
(with great pleasure) on that subject I
am a little surprised, after so much is
there said and quoted in favor of it
from Dr. Gall, at being pitched into so
roughly, because I put sugar in at the
first, without the water.

As we approach the warm equato-
rial regions, fruits and flowers increase
in the richness of their taste and hues,
and vice versa, as we go toward the
poles. By this, nature engenders and
fosters a diff'erent taste in the inhabi-
tants of Northern and Southern coun-
tries. Thus the people of Italy and
France love sweet wines, champagne,
etc., whilst the more northern Ger-
mans luxuriate in sour wines and lager
beer. The people of the southern
States ridicule the northern taste for
sour and weak wines, and they ours
for sweet wines with great body. You
place the Delaware at the head of your
list for sweetness, we the Scuppernong
as tii'st, and the Delaware as second.

You say the perfume I ascribe to the
Scuppernong is "too much of a good
thing, deeidedl3\" There are some
perfumes which are sickening, some
feminine,but others which seem divine.
Of this latter character is that of the
Scuppernong. It never clogs nor tires.
I never met but one man who was
not fond of it.

On the subject of fermenting, you
are a little severe. There are G*^ of
latitude between 3'our place and mine.
Your Summers are consequently
shorter, and most of your gi-apes
ripen in August and September. Our
Summer grapes, (vinifera festivales)
ripen in June and July, and will
not remain on the vines, and
August and September are our hottest
months. Without great body it can
not, during that time, resist acetic fer-
mentation. Mr. II. (page 141), says
the temperature of the fermenting
cellar should be 60^. Others say 80°.
And all agree, after fermentation, wine
should be kept in a cellar of 45*^. The
temperature of my cellar in Summer,
though seven feet deep, protected by
my residence and a dense shade,
ranges from 62° to 75°. I have no
remedy but to give my wines greater
body. To do this we must use sugar
or spirits. The sugar we have in its
purity, and prefer to use it to gallized
whisky or brandy. Our people have
been accustomed to the highly spiritu-
alized and sweet wines of Europe, and
such is agreeable to them.

The difference in the tastes of your
section relishing weak and sour wines,
and that of our relishing sweet wines
with great body, will, in all proba-
bility, exclude our wines from your
markets, and yours from ours for all
time. The two sections will scarcely'
be rivals.

You say, "few people can wait eight
or ten years for a crop, and yours
scarcely three." This is apparently a
home thrust. We have been in the
practice of setting our vines thirty to
thirty-two feet each way, and it takes
the vines eight to ten years to cover

The Scuppernong Grape and Its Wine.

37

this space, when the vines come to their
greatest bearing. But we, by way of
cultivating them, raise corn, cotton,
and potatoes, in the spaces for the first
years, which compensates, in a great
measure. There is another phxn which
I have frequentl}' suggested, and
which should be followed when we
follow nothing else, viz : plant 3'our
vines ten by twelve feet, and thin out
as they spread to crowd each other. I
have cultivated the Bunch Grape and
Scuppernong, and speak oxperimental-
l}', that at three years old the vines of
the latter will produce as manj^ berries,
vine for vine, as the former, whilst
every year after the quantity increases
in favor of the Scuppernong, with
which we have no failures nor prun-
ing. Dr. McII., who lives sixteen
miles from me, made forty gallons of
wine this last fall from one vine
twenty years old, and that after the
family had had free access to it for a
week or two.

We may be deluded, but we think
the Scuppernong a Divine Gift —

' ' Sent in the night-time ol sorrow and care
To bring back the joy which the South used to
wear. ' '

John H. Carlton.

Eldorado, December 18, 1869.

[We publish your article in full, as we
wish to give every one a "fair chance''
to explain his views, but shall make
our remarks very short and concise.
We gather from your former commu-
nication that you added one and one-
fourth pounds of sugar to each gallon
of Scuppernong must. This quantity
dissolved in Avater would make 50* on
Oeschle's scale ; consequently, if the
Scuppernong is so very sweet, as you
assert, it would not be presuming too
much to think that its must would

range as high as 80° average weight
of fair Catawba. Add to this 50°
would make the must range 130°. Now
it is Avell known to all wine makers
that a must ranging higher than 125°
can not, by fermentation, convert all
its sugar into alcohol, consequently
must remain sweet. This would be
exactly your case, and unless your
Scuppernong must contained very
little sugar originally, it must remain
sweet, or rather, cordial instead of
wine. Now, although we practice and
still advise the addition of water and
sugar, when necessary^ to the must, if
done in a rational and scientific man-
ner, yet this would be too much of a
good thing, and we say two pounds
is a great deal too much. There is a
wide difference between a rational
practice and an irrational one, and
there is a limit to all things. The
two cases you allude to, and the prac.
tice followed, is not at all similar. We
had no intention of " pitching in," and
will gladly leave you to follow your
practice, if you think it is perfect, but
you should also allow us to give our
views about it, and not feel offended if
we can not concur with you.

You are certainly mistaken if you
think the French people fond of sweet
wines. They consume mostly red^
astringent wines; so do the people of
Italy, and there is more champagne
drank in other countries than in
France itself. We do not know that
the Northern people, as a class, love
sour, weak wines and lager beer, nor
that Southern people have a fancy for
sweet wines of great body, and that
each ridicules the taste of the other.
The taste for so-called sweet wines or
cordials is a natural transition from

38

The Grape Culturist.

ardent spirits, North or South, and
the more the taste becomes purified
and cultivated, the more readil}' will
it accustom itself to true wine, whether
the individual lives North or South.
On the contrary, there are more spirits
used in Northern climates than in
Southern.

You may admire the taste and flavor
of the Scuppernong; we do not. The
only taste we had of it, was on vines
of our own growing, and the berries
they ripened reminded us of the bugs
wo sometimes get in our mouth acci-
dentallj', when picking Raspberries or
Strawberries. We will admit that this
perfume (?) may, with you, be much
refined, as the grape ripens fully, but
can hardly think we would find it
•^'exquisite," even then.

As to the temperature of j^our cellar

during fermentation, if it is at 65° or
even To'^ it will only hasten fermen-
tation, and need a little more care.
But it will not hurt a must oi! ordinary
sweetness.

We did not design any ''• home
thrusts;" if aecidentall}' a ''tender
spot " was hit by our remarks, we as-
sure you it w^as uniiitentional. We
could not gather from your remarks
that the Scuppernong produced a fair
crop sooner, and only imagined to
ourselves what our people here, as we
know them, would do if they had to
w^ait for a crop eight to ten years.
We sincerely wish that the Scupper-
nong may be the "Divine gift" you
consider it, to you, but you have not
yet convinced us that you should not
tr}' to get something better if it could
be found. — Editor.]

CAN GRAPE GROWING BE OVERDONE?

In the December number of the
Grape Culturist, in an article under
the above caption, the editor, in the
course of his remarks, uses the follow-
ing language :

"There" (on our sunn}^ southern
hillsides with decomposed limestone
soil) " the Norton, Cynthiana, Herbe-
mont, Rulander, Louisiana, Cunning-
ham, and similar varieties, will alone
yield their best results ; and friend
Engelmann need not expect anything
like it on his soil. The Norton's Vir-
ginia grown on the prairies of Illinois,
and the loine of the same grape grown
on the Missouri bluffs, will bear about
the same relative merit as the common
French claret when compared ivith
choice Burgundy."

This is interesting and rather start-
ling news to me ; and the question, on
what evidence so disparaging an asser-
tion is made, naturally presents itself
to my mind. Mr. Husraann fails to
adduce any evidence ; does he consider
himself so high authority that his
assertions require no further proof ?

I am not blind to Mr. llusmann's
merits in furthering grape culture and
wine making, and am always ready to
recognize him as an authority in mat-
ters pei'taining thereto, but there are
certain limits, which ought not to be
approached, still less transgressed
without sufficient cause and ample
proof, and it appears to me, that Mr.
Husmann in making the above state-
ment has lost sight of these limits,

Can Grape Growing be Overdone ?

39

and has taken a position, which, accord-
ing to present experiences and the
present state of domestic viuology, he
is not able to sustain. 1 will try, by
reference to existing records, to sutisf}^
the impartial reader, that the assertion
lacks every foundation.

Wherever ray wines came in compe-
tition with other Illinois wines, they
alwa^'s stood the comparison advan-
tageously and satisfactorily, my Nor-
ton's Virginia not excepted ; and when-
ever and wherever Illinois wines came
in competition and were compared
with Missouri wines, they invariably
proved themselves to be their proud
equals. In proof thereof I refer to
the recorded transactions of the Illin-
ois State Horticultural Society of
1868; and to those of the Mississippi
Valley Grape Girowers' Association at
their meeting conjointly with the
American Pomological Society in 1867.
I could refer to other records, if they
were on hand or accessible to me from
my remote place of residence.

If Mr. Husmann will take the
trouble to refer to the record of the
Mississippi Valley Grape Growers'
Association above cited, he will find,
that the Norton exhibited by Mr.
George Nestel, ^' grown on the prairies
of Illinois," was pronounced '• very
go xl," and was the best on exhibition;
while Mr. Husmann's three samples
" of the same grape grown on the Mis-
souri bluffs, wliirh bear (to the wine
grown on the prairies of Illinois) about
the same relative merit as the common
French claret when compared with
choice Burgundy," came out second
best with the predicate " good."

Mr. JVestel is my next neighboi, iiis
land joins my land, his vineyard is

distant from my vinej'ard a few hun-
dred steps only, it is on the same ridge,
with the same southern and southeast-
ern aspect, anil on the same soil !

I do not know, whether I have suc-
ceeded or not to satisfy Mr. Husmann,
that his assertions were made incon-
sideratel}', and that, whether the}' were
intended as a " puff " of Missouri
wines, or as a slur on Illinois wines
generally, or on my wines speciallj'-,
they are oquall}- uncalled for and im-
proper, and especially unworthy of the
source from which they emanate.

Tiip:od. Engelmann.

LoOKiX':.-GLASS Vineyards, Dec. 18G9.

[We are sorry to see that our friend
is so much hurt by a remark which we
certainly neither " intended as a pufl"
for Missouri wines, or as a slur on Illi-
nois wines, or his wines specially."
Nothing was further from our thoughts,
we only spoke our deliberate convic-
tion, when we contended, that the wines
grown on our southern bluffs, will rank
much higher than those grown on the
prairies of Illinois or Missouri either.
We confess that we committed an
error in not being more general in our
remarks, for we think the bluffs on the
Mississippi, in Illinois, or similar loca-
tions, just as capable of producing
the choicest wines as the Missouri
river bluffs, and the prairies of Mis-
souri just as unable to produce the
best, as the prairies of Illinois. We
simply made a comparison and hope
friend Engelmann will not consider it
as pointing at him specially. We be-
lieve that Illinois can produce as good
wines, in the proper locations, as Mis-
souri; and thus hope we have made
the '* amende honorable," for the unin-

40

The Grape Gulturist.

tentional omission, to the grape growers
of our sister State.

But if friend Engelraann means to
assert that a level prairie or nearly so,
can and will produce as good wines
at an average, as sunny hillsides, with
decomposed limestone soil, we must
beg to differ with him, and we think
the experience of the majority of vint-
ners, here and in Europe, will coincide
with us. We do not assert this as an
authority ; we are far from believing
our judgment infallible ; have repeat-
edly stated that we do not pretend to
be authority, nor do we acknowledge
any others. We believe that we are
all seekers after knowledge, and have
a moral obligation to impart what we
have found, with due regard to, and
charity for, the opinions of others.
But while we are always willing to
accede to others the right to hold their
opinion, we claim the same right our-
selves.

If Mr. Eugelmann will for a moment
consider the vast differences existing
in the value of wines growing in differ-
ent locations in Europe, and that wines
grown in the best localities bring fabu-
lous prices, while those from vineyards
adjoining them, but perhaps a different
aspect and soil, will bring only one-
fourth of the price, he must certainly
grant that soil and locality exercise a
vast influence on the character of the
wines produced. Nor can he deny,
that they have a similar influence here.
We have seen the Ilulander produce a
wine resembling Sherry, on our vine-
yards near Hermann^ while only a few
miles from there, in the vineyard of
Mr. Kuhn, it produced a Hock, the
finest we have seen in this country,
and which, in our opinion, could com-

pare with the choicest Briessling or
Traminer of the Rhine.

But friend Engelmann cites circum-
stantial evidence, and refers to the
report of the committees at the exhi-
bition at St. Louis in 1867. Now the
facts about the report of those commit-
tees are these : It was at a time, when
the controversy about gallizing was at
its hottest ; the majority of the mem-
bers of the committee, on red whines
especially, were bitterl}- opposed to it,
thought they could smell it in every
wine which contained any sugar 3-et,
and as the wine we exhibited then,
had been made of must which weighed
126° on Oechsle's must scale, all the
natural sugar had not been changed
into alcohol, an appearance which
friend Engelmann and all conversant
with wine making can readily explain,
but which led the committee to the con-
clusion that our wines had been
gallized, could therefore not compete
with that of Mr. Nestel, which they
thought pure juice of the grape,
though otherwise superior. Their ver-
dict, however, did not prevent the sale
of twenty cases of our wine to Colonel
Marshal P. Wilder, at $2i per case,
who, after comparing it with the cele-
brated Clos Vougenat he had been in
the habit of importing, at 845 per case,
said he would rather drink the Norton
than that celebrated vintage. Had
friend Engelmann examined the reports
of those committees very closel}', he
could have found that his Norton's is
marked " sour,'' and that the Catawba
exhibited by us was graded at 95*^,
while that exhibited by him was
marked at "7^.

But enough of this. We hope to
have convinced our friend, that we in-

Woman in the Vineyard.

41

tended no''" slur on Illinois wines gen-
erally, or his wines specially." We
know him to be a very skillful and
intelligent grape grower and wine
maker, and attribute much of the gen-
eral good qualit}^ of his wines to his
superior handling. We cannot afford

to be on unfriendly terms with him,
because our readers need the advice he
is so well able to give, and because we
esteem him too highly, personally,
therefore hope he will " smoke the pipe
of peace " with us, and let bygones be
bygones. — Ed.]

WOMAN IN TUB VINEYAED.

In these days of agitation for wo-
man's rights, when the question of
female suffrage is discussed all over
the land, in every journal, it cannot
be expected that the Grape Culturist
should be entirely silent on this very
important question. But we confess
that we are not entirely sure whether
the right of suffrage, if extended to
our lady friends, wovild be desired
or desirable by a majority of them,
nor do we intend to argue its pros
and cons. We think that this question
can be decided without our help, and
as our fair lady friends have generally
a way of their own by which they
carry their point, if they really mean
to do it, we think it may safely be left
to them.

But we think it the duty of the
stronger sex, to listen to at least and
obviate one of the complaints made
by our fair friends, that ot insufficient
and poorly paid work. We think that
more ways should be opened for the
solitaiy female, left without a natural
protector, to earn an honest living if
she so desires. We do not think it
fair or just if a woman does the same
amount of work or even more than a
man can do, that she should receive
less for it because she is a woman. If

we consider labor honorable, we
should also pay for it fairly and hon-
orably, and not take advantage of the
weaker part, because they are weak.

If we desire, therefore, that justice
be done in this respect, let us consider
next how we can best obviate the evil
under which many a fair female
flower now droops and withers away
to an untimely grave. Female labor
outside of the proper home sphere, so
far has been restricted mostly to the
work in factories, sewing, washing
and ironing, embroidery, etc. and it
was almost considered a loss of caste
to engage in anything else. Especially
has this been the case in the South
and Southwest. It was almost con-
sidered degrading for a woman to
work out of doors, and those women
who attempted to spend their spare
time at some useful employment out
of door8,th©reby becoming the faithful
helpmates of their husbands, were look-
ed upon with a sort of pity, and not
considered good company. If the farm-
er's daughter tried to help her aged
father out of doors, she was looked
down upon and despised by the high
strung damsels of the neighborhood,
who spent the day in reading a fash-
ionable novel, or lounging in the rock-

42

The Grape Culturist.

ing chair, and not considered eligible
matches for our fast j'oung men.

But thank God, this false view of
their true position is rapidly wearing
off, and a healthier tone seems to per-
vade the public feeling. It is no lon-
ger considered a disgrace, if our fair
friends become working members of
society, and we think we see a better
time coming, when the daughters of
America will rival those of England
and Germany in their participation
of rural labors and pleasures, when
healthful exercise will bring roses to
their cheeks, and elasticity to their
movements.

Let it not be supposed, however,
that we wish to take woman away
from her proper sphere, the domestic
circle, or that we wish to see her the
overworked drudge of hard manual
labor. Nothing is farther from our
thoughts. We do not desire to add a
mite to the burden of the busy fann-
er's wife, nor do we advocate a neglect
of the home duties, to further out
door labor. But we wish to open new
fields of light and remunerative em-
plo^'ment to those of our lady friends
who are now compelled to " sew for a
living," or pass their daj-s in the dust
and din of factories, undermining their
health. We wish to invite them to
pure country air, and to an employ-
ment for which their nimble fingers
and active hands, are better fitted
than those of men. Nearly all of the
work in the vinej^ard during Spring,
Summer and Fall, is light, the tying
in Spring, the pinching and Summer
pruning, the tying up of the young
growth, and the gathering of the lus-
cious fruit in the Fall, is easy work,
and forms the greater part of the

Summer labors, and we are sure if
they once take to this labor kindly,
they can do it better, and more of it,
than we men, with our more clumsy
fingers. We would say to the daugh-
ters of our vintners, ''spend your
spare time in helping ^-our father and
brothers in the vineyard, instead of
killing it by reading insipid novels, or
attending fashionable parties. Be in
daily communion with nature ; learn
wisdom from her ever open book ;
gain health, beauty and innocence
from her ever flowing fountain, and
you will be made wiser, hajjpier and
better for it, Eest assured that you
can well afford to dispense with those
of your female acquaintances who
would slight you for "working out-
doors," and that those of your male
associates who would think less ofj'ou
because you are willing to lend a
helping hand to your I'jither or brother,
are not worthy to become your future
husbands and compaii i ons through life.
And to our vintners we would say :
smooth the path for those lone fe-
males who must earn their daily sus-
tenance by their handiwork, give
them employment which is suitable to
their capacities, and when they per-
form as much labor or more than a
man would do, pay them fair wages.
Do not give them less because they are
women, but be liberal and fair, more
so than those who now too often
weave the life and strength of their
poor dependents into the glittering.
fabri(!8 worn by the thoughtless and
gay. Teach to your daughters and
sons, that labor is a blessing instead
of a curse, and ennobles those who-
perform it faithfully, be they male or
female. Editor.

Missouri Sortiailtural Society.

43

MISSOUEI HOETICULTUKAL SOCIETY,

We attended the annual meeting of
this society, held at the Temple, cor-
ner of Fifth and Walnut streets, vSt.
Louis, on the 11th, 12th, 13th and
14th of January, but we are sorry to
say, were less satisfied with the pro-
ceedings than with any one of its
former sessions that we attended. Too
much time was spent, in our opinion,
in reading elaborate essays, and we
think members could be much more
usefully engaged in practical discus-
sions on fruits, their culture, varieties
and their success, etc. We confess
that we learned much more about our
favorite fruit by private conversation
with members, outside, than from the
discussions and essays.

But we hope this will in a measure
be obviated by the passing of a reso-
lution Thursday evening, in accord-
ance with which the reading of all
essays will be dif^pensed with, but
they will be referred to a committee
for examination, and if found suitable
and useful by them, they will then be
published with the proceedings. This
will save much precious time, and the
essays can bo read and digested at
leisure at home, by the members,
much better than if they were read
before the society.

The collection of wines exhibited, as
far as we tasted them, was very cred-
itable to their producers, and although
we found but few wines of extra
quality, we found still less which were
really poor. We give below the re-
port of the Wine Committee, and
think it a very good and fair one, as
far as we have been enabled to judge,

from the samples we tried. In one
point, however, we beg leave to dif-
fer with their opinion. It is in regard
to the value of ivhite Concord wine,
and which they seem to think may
yet be the white wine of the country.
We cannot think so, although we
have tried hundreds of white Con-
cords. We think the Concord much
better adapted to make a red, astrin-
gent wine resembling claret, than
white wine, and cannot help hut say
that all the red Concords we tried
there, suited our taste better than the
best white samples of that grape.
There is a lack of life, if we may so
express ourselves, of sprightliness
in the white Concord,, which will fail
to please the habitual wine connois-
seur; it will clog the palate instead of
tickling it. It may do as an indiffer-
ent substitute for the Catawba, but
only until we have a better one, and
we would think our hopes of rivaling
the white wines of Europe placed up-
on a very unsafe foundation, had we
to depend only upon the Concord.

We do not undervalue the Concord,
we think it a sure and profitable
variety, which makes a very fair ar-
ticle of red wine, but we do not think
we do the grapo growing community
a service, by overrating it. There is
still great room for improvement, and
only by seeing things in their true
light, can we hope to rival and per-
haps excel others, not by saying
"Eureka, we have found it." — [Ed.

REPORT OF THE WINE COMMITTEE.

The committee appointed by the State
Horticultural Society to examine and

44

The Grape CuUurist.

report and grade the wines exhibited
at the meeting last week made the
following report :

Mr. President and Gentlemen : —
Your committee appointed to examine
samples of wine on exhibition, beg
leave to report that they have per-
formed that duty, and are glad to
congratulate you upon the general
good quality of all the wines on ex-
hibition. We find upon the table
thirt3'-three samples, which we have
endeavored to grade, as in former
years has been the custom of the
Society, with, in a few instances,
some special remark as to quality.
In accordance with resolutions adopt-
ed yesterday, we grade new wines as
such, and not in comparison with
older wines. We also feel safe in
saying that not one sample of poor
wine has been placed before us. We
also wish to say that the quality
of all these new wines may change
materially before the coming fall, and
we are by no means sure that a subse-
sequent examination might not give
a different result.

No. 1. Catawba of 1869, from
Chas. Paffrath, Melrose, Mo.; very
promising, good flavor, and aroma;
grade 85.

No. 2. Concord of 1869, from same
party ; grade 75.

No. 3. Concord of 1869, from same
party ; very fine, and best now Con-
cord on exhibition ; grade 85.

No. 4. Concord of 1869, from Clifi"
Cave Wine Co.; very astringent;
grade 75.

No. 5. White Concord of 1869, from
same party ; grade 90.

No. 6. Concord of 1869, from same
party ; grade 80.

No. 7. Concord of 1869, from same
party; very good and promising, with
age to equal the best ; grade 83.

No. 8. Hartford Prolific of 1869,
from the same party; is excellent for
that variety of graj)e.

No. 9. Eentz of 1869, from the
same party, is a stranger that we
gladly welcome as possessing qualities

that please, and if the vine maintains
its present good character, will be a
great acquisition. As compared with
a fine article of Concord, we grade at
85, and think that when made in lai'ge
quantities it would be even better.

No. 10. Norton of 1869, from same,
is very tine, we gi-ade it at 90 as new
wine.

No. 11. Catawba of 1867, from J.
J. Kelley, is the best of this variety
on exhibition, and we grade at 87.

No. 12. White Concord of 1867,
from J. J. Kelley, was considered the
best of all Concord on exhibition, new
or old, and we grade at 87, and would
like to meet it often in our dailj^ pil-
grimage.

No. 13. Concord of 1868, from J.
J. Kelley; very fine, 85.

No. 14. Concord of 1869, from P.
Braches, of Gray's Summit; graded
75.

No. 15. Delaware and Catawba,
mixed, of 1869, from P. Braches.
We judge to have been left in the
husks in fermentation, and the quality
to be thereby improved ; at any rate,
it can hardly be excelled; 90.

No. 16. White Concord of 1869,
from same; pure juice, and similar to
No. 5; grade 75.

No. 17. Norton of 1869, from same;
grade 85.

No. 18. Norton of 1869, from same;
very palatable, and sweeter than
most samples of this variety ; grade
80.

No. 19. Concord of 1868, from H.
N. Vories, St. Joseph, Mo.; grade 70.

No. 20. Norton's of 1868, from
same ; grade 82.

No. 21. Concord of 1867, from G. L.
Dietsch, Waterloo, 111.; grade 75.

No. 22. Clinton, of 1868, from E.
E. Mason, Webster, Mo.; very good.
We think will still improve ; grade 80.

No. 23. Norton's of 1868, from
same ; is best of the Norton's, and
grade 92.

No. 24. Hartford Prolific of 1868,
fromBluffton Wine Co., like No. 8, is
a very fair wine, but we can not think

Treatment of the American Grape - Vine,

45

it a good iuvGBtment to make wine of
this variet}' of grape when we can do
so much better.

No. 25. North Carolina Seedling of
1868, from same, compared with good
Catawba grades at 80; is xerj nice
white wine.

No. 26. Clinton of 1868, from same;
grade 77 ; will yet be bettor.

No. 27. Delaware of 1868, from
same ; grades 85 ; although so good,
is not, we think, quite equal to what
No. 15 will be.

No. 28. Norton's of 1868, from
same ; grade 80 ; was probably injur-
ed by a musty bottle.

No. 29. Catawba of 1868, from
same; lacks in flavor; grade 77.

No. 30. Catawba of 1868, from J.
J. Kelley ; gi'ade 82.

No. 31. Concord of 1869, from
same ; grade 81.

No. 32. Concord of 1869, from J. J.
Squires; grade 78.

In closing this report we ask
special attention of the wine-growers
to the manufacture of White Concord,
which is rapidly gi'owiug in favor,
and ma}' 3'et be the white wine of the
country.

John M. Pearson,
S. Miller,
L. D. Morse,
E. S. Hull,

Committee.

From Tiltoii's Jourual of Horticulture and Floral Magazine.

TEEATMENT OF THE AMEEICAN GRAPE-VINE.

BY EDWA.RD E. UNDERHILL, BROCTQN, N.Y.

{Concluded,

In planting a vineyard, Mr. Bj'ing-
ton places his vines from eight to
twelve feet apart in the rows, having
regard to the richness of the soil and
the character of the vine as a rank or
moderate grower. His trellis is six
and a half or seven feet in height, with
five wires. When the vines have fully
covered the trellis, and are evidently
impatient of restraint, ho takes out
alternate vines, leaving the others
from sixteen to twenty-four feet dis-
tant from each other in the rows.

During the fall or winter, he does
his first pruning. It is quickly ac-
complished^ and merely consists in
cutting away some of the tangled mass
of wood, but leaving three times as
much as he thinks he will require.
Nothing more is done with the vines
until- the early days of summer. In

the mean time, the buds burst, the
shoots push out, the leaves develop,
and the fruit-clusters appear : and, as
not a few but veiy many buds were
left to receive the life-giving currents
proceeding from a large and strong
root, vegetation proceeds in its nor-
mal course ; and there is strength and
vigor, and not weakness and decay, in
the progress it has made. It is during
the critical period of the starting of
vegetation that Nature should encoun-
ter nothing to'disturb the performance
of her functions ; and, this period hav-
ing passed, when the clusters have ap-
peared the time comes when the real
work of pruning may be done. Then^
surveying the trellis, Mr. Byington
sees fruit-clusters in great excess : but
this is a difficulty easily cured ; where-
as, in case of a deficiency, he would

46

The Grape Culturist,

have no remedy. He has the coui'age
to cut when cutting is attended with
no danger, even though scores and
scores of clusters of incipient fruit are
thereby made to come to nought. He
removes entire canes, then entire
shoots, until he is satisfied that he has
just sufficient left to fill the trellis
without crowding. Then from weak
shoots he removes a portion of the
clusters, that they may have no more
fruit than they will have leaves to
ripen. This completed, the canes,
and from time to time the shoots, are
brought up, and secured to the trellis
wires. No summer-pruning or pinch-
ing is resorted to, and Nature proceeds
with the work of maturing the fruit.
And, now, as to results. I refer
first to the Delaware vine, because it
has been regarded as the vine for close
planting and pruning. In Mr. Elling-
ton's vineyard, the vines were sixteen
feet apart in the rows ; and from each
stool, the trellis, six feet and a half
high, was covered with healthy shoots
and foliage. The first and second
wires were literally loaded with fruit :
and on the third and fourth wires
there was an abundance. Upon no
vine did I observe less than fort}^
pounds of grapes, and upon many
there could not have been less than
eighty pounds. And, with this re-
markable crop, I saw, on the 24th of
August, many clusters which were
more than half colored, notwithstand-
ing the fact that the season has been
most unpropitious for ripening grapes.
The Isabellas, Catawbas, Concords,
and Ion as, treated in the same wa}-,
showed the same result; and with the
exception of the Catawbas, which
were slightly affected with the rot,

they were free from disease ; while in
an adjoining vineyard of Isabellas,
planted on the same soil, but which
had been pruned in accordance with
the ordinary method, both leaf and
berry were badly stricken with mil-
dew. Nor is this an exceptional year
in Mr. Byington's experience ; for I
have been informed by most intelli-
gent and credible authority, that, for
several years, this same anomaly of
heavy crops and early ripening has
been characteristic of his vines.

In what I have written, I do not
know that I have, in all its details,
correctly stated Mr. Byington'a
theory; but the facts set forth are
from personal observation. I will
only add, that if the fruit, this season,
shall, upon proper tests, prove to be
equal in quality to that ripened upon
vines which have been planted and
pruned in accordance with the meth-
ods usually pursued in vineyards, I
shall be satisfied that Mr. Byington
has added much, very much, to our
existing knowledge in reference to
the cultivation of the native vine in
vineyards.

Brocton. X. Y., Aug. 30, 1869.

p. S. — Since the foregoing article
was written, I have heard from Mr.
Byington the result of his vintage.
His Delaware vines, five years old,
and planted sixteen feet apart, yielded
an average of fifty pounds to the vine,
of as choice, s\\eet, and Avell-ripened
fruit as I ever tasted. His vines of
the same variety, which bore this year
for the first time, averaged over six-
teen pounds each. An acre of Isa-
bellas treated in the same manner has
yielded him five totis of delicious fruit ;
and this has been by no means an ex-
ceptional year. E. F. U.

[We copy the above interesting
article from Tflton's Journal of Hor-
ticulture, not that we endorse it uncon-
ditionally, but because we find much
in it worthy of consideration ; and,
in many instances, a confirmation of
ideas long ago expressed by us, and

Treatment of the American Gra-pe-Vine.

47

followed practically, with the best of
success.

We must diifer with Mr. Underhill
when he says : " I do not now recol-
lect any text book which suggests a
greater distance than six feet in either
direction for planting in vineyards."
We hardly know whether we would
call our little book "Grapes and Wine,"
a text hook, but others seem to consider
it as such ; at any rate, it may lay as
much claim to that appellation as any
American publication, and we advise
6x10 feet, as early as 1865, for all the
strong growing varieties.

But while we believe that generally
our American gi-apes have been planted
too close so far, we think there is a
limit to all things, and cannot see the
necessity of giving vines more space
than 10 to 12. feet. This will give
them ample room, air and light, and
here we have found six feet for the
Delaware sufficient.

When the writer comes to descrip-
tion of Mr. Byington's method, we
are tempted to exclaim: There is a
grape grower after our own heart !
We have long ago discarded the close
pruning of the Cincinnati and old
German and Jfrench school, and have,
year after year, pruned longer, until
we have been regai'ded with horror
by those who consider close pruning
essential to the longevity of the vine.
We refer our readers to the article on
""Pruning the Vine" in the November
iiumber, where they will find that we
advise long pruning, giving the vines
plenty to do, thus arriving at about
the same conclusion as Mr. Byington,
that we should leave plenty of wood
to receive the flow of sap in spring.
But our method goes still a step far-

ther. We do not wait until the clus-
ters have bloomed and formed, but we
remove the superfluous as soon as they
appear, when we have our pick and
choice, and before the shoots have fully
expanded. Thus, we lead the energies
of the vine into its proper channel. We
need not cut, because the young shoots
or bunches are easily removed with the

i thumb and finger. There is no dis-
turbing of the functions of the vine,
and we can select the finest and most
vigorous shoots and bunches. This we
follow with the pinching of the 3'oung
fruit-bearing shoots, just beyond the
last bunch we wish to leave, and we do
this early enough to make the use of
the knife entirely superfluous. Our ex-
perience of last summer fullj' confirms
us in the idea that most of our Ameri-
can grapes are pruned too long, as the
Concord generally did not rot as badly
on vines which were pruned long as on
those pruned too short. But, in fol-
lowing this method, the operator must
not be sparing of bunches. He must
have the courage to take awa^- all those
he thinks are superfluous, and not be
induced by an ill-timed pity with the
young fruit, to leave more than its
mother — the vine — can bear.

By planting somewhat farther apart
than has been done so far, by long
pruning in the fall, and by close rub-
bing out and pinching early in the
season, by continued experiments how

far this should be carried, we may hope
to arrive at the proper method of man.
aging our vines correctly, and in the
closest accordance with nature's laws.
We hope all of our readers will exper-
iment with this object in view, and give
us the result of their experiments. —
Ed.]

48

The Grape Culturisf.

PLANTING AND PEUNING.

From the proceedings of the an-
nual meeting of the New York Grape
Growers' Association, held at Eoches-
ter, 18th ult., as reported in the Rural
Neio-Yorker , we make the following
extract on the subject of planting and
pruning and their relation to the
grape rot. We have not space for
comments in this number :

President Pottle called for experi-
ence, lie remarked that it was
claimed that close planting destroys
the natural balance between the root
and top of the vino, and induces dis-
ease. Wide planting conduces to the
continued health of the vine.

Mr. Hoag (Lockport) does not cut
very close in the fall or winter, as the
fruit sets better for leaving plenty of
wood. After tying up the canes in
the spring, and when the new growth
has reached even four or five feet, we
prune again, cutting out what we deem
necessary to sufficiently balance the
vine. The ground is often literally
covered with lopped branches, and
some people think we are spoiling our
vines. We do not shorten in, but re-
move the entire shoot, fruit and all,
that we touch. All varieties we cul-
tivate are treated by the same system,
and we judge of the amount of prun-
ing necessary by the apparent
strength of the vine.

F. E. Elliott supposed it was against
good, received theory to prune out
the growing shoots. They have con-
nection with the roots.

President Pottle remarked at con-
siderable length on the method of
pruning which has, substantiall}^, long

been practiced at Naples, but which
lately has obtained prominence before
the public under the name of Bying-
ton's Sj^stem. Its main features are :
1st. Growing the fruit on long canes;
2d. Light Avinter pruning; 3d. Prun-
ing after the fruit has set; 4th. Tak-
ing out, at that time, entire shoots,
and sometimes canes, and thinning
the clusters, if necessarj^, on what is
left; 5th. No shortening or "pinch-
ing" of the shoots that are left; 6th.
Tying the vines so as to allow them to
run over the top of the trellis, instead
of clipping them ; 7th. Wide plant-
ing, or thick planting at first and re-
moving a part of the vines as the
vine3^ard acquires age.

In the first vineyard planted at
Naples — McKay's — the vines were set
one rod apart each way. They were
highly manured, j\[r. McKay being
able to procure a large number of the
cai'casses of cattle which had died of
some disease, and these were placed
under the roots of the vines when
planted. For a few years the thrift
and produce of the vineyard were ex-
traordinar3^ Over six tons of fruit
were taken fi-om the acre in a single
year. The vines were trained fan
form, a)id finally their exuberant
growth caused them to interlock,
and summer pruning or "pinching"
was practised to restrain the growth.
Disease ensued. On two rows every
other vine was then removed, and the
space given up to those remaining.
In two years the trellises were filled
with bearing wood, which bore one
hundred pounds of excellent, well-

Curiosities and Gleanings of Grape Literature.

49

ripened fruit to the vine. The remain-
ing rows were still diseased, and the
fruit slouched off. They did not carry-
five pounds to the vine. In his own
garden, Mr. P. had experienced similar
results. In view of such facts he
believed in wide planting to allow the
vine something like its normal growth,
and not to be obliged to check the
growth of the shoots. His own vine-
yard is planted twelve feet apart in
the row, and it never failed in bearing
a good crop but once (it is one of the
tirst planted at Naples), and that was
because it produced four tons per acre
the jDreceding year, when two tons
are all any vinej'ard should be allow-
ed to bear.

Mr, Pottle prunes lightly in the
fall or winter, and when it is apparent
that the wood has withered well,
prunes again. If too much fruit sets,
that is thinned by removing the

whole shoot on which it is. Some
fruit may be removed from the shoots
that are left, but the shoot is not short-
ened. Yineyards in Naples that were
pruned on the short spur system, and
pinched back in summer had the rot
and mildew, and the fruit sloughed.
Others, in their vicinity, treated on
the system he had described were
healthy and bore well. When the
system was changed on the diseased
vineyards they recovered and fruited
again,

Mr. Pottle described an experiment
made by Mr. Byington to prove that
sunlight on the grape cluster was not
important. When the berries were
about the size of buckshot some clus-
ters were enclosed so as to be in com-
plete darkness, and they ripened and
colored equally Avell with others on
the vine fullj" exposed to the sun-
shine.

CURIOSITIES AND GLEANINGS OF GRAPE LITERATURE.

It seems we have touched Mr.^'Ozark"
in a tender spot, in our comments
upon "Covering Grapes in Winter,"
if we are to judge from an article
called "The Grape Culturist and its
Editor," in Colmaiis Mural World.
Were the article in question written
in gentlemanly or decent language,
we should be pleased to copy it for
the benefit of our readers, but in its
present form w^e think it beneath
anything but a passing notice, and as
friend Colman claims to have the
most widely circulated agricultura
paper of the West, w^e trust most of
our readers can find it in its columns,

if they have a curiosity to see it. As
we have since heard that ''Ozark" is
Mr. Rockwell Thompson, of M. Mam-
moth Blackberry, and " Thompson's
Red Seedling of Concord" notoriety,
we are not surprised that he is sore,
nor are we sorry that we hurt his feel-
ings, for while we desire the good
will and kind feelings o^ all true grape-
growers, we hope to make enemies of
the whole humbug gentry. We will
say to Mr. Thompson, that he is wel-
come to "rake up our record," as
he threatens, as we are entirely will-
ing to ''stand by it."

Editor.

50

The Grape Culturist.

From the llitrticultiirist.

THE GEAPE MAEKET OF 1869.

The Concord, the past season, has
increased in popularity, and I think
it has been better ripened and more
carefully handled than in previous
years, and the sales have given more
general satisfaction. The more South-
ern grape-growing sections have not
sent us as many as usual, which ac-
counts for the healthy tone of the
market during their season.

The demand for it this year was
ahead of the supply, and even after
the advent of the Isabella, its most
successful competitor, the demand still
existed in preference to them. There
is one peculiarity about this grape
that is overlooked by many, and I
think is the cause of the difference of
opinion in regard to its merit — that
is, that the flavor or character of the
fruit is governed by the soil in which
it grows to a greater extent than any
other variety ; for, in comparing the
fruit from different States and differ-
ent sections of the same State, I have
found some without the peculiarity
of this fruit, and experienced persons
have denied these being Concords, the
flavor being so unlike those that they
were acquainted with.

The demand for the Isabellas has
been unprecedented ; the crop has
been large, the fruit good but not
large, and prices within the reach of
all — say from 8c. to 10c. per lb. whole-
sale.

The low prices of this variety have
seriously interfered with the sales of
the lona, Catawba, and Diana.

The Israella has been proved, and
found to be a good grape, prices rang-

ing a trifle higher than the Isabella.
The above includes the three principal
black grapes in our market ; the other
varieties are scarce and not much
known, and are frequently sold for
the above varieties.

The Catawba has not ripened as
well as usual, and has sold at lower
figures than any foriner year, say from
9c. to 12c. Last season, the demand
for Thanksgiving was for Catawbas
principally, and few Isabellas. This
season there is scai'cely any demand
for them, and not enough Isabellas in
the market to fill orders.

This is a very singular state of
affairs, not easily accounted for. The
lona has been quite plenty, but,
strange to relate, there has been but
little or no demand for it. A few
crops well rij^ened were received, and
sold at fair prices ; but as a general
thing this fruit has failed to ripen, and
consequently was rejected by the con-
sumei's. The dealers say that it is
no better than the Catawba when
ripened, and resembles it so closely
that consumers refuse to buy, for fear
it might not be as good. There is a
feature in this grape that I think
worth mentioning — that is, a disposi-
tion to drop from the stem after being
jiacked a short time.

The demand for the Diana has been
very light. Last season the Eastern
market consumed the whole crop ; but
this year there has been no demand
from that section, although the crop
is light and fruit good.

Owing to a break on the Erie Eail-
road, just as the Delaware crop was

Siiccess ivith New Grapes in Seneca Co., N. Y. — Michigan Wine. 51

coming in, the bulk of this fruit was
detained about ten days ; the quantity
that accumuhited on the road during
that time was so great that on arrival
it broke down the mai-ket, and the
dealers were compelled to sell large
quantities for wine that hud injured
during the detention. And the Ca-
tawba, coming in at the same time,
supplied the demand for a larger
grape. Had this detention not oc-
curred, the entire crop of Delawares
would have been disposed of at high
prices, as the demand was much larger
than any previous year.

The above arc the princiijal vari-
eties of red grapes in our market.

White grapes are so scarce that we
see but few of them. Dealers who
sell a hundred tons of the above vai'i-
eties in a season do not receive a hund-
red pounds of white fruit. We need
a white grape more than any other
variety, and the\' can be sold at higher
prices. C. W. Idell,

o28 Greenwich St., N. Y.
[AYe think our friends to whom the
markets of New York are accessible,
should plant the Martha; a white
grape is so desirable. This would fill
the bill, as it is healthy, very product-
ive, and attractive to the eye, ripens
before the Concord, and is of better
quality. — Ed.]

SUCCESS WITH NEW GEAPES IN SENECA COUNTY, N. Y.

A correspondent of The Country
Gentleman has been trj'ing many of
the new varities of grapes, and speaks
highly of the Eumelanand Martha:

" The Eumelan vines have grown
very strong and health^', making good
strong arms, and have ripened them
to the tips of the vinos. I have fifty-
four Eumelan vines planted in the
field. They are vigorous, and have
shown no signs of mildew ; leaves
large, dark, and thick; wood short
jointed ; and I have no doubt that it
will stand the cold equal to the Dela-

ware or Concord, It is very firm and
hard.

" I have the Walter grape on trial
this season; it has made a good
growth, but the leaves have mildewed ;
the wood has ripened about one-third.
It is planted by the side of the Eume-
lan vines, and has just as good a
chance as they.

" I have about two hundred Martha
vines growing. I think it the hardest
and best white grape we have ; the
wood will stand the winter's cold
equal to Concord."

MICHIGAN WINE.

A few days ago we received a bot-
tle of white Concord wine, made in
the fall of 1869, made by an old cor-
respondent, Mr. Joseph Sedlaezeck,at
Monroe, Michigan. The wine was
perfectly clear, of a beautiful straw
color, with just a perceptible tinge of
pink, of good bodj^, good flavor, and
"very good to take." It showed

skillful handling, and if our Michigan
friends can make such wine generally,
they can certainly enjoy it themselves
and we do not think they would find
it very difficult to dispose of the sur-
plus at a good round price. We Avould
not consider it a very grievous inflic-
tion, if we had to test similar samples
very day. Editor.

52

Tke Grape Culturist.

EDITOK'S LETTER BOX.

Were we to collect the many pleas-
ant tokens of ajipreciation^ and of
hearty cheer and good will the Grape
Culturist, as such, has received from
its readers, old and new, we could fill
several numbers Avith them. Eut how-
ever gratif)-ing they may be to our
personal feelings, as evidences that
our labors have not been in vain^ and
that the grape growers of the country
want a medium for the exchange of
their views, w^e think we can servo them
better by onl}^ publishing and answer-
ing questions which have a practical
bearing on grape culture, than by fill-
ing our Columns with compliments to
ourselves and our journal. Once for
all, we thank them sincerely, and, as
the Grape Culturist seems now to be
established on a safe and permanent
basis, we promise them that it shall
be our constant thought and endeavor
to make it worthj' of their patronage.
But to make it what it should be, we
need not alone their material aid, but
their contributions of experience to its
pages ; we want the thoughts and do-
ings of all our working, thinking vint-
ners, and vre hope they will send them.
It some of them are crude, we will put
them into shape.

From our brethren of the horticul-
tural and agricultural press, we ask a
continuation of good will and courtesy.
We shall freely cull from their pages,
ifwe find items of interest, and ours
are equally at their service. — Editor.]

Clauk's Xlkj»kiui;.s, January Kith, ISTo.

George Husmann, Ksq :
Editor Grape Culturist — Is it cus-

tomary with grape propagators to use
the wood cut from one year old grape
plants, for cuttings to propagate
plants from ? I am led to ask this
question from the fact that I observed,
in taking up a lot of vines struck last
year, that onl}- the larger wood has
taken. Further, I observed that we
bought a lot of grape wood cut from
one year old plants, from a man of
pretended grape experience, of our
county, andnearl}^ all of it failed ; and
I noticed that only the large wood has
taken. Now, some of this wood was
not over one-eighth of an inch in
diameter, and he had cut the Avood
into lengths of from one to one and a
halfinches.

Further, I Avas in conversation with
a German grape groAver the other day
and Avas shoAving him a lot of Dela-
Avare Adnes struck last spring, (the
AA'Ood Avas taken from bearing vines in
this case) and they had made fine
growth, and I asked him if I could use
the Avood cut from these one 3'ear old
plants, and make good plants from
the Avood cut from them ? He said
that I could not; that they avouM not
make good plants. He said that grape
Avood, for striking, should be cut from
bearing vines. I have your Avork on
grapes and Avino ; also. Fullers'. I
have examined both, but could see
nothing said about the age of vines
from Avhich propagating wood should
be obtained. Please, for my benefit,
as also, perhaps, for others, answer the
aboA'o through your journal, the Grape
Culturist. It is true, if we have
been humbugged in the one year old

iLclitors Letter Dox,

03

plant wood, such humbiiggory needs
to exposed.

Yours,

Jesse M. Wellborn.

CoviMiTON P. O., Ga.

[It makes no difference in propaga-
ting, whether the wood taken for pro-
pagating, be of one 3'oar old vines or
bearing vines, if it is strong cnoiKjli,
well ripened, and well preserved. These
are the three all important requisites.
If they are fulfilled, and the variety
propagates at all, it will make roots
if well managed. In fact^ wo prefer
the short jointed wood from 3'oung
plants if ripened thoroughl}' out-doors,
and at least one-fourth of an inch thick,
to any other for cuttings. Perhaps
the cuttings you mention, had been
exposed a great deal, and of course
thin, light wood dries out easier than
heavy canes. The first requisite in
keeping wood for propagating, is to
keep it fresh, and too many neglect
this. — Editor.]

LoxE Jack, Mo., •lanuiivy 11th, ISTO

Mr. IIusmann :

I have in vines about four acres,
three of Concord and one of Xorton.
One acre bore last season. They rot-
ted some. My Xorton looks well for
the first j-ear. I have also a few
other varieties — Hartford, Clinton,
Herbemont, Ives, Delaware, Eulander
and Catawba. I have also a seedling
grown from seed which was brought
from Europe ten years ago. It fruited
last year. The fruit was about the
size and color of Catawba, but of bet-
ter quality. Perhaps your interest for
my short experience of onl}" four years
is small, so I will close.

Yours truly,

Isaac Martin.

[We want all experience, no matter
of how short duration. Please let us
hear of that seedling again, also of
your other grapes. — Ed.]

FiiEDERicK, Sciu'YLER County, III., i
January lath, 1870. S

Mr. Geo. Husmann, Bluffton, Mo :

Dear Sir — I bought of one man,,
last ftdl a 3^ear ago, six or seven
hundred Concord grape vines, and the
following Spring I got of another man
one thousand. Xow one of the par-
ties has swindled me. I think the
seven hundred lot is CataAvba. Is there
any way 1 can tell differently without
waiting until they fruit ? In the last
number of the Grape Culturist you
speak of a saving of one or two 3'ears
b}' the single eye system. I don't un-
derstand how that can be. Please an-
swer by letter.

Y'ours trulj"^

Charles Farwell.
[We could tell you very casil}^ which
of the vines are Concord and which
not. But whether 3'ou will be able to
tell them apart, we do not know. The
Concord is a much stronger grower
than the Catawba, wood of a clearer
brown, leaves darker green above, and
more Avooly underneath.

We did not imagine that any one
could take our satirical remarks on
the nonsense you refer to, for an in-
dorsement of the process. We intended
to hold it up to the ridicule it so rich-
ly deserves. — Editor.]

Friekd Husmann : It was my inten-
tion to give you a mode of using up
the surplus of one and two yearling
vines, when such occurs ; but on seeing
the communication you copied from
some noted journal wherein a corre-

54

The Grape Culturist.

spondent gave forth how to grow
vines from single e3-es, and to gain ton
years thereby over the usual wa}', I
tiiought my communication would be
unnecessary. Now, Mr. Editor, j-ou
ought to explain how this marvelous
operation is to be performed, for it is
expected you know all f/u'/if/.s pertaining
to these mattei's.

But suppose that you fail to enlighten
us on that subject, them my powder
may not be burnt in vain.

I simpl}" mean to go to work and
graft them m the rows as 3-ou would
trees.

Follow the usual diiections as to
depth of performing the operation, and
when the grafts have grown a foot or
more, draw the earth up around the
graft a few inches, which will cause
roots to start from the graft, thereby
increasing their growth, and as it
were, helping to establish a foundation
of its own.

To guard somewhat against the
suckers which in this case are always
troublesome ; it is well to remove the
earth low enough down on the stocks
so as to have a chance to gouge out
the dormant eye below where the graft
is to be inserted.

To those who la}' in cuttings the
coming spring for this purpose a year
or two hence, I would advise them to
cut out al! the eyes except the upper
one, which is to grow. This will save
a deal of trouble when grafted, as the
removal of suckers is much more
trouble than the grafting.

I helped take up a lot of vines one
year old, the cuttings of which had
been treated in the above waj', which
were as well rooted as any vines I ever
saw of the same age.

Cuttings intended for grafting upon,
should not be planted nearer than four
inches, if to graft in one year there-
after; and if intended to be left until
the second, the}- should be put six
inches apart. The idea that grafted
vines are short liveil, as some of the
savans tried to make us believe a few
years agO/ is all moonshine.

Even though the root be not a suita-
ble one at time^, the graft is easily
made self-supporting.

Then again some varieties can be
improved in vigor and health by being
grafted on strong and hardy growers.
The time is not distant when we will
see this mode in general use, just as
they now graft apple, pear, plum, &c.
Yours truly, S. Miller.

Bi.CFFTON", January '21, 1870.

[The communication of our friend is,
as usual, well timed and practical, and
his hints very useful. "We do not pre-
tend to " know all things," as he ex-
presses it, but we hope to get wise by
just such and similar communications.
— Editor.]

Council Bliffs, Iowa, .lauuary in, \>'0

Mr. Husmanx :

Dear Sir : I have your book on
grape and wine, and by its advice have
erected me a nice two story cellar with
press-house over it, and obtained a one
hundred dollar press, made at Belle-
ville, 111., and got a lot of new casks
made, and have made 400 gallons of
wines, (now just packed off) as clear as
old Bourbon whisky, and colored very
much like it. Many of our best judges
have tried it and pronounce it No. 1.
Many Germans say it is equal to their
best German wines. I have light red
and dark red also, the dark red being

Editofs Letter Box.

55

gallizcd and stood thirty-six hours
on the husks before pressing, and there-
fore, did not work quite so smooth as
the other. I woukl like you could see
and taste y\\y first attempt at wine
making. I sent to Mr. Blatner and
obtained a sacharometer, and everything
worked to a charm ; now, God bless
you for such a worl<. My wine is all
made from Concord grapes. I have
three acres in bearing, and sold last
fall's crop mostly at 12 J cents per
pound, mostl}' to jobbers in the city ;
the cash received was over $1,500. I
have now out eight acres, and intend
putting out eight more this coming
spring, mostly Concord. I want a few
Martha and North Carolina seedlings ;
they come too high to buy many.
Please send me your price list, and I
would like to have your opinion, as to
whether or not those two grapes will
stand the winter this far North, and
also, if they stood the wet season of
last year with you well or not? My
Concord and Diana was healthy last
crop, with rain every other day through
July and August ; all others were dam-
aged more or less.

Well, I must stop, less I worry you.
But before closing, I wish to thank you
for the first six numbers of volume one
of the Grape Culturist, and would
like the other six verj- much. Send
me the Grape Culturist for 1870, and
the six last numbers of the first volume,
if 3'ou have them. I will tr}' to send you
a new name, with the money, now and
then, as I can pick them up, for the
favor. Address A. S. Bonham,

Corxf iL Bliffs, lowii.

[We are glad to hear that our advice
has been of some benefit to you, and
would like to taste of some wine made

way up in the north of Iowa. The
Martha and North Carolina seedling
are as hardy and healthy as the Con-
cord here, and if the Concord is a suc-
cess with you, we think these will be.
You should also try the Telegraph and
Goethe.

We wish to aid just such men as you
are as much as we can, and you need
not fear weaiying us when yon write
about grapes and wines. — Editor.]

Abingdox, Va., January 1, 1870.

Geo. Husmann, Esq. :

Sir — I send you to-day, by mail,
grafts of " Haskew Grape," Seedling-
No. 2. In my letter of last October, I
could not with any certainty give
you a description of bunch ; it is rather
small and sometimes shouldered. I
think that the unfavorable situation of
the vine in the midst of a clump of
trees, in a dense shade and entirely un-
pruned, prevents an idea of its qualitj^
or productiveness.

I think you are mistaken in No. 3
being Catawba. I have a Catawba
growing near it, and thejj- are certainly
different, and it is a great deal more
difficult to propagate.

I do hope the publication of the
Grape Culturist will be continued,
considering it of great value to grape
growers. Respectfully, W. B. Kelly.

[Thanks for the grafts, which came
duly to hand. We may be mistaken in
regard to No. 3 being Catawba. It
may be the Bland, which much resem-
bles the Catawba in color of fruit and
quality ; it is somewhat lighter than
Catawba, with a thicker bloom on the
berry. It was difficult to judge of the
fruit in the condition it was in when
received. — Editor.]

56 Grape Calturist Adoertisutg Sheet.

Jiy special agreement with the publishers, we are enabled to club the Grapk
CuLTUiusT with the following journals, at the annexed rates:

Grape Culturist and Journal of Agriculture $3 00

" " American Entomologist 3 00

" " Colman's Rural World 3 00

" " Horticulturist 3 50

" " Zymotechnic News (English and German) 2 25

To those sending- us the names and post office address of six subscribers, we
we will furnish the sixth co^y free.

Vol. I. will still be furnished at the reduced rate of $1, complete. To Ihose
who desire it bound, we will furnish it bound in muslin, with index and title page,
at $2.25, post paid; or they can be supplied with the cover at .$1.00 each.

Cash Advertising Terms for 1870.

TWENTY CENTS PER LINE, AGATE TYPE, EACH INSERTION.

Cover Pages Twenty-Five Cents per Line.
BUSINESS CARDS, FIVE T(3 SIX LINES EACH, $15 PER ANNUM.

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUITS.
[Nursery Established in 1857.]

A splendid stock of Yines and Plants are offered the coming Fall and Spring,
including nearly every variety known to be of valu«. The popular and white Grape

MARTHA, OR {WHITE CONCORD,)

In large or small quantities. Also, .Vrnold's new Hybrids, Eumelan, Walter, Wce-
hawken, Christine, Iline, ajid all valuable numbers of Rogers' Hybrids; also,
Delaware, lona, Israella, Concord, Ilarffoi'd, Ives, Norton's Virginia, etc., etc., in
all about one hundred distinct varieties.

Kittatinny Blackberries and Clarke Raspberries in large quantities, Jucunda
and Charles Downing Strawberries, Downing's Seedling Gooseberries, Cherry,
Versailles, White Grape, and Black Naples Currants, etc., etc.

Send stamps for Illustrated Catalogue and Price Lists to

apico-tt GEn. W. CAMPBELI., Delaware, Ohio.

OECOIOE "V^^IE^IETIIBS OIF

Grape Yines. Strawl)ern Plants, Raspl^erry, Blackberry k (looseberry.

Also, a few Peach and Ciierry Trees, the tine^t growiln. Particular attention
will be paid to small orders of plants to be sent by mail. For sale by

SAMUEIi MILLER, Blutlton, ^\o.

Grape Culfurist Advertising Sheet.

THB HORTICULTURIST

JOURNAL OF RURAL ART AND RURAL TASTE.

(ESTABLISHED BY A. J. OJOWNING, 1846.)

Devoted to Horticulture, Landscape Gardening, Rural Architecture, Rural Embellishments,

Pomology, Floriculture, and all subjects of Rural Life, Literature, Art and Taste.

HENKY T. WILLIAMS, Editor and Proprietor.

SUBSCRIPTION TERMS.— Keguliir Subscription, $2 50 per ammni. Monthly Numbers,

25 cents. N. B. All sidiscnptions utridhj in advance. [I;3" 'I'o prevent loss of money through the

mail, subscribers will please transmit Check, Draft, or Postal Money Order for amount^ Wc

cannot be responsible for sums sent in any other way and lost.

CLUB TERMS.
o copies to 1 P. 0. address, ^1.75 [$2.25 each] . 10 copies to 1 P. O. address, $17.50 [$1.75 each].
b ■' " " 10.00[2.00 " ]. 20 " 1 '^ 30.00 [ 1.50 " ].

An extra copy sent free to the former of clubs of five, ten or twenty subscribers. Illustrated
Prospectus free on receipt of Postage Stamp. Advertising Rates — 25 cents, per agate line,
each insertion. Address, HENRY T. WILLIAMS, 7 Murray street. New York. P O. Box,
2145. The ITorticulturist ioT l'6'i)S) Awd ISTO, unbound will be supplied at $1.50. Bound volumes
for ISOO, S3. 00 each.

PATENTED AUG. Gth, ISOr, AND AUG. 3d ISGO.

For FERMENTATION" and GERMINATION, and for PRESERVING, PURIFYING
and IMPROVING of Organic Substances.

Exceedingly useful in Malting, Brewing, Distilling, Baking, ^Manufacture of Wine, Cider,
Fruit Wines, Fruit Brandies, Mnegar, etc.; in Sugar Works, 1)il "Works, Manufacture of Ex-
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113" Rights for States, Counties, Districts, or Establishments, for sale. Apply to

P.!0. Box 6844. R. d'HEUREUSE, New York.

I^UBLISPIED A.ISrD FOR SA^LE

Sl\ LOUIS, 3IO.

MuEKCii, FREDERICK, Scliool fov American Grape Culture. Brief but thorough

guide to the laying out of vineyards, the treatment of vines and the production

of wine in North America.
MuENCii, F., Amerikanische Weinhauschule und Weinbereitnngslehre, etc.

Either one of these books will be mailed free of postage on receipt of one dollar.
HusMANN, George, The Cultivation of the. Native Grape and Manufacture of

American Wines.

On the receipt of $1 50 this book will be mailed to any address.
Schmidt, J. A., The Diseases of Wine, how to prevent and how to cure them,

according to the doctrines of M. Pasteur.

This book will be sent, free of postage, on receipt of $2.

C. WITTER keeps a large assortment of books treating on the Culture of
Grapes and Manufacture of Wines.

Catalogues sent on application. Please address letters,

CONRAD WITTER,

jauG9-tf 122 S. E. corner Walnut and Second Sts., St. Louis,

G-rape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

GRAPE WOOD

FOR

Grafting or Propagating.

CYNTHIANA $ 5 00 per 100 $35 00 per 1,000

HERMANN 1000

MARTHA 3 00

DEVEREAUX 3 :;o

RULANDER 3 50

LOUISIANA 3 50

MAXATAWNEY i co

TELEGRAPH

CASSADY

CREVELING

GOETHE

lONA

ISRAELLA

LINDLEY, (Rogers' 9)

MASSASOIT, (Rogers' 3)

MERRIMACK, (Rogers' 19)

NORTH CAROLINA SEEDLING.
ROGERS' HYBRIDS, Nos. 3, 8, 12.

SALEM

WILDER, (Rogers' 4)

HERBEMONT Cuttings, 9 to I3 in., trim'd ready for plant'g 10 00 "
DELAWARE " '• " " 10 00 "

Hartford Prolific " " " " 5 00 "

IVES' •' '• " " 5 00

Cuttings will be shipped by express or freight, and an additional charge of
30 cents per 1000 for boxes and packing be added. Freight to be paid by
purchaser.

WE HAVE A LIMITED QUANTITY OF

WOOD FROM BEARING VINES,

From our former Vineyards at Hermann, for Sale.

All who wish to try them, will be furnished at the above rates, by addressing-
Small packages will be sent by mail, post paid.

GEORGE HUSMANN,

BLUFFTON, MO.

00

u

1S'

cts. "

75

41 U

75

U it

75

u ;(

75

u a

75

a u

75

a it

75

a a

75

li u

75

(c a

75

;; ik

75

(( .;

75

00

25

00

30

00

20

00

S

00

8

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheeet.

A MONTHLY JOUKNAL

FOR.

ALL BRANCHES OF FERMENTIC ARTS:

MANUFACTUPtING- OF

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The " Zymotechxic News" will give a detailed record and discussion of all
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more important ones of these improvements will be subjected to the most care-
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The " Zymotechnic News " will appear both in ENGLISH and GERMAN,
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ONLY ONE DOLLAR A YEAR !

All Business Men standing in any practical relations to Zymotechnic Pursuits,
more particularly

PRODUCERS OF WINE, BREWERS, DISTILLERS, RECTIFIERS,

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MANUFACTURERS,

Ought to subscribe for a copy of the " Zymotechnic News " in order to rest
assured that nothing new in the technical appliances of their pursuit will escape
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All letters and remittances are to be directed to the undersigned.

N. B. Correspondence conducted in English, French and German.

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St, Louis, Mo., December, 1869.

CHAS. H. PRINGS, Editor,

202 SOUTH FOURTH STREET.
janTO-tf

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRLIT,

Warranted Genuine and of Superior Quality, in Large Quantities, at

Reduced Rates.

CONCORD per 10,000 $250 .00 MARTHA, extra strong per 100 $ 75.00

" per 5,000 li.i.OO CYNTHIANA, " per 100 100 00

" per 1,000 35.00 IVES, " per 1,000 50.00

HARTFORD PROL per 1,000 4.J.00 " per 100 6.00

" " per 100 6.00 RULANDER, " per 100 30.00

For prices of all other Varieties, we refer to our PKICE LIST (yratis) , and to our new ILLTJS-

TBATED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE, containing valnable information on grapes and grape

culture, which will be mailed, free of po.?tai;t-, to anv addres.s, on receipt of 2.') cents.

A GERMAN EDITION of same, by Fr. Mueuch, price 25 cents (less than cost), has just been

published Please address

jan69-tf ISIDOR BUSH & SON, Bushberg, Jefferson Co., Mo.

The iBlulfton Wine Goxi&pan;i^

Offer a large stock of thrifty, finely rootcrl GRAPE VINES of all valualjle and
popular varieties, together with all novelties iu this line.

Descriptive priced Catalogues sent to any address ou application to

WILLIAM WESSELHOFT, Secretary,
jan69-tf Bliiffton, Missouvl,

COOPER,

1618 Jackson street, St. Lotiis, 31issou}'L

Offers his services to Wine Dealers, as manufacturer of all kinds of casks, fer-
menting vats and cellar apparatus. He guarantees satisfactory work and lowest
prices. Eefers to some of the principal wine dealers in the State of Missouri, for
whom he has made casks and vats for a number of years, and especially to the
Bluft'ton Wine Company, No. 22 South Main street, where casks and vats of liis
manufacture can be seen by those interested in the business. feb69-tf

^ 3E1, .A. JE^ ISE ^f?€F 0> ^0> JGT t
TAVENTY KINDS!

Immense Stock, especially of

Concord, Ives, Delaware, Hartford, lona, Catawba, Isabella,
Clinton, Rogers' Nos. 4, 15 and 19, etc.

Cut from Bearing Vines before hard freezing, and stored in frost-proof Cellars.

Very Low for Cash. Price List Gratis.

ALSO, LEADING VAEIETIES OP GRAPE ROOT IN STORE.
Can ship South safely at any time.

f,,j69-tf M, H. LEWIS, Sandusky, Ohio.

THE

GRAPE CULTURIST.

\^0L. II.

MARCH, 1870.

No. 3.

T II K H I JSr TG

58

The Grape Culturlst.

THE HINE GRAPE.

''A new seedling of the Catawba,
raised by Jason Brown (son of John
Brown), at Put in Bay, Ohio. It
makes a good sized, compact, slightly
shouldered bunch : berry medium, of
a dark rich claret brown, with a purp-
lish bloom; skin of medium thickness;
flesh juicy, sweet, and almost without
pulp ; leaf large, thick and whitish
underneath ; canes reddish brown,
short jointed ; buds prominent, ripens
with Delaware. Regarded by all w^ho
have seen it as a grape of much prom-
ise. It took the first preniium as best

new seedling at the Ohio State Pair.
We give'an engraving, figured from a
bunch raised by Charles Carpenter,
Kelley's Island."

[As this new grape has not yet been
generally tested, we copy the above
description from Bush & Son's Cata-
logue, without recommendation, as we
have not seen it fruit. It may be
well for the amateur to test it, but w^e
would not advise planting it largely,
as it is said to be a cross between the
Catawba and Isabella, two varieties
subject to disease. — Ed.]

MARCH.

WORK FOR THE MONTH.

March is a busy month for the vint-
ner. Between planting, tying of
vines, putting in cuttings, plowing
and hoeing, he will have his hands
full, and he w^ill doubly feel the ad-
vantage now, if he has done all he
could in advance, and has driven his
work instead of the reverse.

The whole practice of planting is
laid down in very few words :

1. Have good plants, with plenty
of well ripened strong roots.

2. Have your soil well Avorked and
pulverized before you commence.

3. Plant .neither too 'deep nor too
shallow, about ten to twelve inches
we think best.

4. Shorten in the roots of your
vines with a sharp knife to about
nine inches.

5. Spread them evenl}' and uni-
formly to all sides.

6. Fill up with well pulverized,
mellow earth.

7. Cut back the top so as to be even
with the surface of the ground.

8. Never plant when it is too wet,
and do not let the roots of your
plants get dry while planting.

If you observe all this, success is
certain.

"We suppose your trellis made as it
ought to be, and your vines pruned.
In tying, spread them evenly over the
trellis, taking care not to crowd any
part, and avoid crossing, commencing
on one side of the trellis below, tying
upAvards and descending on the other
side. We prefer fan training, and
seldom tie to the upper wire, if we
can help it, leaving this to be covered
by the j-oung growths. The best ties
by far are small willow twigs, but at
any rate it should be done firmh';

Salevi Vindicated.

59

and 80 thafc it will hold through the
summer.

Thib is the month for grafting
here, but us that operation is fully
discussed in another part of this
number, we will here say nothing
about tho viodus operandi.

Cuttings may still be planted, but
to ensure success should always be
planted as earl}" as the ground is in
good working order for plowing. This
we generally do with a common one-
horse plow, throwing a furrow from
the vines toward the middle, as close
as we can come to them without injur-
ing the roots. ^Vo then hoe under
and around the vines with the two
pronged hoe or karst, loosening and

inverting the soil to tho depth of
three or four inches. Then run the
plow through the middle of the row,
throwing the ground to the vines un-
til the whole surface is loosened, leav-
ing a furrow in the middle about four
inches deep to serve as a surface
drain.

Canes for layering may also bo laid
down. Pulverize the soil thoroughly
under the vines, then make furrows
about an inch deep, bend the cane in-
to it, and fasten with w^ooden hooks
or pegs cut for the purpose. You can
cover with earth when the shoots
have grown about six inches, not now,
as the buds w^ill break more ovenly if
they are not covered.

SALEM vindicatp:d.

Editor of the Gkape Culturist —
Dear Sir : — I have just received the
January number of your " Grape
Culturist," and notice in an article
entitled "• Grape Humbugs and their
disseminators " much of ire, and con-
siderable nonsense, in connection with
one Dr. J. S. Hyde and the " Salem
Grape." It seems that the Doctor
lives at Brocton, N. Y., and there is a
large and veiy flourishing Salem vine-
yard in the same town, by which
strange coincidence both the "Doctor
and the "Salem" are brought under
condemnation. You say that last fall
the Doctor exhibited grapes as the
Salem which he stated came from
Bluffton, which were not Salem, and
that he has stated that j'ou have " no
true Salem at Bluffton." So to prac-
tice a shrewd bit of economy, you pro-

ceed to pitch into the Doctor and the
Salem Grape at once. The inference
from your articles, and the charges
therein, is, that Dr. Hyde is now at
Brocton engaged in "■ bolstering up
the reputation " of the variety in ques-
tion, and selling all the plants he can,
thus deceiving the public, and acting
the part of " Shark and Hyena." Not
very polite terms, unless 3'ou are sure
you understand your case. Now as
you profess willingness, to give a fair
hearing to all, I wish to make a plain
brief statement, which I think will
show that you have misjudged the case
entirel}', at least so far as the interests
of the Salem grape are concerned.
And I will begin by saying that the
people at Salem-on-Erie have at present
no interest whatever in the propagation
and sale of plants of the Salem grape.

GO

The Grape Culturist.

That people, in the incipiency of a
great enterprise, having recentl3' pur-
chased a tract of sixteen hundred
acres of improved farms ; having eighty
acres in vineyard, thirty of it Salem,
with a variety of business interests
pressing upon them, wished to relieve
themselves from the propagation and
sale of plants. Accordingly, about
one year ago, mj'self and one other
individual, purchased their entire stock
of plants, then unsold, and the wood
from tlicir Salem vineyard, then on
iiand and for a period in the future,
and removed them to Lockport, N. Y.,
thus relieving them from all interest in
the propagation and sale of plants.
Having located the '* true Salem," per-
mit me to say that Doctor J. S. Hyde
is not known to us here, and cannot be
employed by the worth3^ community at
Brocton, in "bolstering up " the Salem,
since they have no service of that kind
to perform.

You profess to publish a journal in
the interest of Grape Culture in its
broadest sense, and in the main during
the last year, I can approve the tenor
of its discussion.

If 3'ou could only undeceive yourself
from the idea that "Bluffton" is the
centre of the grape universe, to which
all other points are but appendages,
3'ou might do a signal service to the
country at large.

Because you succeed imperfectly
with the Delaware, it does not prove
that that variety is not one of the
best and most popular grapes in the
country to-day. You grow some num-
bers of the " Roger's Hybrids " to per-
fection. Other localities will grow
other and better numbers of that
collection equally well.

Instead of gratifying your animosi-
ties you ought to encourage experi-
ments, showing whei-e our best varieties
are to succeed the best. The Salem is
a strong growing variet}', and will not
bear dwarfing. Put in practice some
of the ideas in Mr. Underhill's article
on pruning and training, which you
copy, and I shall expect 3'ou to report
differently upon some of the varieties
that you now condemn. A word as to
our experience here at Lockport with
some of the "Rogers Hybrids" last
year, which was the worst season we
have ever known for the grape. At
the Western N. Y. Horticultural
Society meetin'4 at Rochester last week,
Mr. Craine of this place, stated that
from one twentieth of an acre of
Rogers' No 4, in his open vineyard, he
last fall marketed at the rate of 9,000
' pounds per acre, at 25 cents per pound,
which would be at the rate of S2,250 per
I acre. IJe speaks highly of the Salem,
j though not having it yet in full bearing.
1 In my own vineyard last year the
I Salem was perfectly healthy, ripened
I its wood to the tips. The fruit was
early and of best qualit}-. And we
think we have assurance of a most
profitable market variet}^ for this section
at least. While I am interested in the
sale of plants, I am quite willing this
variet}', like all others should stand
upon its own merits, which I believe
future experience will enable it to do
most effectually. At the Lake Shore
exhibition in the fall of 'G9, bunches
were shown weighing over one pound
each, and if j^ou will travel this way
next fall we will show you the like
again, which 3'ou may never be able to
see at BlulTton, Mo.

A few words as to Dr. C. W. Grant

Salem Vindicated.

61

and new varieties. "While the most of
ns have been somewhat taken in by the
lona and Israella as to time of ripen-
ing, we cannot den}^ that Dr. Grant
has done nmch for the cause of grape
culture. PI is eftbrts in disseminating
the Delaware did much to cultivate the
public taste, and rapidly increased
vineyard planting. That the lona is
a grape of very high quality none will
deny who have seen it in perfection.
That tlie Doctor was himself deceived
from insufticient experience as to its
time of ripening is quite probable.
Yet in many localities the lona is a
grape not easily excelled, in quality
and profitableness. What the Eume-
lan will do remains to be seen. That
it is a grape of ver}' high quality I
have not a doubt. Though but slightly
interested in its growth and sale, I am
yet willing and desirous to see it
widely and fairly tested^ and shall be
right glad to add one more to the few
varieties of American grapes adapted
to wide and profitable cultivation.
Let us bury our prejudices and animos-
ities, and proceed in the great work of
proving this a land adapted to profita-
ble grape culture, as well as the growth
of great moral ideas and political
equality. I. IT. Babcock.

LocKPOiiT, .Jan. '2.'), 1870.

[We willingly give room to the
above, because its expressions, which
we would not allow against any of our
contributors, are against ourselves.
And we think we are not much dam-
aged by theiD . We are very glad to
hear that Dr. Hyde is not interested
either with either Mr. Babcock, or Mr.
Harris, the proprietor of the .Salem
vineyards. That we have " condemned
the Doctor and the Salem " together,

however, we cannot see, as we are not
aware that we have condemned the
Salem anywhere. Wo simply said
that we thought its reputation as a
uniformly healthy, hardy and produc-
tive variety throughout the country,
somewhat on the decline, and gave our
experience at Bluffton and Hermann
with it. If Mr. Babcock calls that
^' pitching in," we cannot help it ; and
we here tell these gentlemen who
make a specialty of the growth, sale
and propagation of any one variety,
once for all : if they expect our jour-
nal to publish only what is favorable
of their peculiar pets, and ignore all
that is unfavorable, they are very much
mistaken. We publish all the reports
about varieties from all parts of the
country, even about our own special
favorites, be they favorable or unfavora-
ble ; we are working in the interest of
the whole grape growing communitj',
and no one, be he Tom, Dick, or
Harry, can get us to serve his peculiar
interest in the sale of any variety, over
the interest of the great cause.

"We have no where, to our recollec-
tion, called the Salem (rra/^e a humbug,
but only Dr. Hyde, and are glad to
hear from friend Babcock, that he is
not in his emplo}^ "We can assure him,
however, that even if he were, he would
not be the first who has been deceived
by that individual, and could hardly be
held responsible tor all his doings.

"We do not think that our readers
have found the idea predominant in our
writings, that Bluffton is the centre of
the grape universe. "We tliink we have
a good locality here, but we do not
believe that there is at i)resent any one
variety of grapes, be it Salem, lona,
Eumelan, Walter, or any other, that

C2

The Grape CuUurist.

will succeed equally well everywhere.
This, these gentlemen, who have be-
come so enamored of any one variety,
claim for it, and in this we have taken
the liberty to differ with them. When
the Delaware came out fu'st. Dr. Grant
described it in glowing terms ; really
one would be led to believe that noth-
ing could be better, until tho Ion a
came, when the Delaware was almost
foi'gotten by him, at least cast entirely
into the shade, he even invented addi-
tions to the dictionary to do its super-
lative excellence full justice. Then the
Eumelan was found, and must still be
better. All these varieties, as he
insisted, must and would succeed
everyiohere, aud any one who held a
different opinion was an ignoramus and
a barbarian in taste. AVhen the Sa-
lem came out, it was claimed to be
the best, and must needs succeed
everywhere. The Walter follows, for
which its originator claims that it is
the " best wine and table grape in
America," and has already written five
yards of foolscap in letters to us, be-
cause Ave dared to report that it mil-
dewed badly here. If these gentlemen
could only undeceive themselves, and
not believe that their locality is "the
centre of the grape universe," if they
were satisfied with the merit the grape
may have with them, and wait until
their pets are tried elsewhere, before
they claim impossibilities for them,
it would save a great deal of un-
pleasant discussion, and a great loss of
time, monc}' and valuable ground to
those who are induced to plant largely
of such untried varieties, because of
these representations. We wish to en-
courage experiments — have experi-
mented perhaps as much as most men

with new varieties, but we also say to
all our readers.: "Try every new
variet}' recommended by reliable men,
if 3'ou can afford it ; but do not plant
largely of it, until you knoio from ex-
perience that it will succeed. If these
gentlemen, who are so careful to pub-
lish every favorable letter th^y receive
in their catalogues, would be fair
enough to publish also the unfavorable
reports the}' get, they would not force
us into the disagreeable duty to warn
the grape growers against buying and
planting largely of anj' untried variety.

Mr. Babcock heads his article " Sa-
lem vindicated." We cannot see that
it had been attacked much, or that he
has succeeded in "vindicating it," as
he pleases to call it. lie calls it a
rampant grower, and accusr>8 us of
"dwarfing it." We have advocated
wider planting and long pruning
perhaps long before Mr. Babcock saw
the Salem. ATe have planted it here
6 — 10, some of our vines are now in
their third summer, and have not yet
occupied half that space, while Goethe
and Wilder, planted side by side with
it, occupied it all. He need not fear
but it shall have "room according to
its strength," but from present ap-
pearances it will not need all it has
for some time yet. This may be dif-
ferent with him where it docs not rail-
dew as he says, but so it is here.

We cannot see that tho heavy yield
of the Wilder, (which also bears
heavily hero) helps tho Salom any,
although they niay be sisters. We
know that Mr. Harris has thirty : ores
in Salera vines, part of which must
certainly be bearing. Will Mr. Bab-
cock give us a report of the doings of
those and their yield to the acre'''

The Chemistry of Wine.

63

Such /a c/s would do more to vindicate
the Salem, if favorable, than all asser-
tions of its productiveness and supe-
rior qualit}". That would be '^ standing
upon its merits." Our columns are
open to him for such statements.

Friend Babcock a Imits that Dr.
Grant may have been deceived. This is
precisely what we claim for himself.
We do not suppose that he would
willingly or knowingly deceive the
public, but may he not deceive him-
self, and by giving his own belief, de-
ceive othei's ? lie certainly deceives

himself, if he thinks because the
Salem succeeds there with him, it fol-
lows that it should succeed every-
where.

We heartily concur with him when
he wishes that we " shall buiy all
prejudices and animosities," and can
assure him that w^e are not " acting
from prejudice or animosity," but are
governed by a deep sense of duty wo
owe our readers to further the very
objects of which he speaks, the ad-
vancement of grape culture in this
countr3^ — Editor.]

THE CHEMISTEY OF WINE.

BY CHAS. 11. FRINGS.

In the foregoing articles we have
principally considered the theory and
fundamental principles of wine mak-
ing, we can now consider their prac-
tical use.

In doing this we come to the old
mooted question, " Is wine a produc-
tion of nature, or of art ?"

In consideration of this question,
we have only to remark as follows :

A product of nature we can only
call that which nature herself produces
loithout the assistance of human art.
The wild grape vine, growing un-
checked on our forest trees, is a pro-
duct of nature, but with the product
of the cultivated vine, which is kept
in artificial bounds by man, art has as
much to do as nature. We may safel}'
say that every plant, which is trained
and manured artificially ceases to be
a product of nature, as by manuring
we feed it with substances which na-
ture denies. Herein lavs the most

material difference between man and
animal, that the first is enabled by his
reasoning powers, which an all-wise
Creator has given him, to change the
gifts of nature and suit them to his
wants and taste. Are not the victuals
which we dail}' consume, and which
human art cooks, roasts and boils, and
to which we add manifold spices, to
make them palatable, also products of
nature in their crude condition, and
only made edible by our artificial treat-
ment ? And are not all our most
common drinks, with the sole excep-
tion of water, products of nature,
which have been changed b}^ artificial
processes in manifold ways ? Does
even the wine which the enemies of a
rational improvement of the must laud
to us as the pure product of nature,
form an exception to this rule? Is
it not pressed and fermented artificial-
ly, and do they hesitate to use sul-
phuric acid, to preserve it sweet, or

64

The Grape CultuHst.

animal glues (ising-glass or white of
eggs) to clarify it ? And this they call
"unadulterated, natural wine !"

Those same people, who zealously
oppose every addition of sugar to sour
must, are fond of sparkling wine, al-
though the addition of cane sugar and
alcohol to these is a well established
fact. To their coffee and tea, — also
products of nature, — they add water
and sugar without stint, but the must
which has been neglected by nature,
dare not have anything added. It
would be easy to show these zealots,
that they interfere with nature at ev-
ery step, that they aid nature in al-
most ever}^ act of their lives, that they
hardly receive anything from nature
and consume it, without artificial
changes by them. Only the juice of
the gi'ape, which, especially here in
America, needs rational improvement
so much, must be an exception to the
rule. But enough of this I We will
" take up the regular order of busi-
ness."

TREATMEXT OF THE MUST.

We have already seen, that must,
or the juice of the grape, contains
three very important ingredients,
Sugar, acid and ferment. The pro-
portions of these ingredients must of
course greatly vary, according to the
variety of grapes, location and soil on
which they are grown, their ripeness,
etc. Nevertheless we find that a pe-
culiar taste has been developed in all
countries where wine is produced, and
which makes it possible to fix a cer-
tain normal condition between the
alcohol and acid which the must
should attain, to make a palatable
wine for those who drink it. In draw-

ing a comparison between the Ameri-
can and German taste, we think it
will differ about as follows :

For Americans, 14 per cent. Alco-
hol, 4-10 per cent. acid.

For Germans, 10 per cent. Alcohol,
G-10 per cent. acid.

Average proportion, 12 per cent.
Alcohol, 5-10 per cent. acid.

To produce 12 per cent, alcohol,
the must should contain at least 20
per cent, sugar, which would be
equal to 1.005 or 95 degrees of spe-
cific gravity on Oechsle's must scale.
If the sugar alone determined the
specific gravity, 83 degrees would be
sufficient to make 20 per cent, of su-
gar, but as the ferment of the acids
and several other ingredients also
help to increase its gravity, to about
the amount of 21 per cent., the above
proportions are required. We find,
however, that such a must, instead of
showing 95 degrees on Oechsle's
scale, only shows about 70 degrees
which is equal to an actual amount of
sugar of 13J per cent., and only gives
8^ per cent, alcohol.

A wine, however, containing so lit-
tle alcohol, is not alone flat, but also
liable to spoil, the ferment has only
been partially dissolved, is yet dis-
pensed in the wine, and subjects it
to continual changes. What, then,
is to be done ? Shall we sweeten our
tea and coffee, but leave the must as
nature has produced it ? God forbid.
It is written, '*'Thou shalt improve the
talent thy master has given thee."
We, therefore, add as much sugar as
we think it needs, to make a wine
which will "gladden the heart of
man," instead of a spiritless muddle
that disgraces the name of ivine.

Grape Growers' Associations — Training, Pruning, etc.

65

But when we have thus added a suf-
ficient quantity of sugar to bring the
body of the must up to its proper
projDortions, such as it should be in a
normal must, we have not yQt amelior-
ated the acid. It happens but very
seldom that the must does not contain
acid enough, in most cases, especially
when the grapes were not perfect, it
contains an excess of acid. What
shall we do in this case ? Shall we
patiently submit to this, and make a
so-called "Three men's wine,'' which
takes three men to consume it, one
who drinks, another who holds him,
and a third to pour it down his throat ?
Or shall we make vinegar of it? We
say, No, decidedly. " Thou shalt im-
prove the talent," etc. We dilute the
acid by the addition of ivater, as inno-
cent an article in reality as sugar.
Sulphurous acid and isinglass are a

great deal more filthy, and yet they
are used very iiinocently by those who
make so-called pure natural wines.

But by diluting the acid with water,
we have also reduced the quantity of
sugar again, which the must contains.
But luckily we know how to remedy
it. Sugar remains sugar, whether
produced in the grape or in the cane,
if it is only pure.

The principal question is always :
Does the must yet contain wine mak-
ing substances enough to change the
larger quantity to which it has been
increased, to loine ; and especially a
wine which has lost all the disagreea-
ble qualities of a common natural wine^
but contains all the good qualities of
the best so-called natural wine ?

This question we hope to elucidate-
thoroughly in the next issue.

(7b he continued.)

GEAPE GROWEKS' xVSSOCIATIONS— TEAINING, PRUNING, ETC.

Friend Husmann :

The Grape Culturist for Januar}^
1870 is just received, and its appear-
ance after reading your valedictory
in the December (1869) number is
both a surprise and pleasure. Appa-
rently you have put your foot down,
with the understanding that the Grape
Culturist is an institution wanted, is
appreciated by some live men, and
must and shall continue to be issued.
It is the same old perseverance that
has assisted you in pushing the prac-
tical example of gi'ape growing to
profit; and reasoning therefrom, I
think all may look on the Grape Cul-
turist as a magazine to be continued,

and at once prepare their notes and
suggestions of ideas as to improve-
ments in grape growing, and with
the subscription money for this year,
send them forward to 3''our address.
You have, probably, seen and read
the doleful Wail and the requiem of
the late Ohio Grape Growers' Associ-
ation, which, it was claimed by those
of faint hearts in the cause, "• could
no longer be sustained because the
interest in grape culture had ceased
to exist, and also, that the society had
performed its work." Two points as
much at variance with reality as could
well be imagined.

It is true, the past year has been an

G6

The Grape Culturlst.

unusually unprofitable one in the cul-
ture of the grape in Northern Ohio,
and so it has in the crop of potatoes;
in the product of the apple orchard,
as well as the crop of Indian corn.
Yet Avho supposes the interest in po-
tato growing, or the planting of apple
orchards has ceased. What thought-
ful student of horticulture or agricul-
ture at this day imagines for a moment
that all has been learned that can be,
and therefore a society inaugurated
to develop knowledge in vegetable
phj'siology can have performed its
work.

Grape growing, when the vines and
cultivation are left to themselves, may
sometimes produce profitable returns;
in fact, there are numerous records
of such cases of vines, void of care
or attention, giving good crops for one
or two years, but not for anj- length
of time, while the skill and aid of man
in watching, training and assisting
natui'e to accommodate herself to the
wants of man, has given productive
vinej'ards for centuries, and "so mote
it continue to be."

From the best information I can
gather of the past season's grape crop
in the northern part of Ohio, the vine-
yards having care have returned from
Concord about S250 per acre nett,
from Delawares about §150, from
Catawbas about ^100. These are
averages. Some Concords have given
over $500, and some Delawares nearly
as much, while a few Catawbas have
given even more than that. The
whole matter maybe safely estimated
at $100 per acre net, of bearing
vineyards in good management. A
net result, far more remunerative
than any farm crop which could

possibly be grown on the same
lands, and better than the average of
farm erops on the best of farm lands
under suj)erior management. Grape
grov?"ers are looking the subject over
carefully, studying the past, and rea-
soning therefrom for the future, and
so reasoning, are preparing to plant
more, as well as becoming earnest
enquirers as to the best modes of cul-
ture and training as applied to each
vine. I am well satisfied of this
interest, because my letter list, asking
my views of " what, is the best grape
and how to grow it" is larger than
ever befoi'e.

1 have just returned from attend-
ing the New York State Grape Grow-
ers' meeting, held at Eochester, and
where the same faint-heartedness on
the part of some of the managers was
developed, as in the late Ohio State
Society. Managers seem to think
that if they caii get some prominently
notorious man to deliver an address,
and with his egotistical volubility, talk
that which practical men know is sheer
nonsense connected with their own
circumstances, soils, situations, and
practical results, that they are ad-
vancing the interests and developing
the objects of the society. Bah I A
radical change must come in the man-
agement, ere they have any great suc-
cess ; and one of the changes miLst be to
permit no man, be he the President,
Secretary', or other time-being officer
of the society, invited guests, or no-
torious lecturer, to occupy over ten
minutes of time in remarks upon any
subject. In the business order, re-
course must be had by systematic
questioning tobring out from practical
men, unaccustomed to speaking in

Grape Growers' Associations — Training, Fruning, etc.

public, theii' experience. Maii}^ a
man will give in answer to a question,
information that otherwise he could
not think of stating, because, per-
haps, the subject to him seemed of little
import, and^ Avhile he may have prac-
ticed a system — has never connected
it physiologically Avith the vine in its
3-esults. Bat I'll not weary you
with moi'e of this. It is only my
view, and probably others think dif-
ferentl}^, and so thinking, I hope, you
will trot them, and their thoughts,
out.

The " Byington S^-stera " of prun-
ing and training, distances apart, etc.,
as per Mr. Underhill's article, seemed
when I first read it in the Journal of
Horticulture, nothing now, and at the
recent meeting of the Xew York State
Society, the matter was fully brought
up, when Mr. Hoag, of Lockport,
stated the system of pruning one he
had pursued many years ago, and on
questioning, it was stated that Mr.
Byington's grapes had not this year
ripened as Avell as some others near
b}*, but pruned in a different way.
In connection Avith theory, this out-
ting away recklessly an amount of
branch and foliage just at a time Avhen
all is in the most active condition,
both root and top, must apparently
of necessity engender more or less of
disease at the root.

Giving vines Avide expanse, i. c,
]ilanting at 10x16 feet, or even greater
distance, for the purpose, as some
state, to preserve an equilibrium be-
tween root and top, onh' resolves it-
self into a question of time, for if left
unchecked, even at thirty feet apart,
the A-ines Avould in a feAv A'ears inter-
lock, and then, if pruned in, the equil-

ibrium Avould be destroyed just as
radically as if the vines Avero only six
or eight feet apart. Your long time
advice to prune long, and fruit from
AA^ell developed buds, even if upon the
laterals, is unquestionably one of the
best; if the alternate or Aveak buds be
rubbed out as soon as they SAvell in
Spring, rubbing aAvay all the loAver
ones, it seems to me this superabund-
ance of foliage etc., is measurably dis-
posed of Avithout any injur}' to the
A'ine.

It is not, perhaps, avcII understood
that the loAver buds on varieties that
naturally make any Adgorous and
strong groAvth early in the season, are
ahvays imperfect and do not possess
sufficient vigor in the inner germ to
secure good bunches of fruit.

Root Pruning to me appears one of
the practices AA'hich we must come to
in all of our artificial culture of the
native vine. I am trying; it on a fcAv
vines, and Avant others to do so. I
dig a ti'ench eighteen inches deep and
Avith a sharp spado or knife cut off all
the large leading top roots at about
tAA'olvo to sixteen inches beloAv the
croAvn or top surface roots. But
enough for this time.
Yours, etc.,

F. E. Elliott.

[Thanks, friend Elliott, for your
contribution and suggestions. We are
sorry to hear of that "doleful Avail,'
but cannot say that it surprises us.
AVe did not expect an_v better from
a society Avhioh excluded Avine from
its meetings, thus condemning their
own produce, and our old readers will
perhaps remember our comments on
that part of their discussions in
March Xo. of Vol. I. ^Ve regret that

68

The Grape Culturist,

"\ve are unable to present to our read-
ers any part of their discussions, as
well as of similar associations at the
East, but if the secretaries of grape
growers associations see fit to ignore
the existence of the only journal in
the country devoted exclusively to
the grape interest, they cannot blame
us if we are months behind other
journals to which they send their dis-
cussions. If they will also send them
to us, we will bring them out as
soon as any other horticultural mag-
azine.

We concur with 3-ou that long prun-

ing and rubbing out and pinching off
the imperfect and superfluous shoots
and fruit as thej' appear, very early in
the season, is by far preferable to any
other mi^'viiod wo have tried ; we have
advocated this long ago and are more
convinced of its utility every season.
But we doubt the practical utilit}'
of root pruning. It is a very laborious
and tedious process, and does not to
us seem at all necessar}'. Wo have
found no difficulty with the training
above mentioned, to keep our vines
hoalthy and productive for any length
of time. — Editor.]

From a Peoria Paper,

PEORIA GRAPE GJIOWING.

At the grape growers' association
yesterday, we took pains to get as
near an approximation as possible to
the number of vines undor cultivation
in the county. We believe that the
estimate is below, rather than above
the actual number. We place them
at the followino- fip-ures :

Strehlow .MMK)

Streibich HOIH)

Kruse -lom

Scherabs 80(1

Pfeifier lOOO

Kneer 1300

Moninghoff. GOO

Chase GOO

Kellerstrasse isoo

Lammers 1500

Schnebley 500

Loucks 5000

Wood 500

Krler 500

Rohmann (iOO

Minsenmej^er 500

]iock (Sweets) 5000

K'anne GOO

.Miller 1800

Seibold 500

Weber 800

Dlstler 1800

Puelt'. 5000

Selnner 400

McUouo-all 500

E. G. Johnson...- .500

Smith WO

Anderson HOO

J. P. Johnson ,500

Deweiu 500

Elliott ;M00

Tinker .5000

Hannofs 8000

Roskofen 2000

Studer 4000

Cope ;!000

Pauli 1500

Coin\'id 4000

Bryant GOOO

Raier 5no

Harrison lOOO

Cowan 50O

Lawrence 2000

Littleton , 7000

Boylan 500

At "Rome !)000

Frenclunan 20 0

Eltin<i 1000

]\Iiissing 4<t00

Bartley 2000

Eink 2000

Kcenier 1500

Crowell 200

Sipp 500

J*roctor GOO

All others 2S000

Total 142.300

'1'

Grafting the Vine.

09

GRAFTING THE VINE.

KY JOHN J. WERTII.

The importance of this mode of
propagating new varieties of grapes,
seems to me to require the adoption
of more precise rules for its practice
than have heretofore been observed.
The merely mechanical operation is
simply enough ; and quite enough has
been published to inform the readers
of horticultural books and essays how
to accomplish it. But the physiolog-
ical view of the subject is quite im-
portant, and has not received (within
m}' observation at least) sufficient at-
tention. I propose then, in a few
words, to lay down the axioms which
I have derived from analogy, obser-
vation and long practice in the art of
grafting the grape vine.

First. I hold it to be essential that
we should select for the stock a vari-
ety of the same species as the graft
which we propose to insert. Xow
I do not mean to assert that a Vitis
Aestivalis grafted on a Vitis Labrusca
may not, often times, produce satis-
factorv results. I know it does. But
I do mean to sa}" that if the best
results are desired uniformly to follow
the transmutation, this axiom should
be uniformly observed. The natural
instincts and habits of these two fam-
ilies are so widely different, as mani-
fested in their wild state, that it is
obviously unreasonable that the best
results should follow a forced amalga-
mation in the first generation, and our
aim, in this operation, is limited to
the first fruits.

Second. In the selection of the
stock, within the indicated family, it

is very important that infirm mem-
bers, even of the desired family,
should be scrupulously avoided. We
should no more hope to secure strong,
healthy, full bearing vines, by graft-
ing even Hartford Prolific on Cataw-
ba or Diana, or Norton on Pauline,
(although the first axiom would be in
both cases strictly observed) than we
should rely upon healthy and robust
children from an infirm mothei', even
though the father was free from all
taint. Unfortunately in our own race
we have on all sides melancholy in-
stances of the penalty incurred by a
disregard of this rule. But still more
to the point ; no well informed father
commits his infant to the nourishment
of a wet nurse who is notoriously a
victim of scrofula in any of its vari-
ous forms. Then, reasoning by a
plain analogy, we should not commit
a healthy scion to the nourishment of
an infirm stock.

Third. 1 think it advisable (though
I do not make this rule as rigid as the
two preceeding) that regard should
be had, within reasonable limits, to the
natural stature and development of the
two varieties selected for the union.
AThile it may be well to infuse more
vigor into the growth which is to be
developed from the graft, if it comes
from a weakl}' growing variety, b}'
inserting it into a stock of somewhat
stronger growth, I would avoid a
union between two extremes. For
instance, 1 would not graft the Crevel-
ing on the North Carolina, an enor-
mous grower, if I had stock of

70

The Grape Culturist.

the Hartford or Concord, both strong
but not such exceedingly rampant
growers. And I would prefer not to
use the Clinton as the stock for an
Aestivalis of meagre growth, if I had i
stocks of vigorous but less rampant
habits. I think there is such a dis- \
ease as plethora in the vegetable, as i
well as in the animal constitution. I !
incline to the opinion that much of the j
disease of our grape vines is traceable j
to this cause ; and I should fear to
provoke it by furnishing to a weakly
organized vine a superabundance of
nourishment for its digestion and as-
simmilation.

Fourth. This axiom I lay down
with more confidence than any other
regulating the successful grafting of
the vine. It is that the process should
be accomplished when the sap is not
fluid, but exudes in a gummy state.

This condition of the vino exists,
naturally, from the period when the
first leaves have unfolded to about
one inch in diameter, in the Spring, to
the period of the active movement of
the sap in the next succeeding Spring.
This occurs vrith us, in Eastern Yii'-
ginia, generally in March. xVs a
wound in the animal will not granu-
late, the precedent condition to heal-
ing, so long as bleeding is progress-
ing, nor until coagulation of the blood
occurs, so the wound in the lacer-
ated vegetable stock will not granu-
late and unite with the excoriated
scion, while the exposed faces of the
w^ounds are washed by the flowing sap.
Therefore, grafting should be ac-
complished only when the vine no
longer bleeds. A condition favorable
to grafting, even during the period of
the active flow of the sap, may, how-

ever, be secured by removing the
stock from the ground, grafting and
resetting it. This is called hand
grafting, and inasmuch as it is much
the most convenient mode, and I have
had very uniform success in practis-
ing it, I prefer it in all cases whero
the vine has to be removed.

Where the stocks to bo grafted are
in the nursery, I would lift and graft
them^ and plant them where they are
to stand, taking the hazard of a few
failures, rather than allow them to re-
main a season longer in the nursery,
even with the advantage of selecting
those that have attained the sti'ongest
growths for removal during the ensu-
ing Fall or Spring. The loss of roots
consequent upon the removal, can be
better borne under the severe restric-
tion imposed upon the surface growth
by the grafting process, than at a
later period. Indeed, I am inclined
to the opinion that it might be advisa-
ble, when grafting a avcII developed
vino of four or more years, to remain
where grafted, to subject the roots to
a pretty severe pruning; as it cannot
be suj^posed that an extensive devel-
opment of roots will bo sustained in
full health under the very limited de-
velopment of leaf and stem, which
occurs during the first seasons growth
of the graft.

As my present object is to confine
mj'Self to general principles, I will
not extend this communication by en-
tering upon the details of the me-
chanical operation of grafting, the
more especiall}- as that has been fully
explained and intelligibly illustrated,
in the last volume of the Culturtst,
by other contributors.

lliciLMOND, Ffln-uary 7, 1S70.

Grafting the Vine.

1

[We are much obliged to our cor-
rcspondcjU fur this valuable paper,
and think the points he elucidates; de-
serves careful attention. But theories
do not always hold out in practice.
We will look at them a little closer.

First, Had our correspondent said :
I hold it to be preferable, instead of
essential, etc., we should agree with
him. But we have grafted Isabella
and Catawba stocks with Norton's
Yirginia and Herbemont scions, fif-
teen 3-ears ago, and never saw, nor do
we expect to see, healthier vines, or
more productive ones than thej' are
to-da}', and have been over since.
Our long experience as a nursery man
has led us to come to the conclusion,
somewhat against our judgment, we
confess, that the scion also exercises
an influence over the stock, and grad-
ually changes its nature somewhat.
Every nursery man who propagates
Siberian Crab Apples, or Yellow Bell-
flower, will know that the crab ex-
ercises such an influence over the
roots, although they wore common
seedling apples, when grafted, that
they became much harder and more
brittle than those of other apples.
Jlay not the scion on the grape vine
change, in like manner, the nature of
the stock to a certain extent, and con-
form it to its requirements ? We
would, therefore, always prefer stocks
of the same species, but would not
hesitate, if wo had no other, to graft
upon a different specie, although suc-
cess may not be so certain.

Point 2 we consider vcell taken, and
Avould advise to follow it strictly.

Point 3, we do not think so import-
ant. The best and most healthy Del-
aware we know around Hermann, is

grafted upon a Norton's Virginia, two
varieties, perhaps, as unlike in growth
as can possibly be found. We have
found, however, that all varieties be-
longing to the Lahrusca and Aestiva-
lis species, do noc take as readily
upon the Clinton, a cordifolia, al-
though when they take, they seem to
form a complete union, and grow very
vigorously. We have often improved
the habits of weak growers by graft-
ing upon strong growing varieties,
made them more health}^ in foliage
and fruit by so doing. Moreover, we
think the Creveling an Aestivalis,
while the North Carolina is a La-
brusca ; consequently a union between
these would be contraiy to the first
axiom friend Werth seeks to estab-
lish.

Point 4, w^e think important, more
so, perhaps, than all the foregoing,
and the conclusions arrived at are
fully sustained by our experience.
We have had the greatest number of
failures invariably, if w^e grafted at
the time when the sap w^as flowing
strongly, and, we think, to insure suc-
cess, it should either be performed here
in February or March, or postponed
until after the expansion of the leaf.
The first would be decidedly prefera-
ble, as the scions can be kept in bet-
ter condition, and the graft can form
a more complete junction, make a
larger growth, and ripen its wood
better. If it is put off until after the
expansion of the leaf, the scions
should be kept dorman, if possible, in
a cool place.

We have never had much success
with grafting and removing at same
time, but others have, and it is cer-
tainly a much easier method than

72

The Grape Culturist,

grafting on the stocks in the nursery.
But Ave have never seen any ill effects,
if the graft took at all, from the ex-
cess of root power in the stock. It
seems like if the graft pushed forth so
vigorously that it soon absorbed all
the nourishment, and we have had

the scion made sound, healthy wood
of 25 to 30 feet long, on a very strong
old stock. Yet our friend's conclu-
sions are evidently sound logic, but
sometimes, as in this case, facts and
circumstantial evidence are stronger
than oven sound reasoning. — Ed.]

D'HEUEEUSE AIE TEEATMENT.

Alleged improvements, involving
sweeping changes in many industries,
should above all bear the light which
close practical investigation may shed
upon errors to which new as well as
time-venerated doctrines are subject;
corroborative tests only can establish
their value. Theories, apjiarentl}'
sound, by neglect of some essential
condition, may fail to be confirmed
by tests. One of the most general
and firmly rooted notions has been
the dread of access of air during fer-
menting or preserving operations ;
the most satisfactor}^ proofs only will
establish the fact that exclusion of
air should be abolished, and that the
suggestion of air-treatment as a safe,
cheap, easy and effectual agent for
wine and other industries is well
founded. For the sake of our Amer-
ican wine industry it is proposed to
review the principles on which air-
treatment is based, the manipulations,
the advantages claimed, and the con-
ditions to be observed, the knowledge
of which, by exercise of common
sense would enable any unbiased in-
dividual to test and judge for himself.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES.

One broad principle underlies nearl}*
all applications of air-treatment for

the purpose of imparting stabilitj'?
and to prevent deterioration in or-
ganic substances by a rapidly oxidiz-
ing and eliminating action on the
albumenous parts, which all crude or-
ganic substances contain, so that by
ordinary elementary exposure the sub-
stance may decompose or decay and
thus form, in the admirable economy
of nature, sustenance for other organ-
ism. The presence of the albumen-
ous parts is an essential condition of
decomposition, their removal insures
stability, comparativel}' or absolute.
Currents of air passed through the sub-
stance to act uniformly on all parts,
eftect first of all an oxidation of the
albumenous matter, which is rendered
insoluble and thus eliminated either
during fermentation, by which the
sugar is converted into alcohol, or by
absence of fermentation at a temper-
ature above 135° F., at which organ-
ism is killed, or by both modes in con-
junction. These few plain intelligible
facts constitute the whole basis of air-
treatment, the applications are sim-
plj' deductions.

It is certainh' an error that all albu-
menous matter coagulates at a certain
high temperature ; if this were correct,
a fluid so heated for hours could, if clear
and limpid, contain no albumen. Expe-

Becollections.

rience plainly contradicts this, for in-
stance, in vegetable or animal extracts
obtained by heat, malt or grain wort,
saccharine juices, crude oils, fats, etc.
Nor do these and other substances
containing gluten or albumen acquire
stability by mere heating; if, after
cooling, the germs of micoderms in
in the air find access, they cause fer-
mentation or decay, as long as they
find albumenous parts to feed upon.
These however removed, no micoder-
mic action can take place, and stabil-
ity is imparted. It thus becomes
plain that all manipulations and pro-
cesses for the preservation of organic
matter should go towards freeing them
from the albumenous parts, otherwise
they remain imperfect and unreliable.
The alcohol of wine is more in-
clined to turn into acetic acid the less
alcohol is present, and the larger the

proportion of gluten. Thoroughly
fermented wine generally contains but
little gluten, so that the heating pro-
cess (to 121°-131° P. to kill the mi-
coderms) as a rule forms a protection ;
however, if not previously fermented
dry, the wine will remain sweet, for
no known process but fermentation
alternates the sugar.

In accordance with the foregoing,
wine freed from gluten by air-treat-
ment should have received full pro-
tection against future disturbance, and
the results obtained corroborate the
assumption ; not only after but dui'ing
fermentation, a security is obtained
which heretofore was wanting, this
most important part of all wine mak-
ing, the fermentation, placed under the
control of time.

(.To le continued.)

EECOLLECTIONS.

BY FR. MUENCH.

I was greatl}' rejoiced at finding in
the January number of the Grape
CuLTURiST, two communications from
our old and venerable friend, I. B.
Garbei-. In writing these few lines,
I intend to send him my heartiest
greetings and most friendly wishes
from the far West. 1 shall never for-
get the day (it vras during the Fre-
mont campaign, in the fall of 1856,)
when I called at his charming country-

seat, not far from Lancaster, Pa., and
for the first time met him eye to eye,
and shall ever remember the broth-
erly kindness with which he received
and treated me. He showed me what
he had achieved in his younger years,
and Avhat ho was still aiming at in his
old age. Wo discussed the grape
question ; it was just the time when
the excitement, caused by Mr. Long-
worth's success with the Catawba, was

74

The Grape Culturist.

succeeded b}^ a universal despondency
of the many who saw their expenses
and labor unrepaid by that wliimsical
grape. What was to be done? We
had alread}^ exchanged, and afterwards
continued to exchange what either of
us had procured, and placed some
hopes upon for final success. It was,
however, little more than groping in
the dark — noble exertions accompanied
by no adequate results. Counted are
the days of the Albine, Mary Ann, Gar-
rigues, Louisa, Ozark and hosts of
others, then on trial. Yet the una-
bated efforts of the many friends of
the noble cause were not in vain.
Step by step we substituted the more
valuable for the inferior, and now be-
hold a success of which none of us at
that time could have dreamed. Surely,
we have not yet accomplished all we
desire, and there are still liiglier aims
before us ; but how gratifjdng it is that

even the oldest of us, who from the be-
ginning, and under never ceasing dis-
appointments, fought the battle with all
the manifold obstacles, have been
spared to see the day when wine gi'ow-
ing is no more a play-thing in the
hands of the amateur, or a venturous ex-
periment, but a solid business of large
dimensions, giving pleasant and re-
munerating employment to thousands ;
graduall}^ working a change for the bet-
ter in the taste of the mass, in the social
life of a whole nation, and raising our
people to a higher degree of culture
and true refinement, than was attaina-
ble whilst whisky was monarch ! Who,
after once having enjoyed the pleasure
of tending the noble vine, and filling
his cellar with its precious gifts, would
ever renounce it? I for one, if J were
to do so, could hardl}' feel at home in
this world any longer.

MARYLAND GRAPE GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

Mr. Editor : An informal meet-
ing of a number of grape growers of
the State of Maryland ^vas held in
the early part of January, at the res-
idence of G. II. Mittnacht, Esq.,
Pikesville, Md. A number of wines
furnished through the kindness of
Mr. Mittnacht, w^cre submitted to the
taste of those present. They con-
sisted of Delaware, Herbemont, Cat-
awba, Roger's No. 1 and 9, Norton's
Virginia, Clinton, North Carolina and
Concord, and were grown by the
Bluffton Wine Company, of Missouri.
Samples of young wines of Norton's
Yirginia, Ives and Concord w^ere ex-
hibited by Mr. Charles T. Schmidt,

and of the Concord by Mr. E. P. Hip-
pie. The vineyards of Mr. Schmidt,
which were visited by several of those
present, were considered as extremely
promising. The}' are elegantly lo-
cated on the Patapsco river, about
six miles from Baltimore, and consist
at present of about twenty-live acres,
planted principally in Norton's Vir-
ginia, Ives and Concord. The condi-
tion of the vine3'artl reflects much
credit upon the industry and perse-
verance of the proprietor.

A temporary organization of a
grape grower's association was ef-
fected by the appointment of G. H.
Mittnacht, of the LylePark Vinej'ards

Grapes in Oregon.

to

as president pro tem, and E. P. Hip-
pie, of the Bohemia Vineyards as sec-
retary pro tem. A number of com-
munications had been received from
grape growers in the State, and an

early call will be made upon them for
a meeting to effect a permanent or-
ganization. Respectfully yours,

Edward P. IIipple,

llOUKMIAVlXErARDS, TOWN POIKT, CECIL CO ,Md.

From the Horticulturist.

GPtAPES IN OREGON IN 1869.

I have just returned from the State |
Fair at Salem, and deem it a good |
opportunity to give you some ac- i
count of the grape culture this year :
in Oregon. The fair in all its depart- |
ments was a grand success, and was ;
attended by a vast concourse of peo-
ple—estimated at 25,000. The show ;
of flowers, vegetables and fruits, was \
very tine. Of grapes, I saw some 1
thirty-five varieties, comprising the j
best native and foreign kinds, all |
grown in the open air, and thoroughly |
ripened. Magnificent bunches of j
Black Hamburg, Ptoyal Muscadine,
Chasselas Ptose, and Chasselus Violet,
hung side by side with Concord, Del-
aware, lona, Israella, Hartford, Crev-
eling, etc., all equally healthy and
beautiful. Of course, the earlier
kinds, as Allen's Hybrid, Black July,
Hartford, Red Tramiuer, etc., were
more or less shriveled, having been
ripe fully two months. Chasselas
Eose^ Black Spanish, and White
Muscat were barelj- ripe. I was par-
tic ularly pleased with the Traminer
a grape somewhat resembling the
Delaware, but with larger bunches
and a great bearer ; in quality it is
first-rate. Of native varities, the
Allen's Il3"brid with mo is the earliest,
and I think best ; but it is hafd to
decide between that and Delaware.
Tons of grapes were offered for sale

on the fair ground. I bought Black
Hamburg's, averaging one and a half
pounds to the bunch, for six cents per
pound. The best vineyard in Oregon
is situated near the Wilamette river,
at Butteville. It occupies the south-
east slope of a high butte or hill,
which rises out of the prairie. The
vines, comprising about fifty kinds,
all foreign, are planted about three
feet apart each way, and are culti-
vated entirely by hand, and are
trained to stakes. The prunino- is
very simple. Two or three canes are
allowed to grow this season, and at
the pruning season one of them is
cut back to six or eight buds for fruit-
ing next year; one of the others,
with the cane Avhich bore this year, is
cut entirel}^ away, and the remaining
cane is cut to tvro or three buds, to
grow two or three canes next jQar.
The bearing canes arc not tied up,
but are allowed to lie on the ground
with their load of fruit, and in conse-
quence some of the grapes were dam-
aged by our early rains. I visited
this vineyard in September, and at
that time the Avhole face of the hill
was literally covered with the beau-
tiful clusters, some of them weighing-
four pounds, and of all colors. It
was a beautiful sight, and interested
me exceedingly. A. R. Shipley.

Oswego, Ohkcox, October 00, 1860.

76

The Grange Culturist.

From the Horticulturist.

TEST OF GRA.PES AT NEWBUEG.

In the November number of yoxxv
valuable journal, j'ou called the atten-
tion of your readers to the exhibition
of the Newburg Bay Horticultural
Societ}', and the display of fruits
and grapes exhibited there. In this
vicinitj', the subject of grape culture
is exciting a more than ordinary
degree of interest, and is made a
specialty by several of our horticul-
turists, prominent among whom is
James II. Eicketts, whose display of
fi'uits and grapes at the exhibition
■contributed so largely to its success.

Mr. R. has labored with care and
patience, and we think with some
measure of success, in improving the
•quality of our native grapes, both for
table and wine making. "We have
thought that a statement of his pro-
gress in that direction might prove
of interest to some of your readers.
For several years past ho has been
hybridizing with great care, and at
our last exhibition prod heed a few
bunches of a hybrid grape, now in its
second j-ear from the seed, which
gives promise of superior excellence
for table use. lie has also^ now in
its second year of bearing, a seedling
grape, which we are inclined to think
possesses unusual qualities for the
purpose of wine-making.

This fall, after the grape had ma-
tured, he invited a number of his
friends to meet with him while he
pressed the grape, and tested the
must. We were present, Avith Mr.
Charles Downing and others, as wit-
nesses. The must, pressed from this

young seedling grape, registered one
hundred and six and a half degrees.
The wish having been expressed to
see it compared with other grapes
raised by Mr. Eicketts under similar
circumstances, we proceeded to test
the following grapes with these re-
sults, namely :

Eebecca 09 degrees.

Hartford 71 "

Concord 73 "

Isabella 76 "

Maxatawnj' 76 "

Catawba 80 ''

Herbemont 88i "

Diana 91 "

Iowa 94 "

Lenoir 95 ''

Clinton 97^1 "

Delaware 113 "

The instrument used was Oechsle's
must scale. The grapes were all
raised by Mr. Eicketts, except the
Clinton, and were in fine Condition.
The Delawares were especially well
ripened, and considerabl}' shriveled.
The must of the seedling is a deep
but pure bright red,* comparing most
favorably in color with any we have
ever seen. Its promise is spoken of
most favorably by experts who have
seen it. 8.

Newiuiu;, X. v., Novemlier, I8ii).

[A very interesting report, and we
wouM like to hear more of this ncAV
candidate for making red Avine.
Should like to test it here and report.
—Ed. G. C]

German Wine Songs.

77

<l

GERMAN WINE SONGS.

The iuhabitants of the German
''Vaterland" Lave been renowned,
from time immemorial, not alone as
diligent cultivators of the grape and
ready consumers of its precious juice,
but also for their innumerable wine
songs, which the latter had inspired.
We are sorry to saj' that our poetic
vein, if Ave ever had one, has long
ago ceased to flow, or we would
be pleased to translate and trans-
230se some of the many gems of
that kind, with which our German
literature abounds. The following
excellent translation of one of
the most popular, we cull from our
"scrap book," for we wish our readers
to enjo}^ the quaint humor which per-
vades it throughout, and which the
translator has rendered with a fidel-
ity, which makes the translation nearly
as good as the original of Ivopisch. It
is called :

FATHER NOAH, THE FIRST WINE GROAVER. >

"Wlien Noah left bis floating frame ,

Our Lord to fatlier Noah came; |

He prized his pious ofl'ering, '

And spake : ' ' Thou 'st done a goodly thing,

And, to reward thy piety ,

Thou mav'st e'en choose a boon from me."

Then to the Lord old Noah said :

" The water now tastes rather bad,

The whilst there have been di'owued therein

All beast and mankind in their sin;

'T is, therefore, Lord, I even think,

I should prefer some other drink."

"Whereat the Lord to Eden went,

And brought him thence the grape vine ' s plant,

And gave him counsel and advice

To tend this shrub of Paradise,

And bid him nurse it carefully; —

It pleased old Noah wondrously!

He made a solemn household call ,
And summoned wife and child and all.
And planted vines, where'er they 'd grow;
Forsooth, old Noah was not slow, —
He pressed the grape and built a cave ,
And put it into casks to save.

Old Noah, grateful for the boon.

Cask upon cask did open soon.

And with sincerest piety

Did empty them most willingly.

And drank yet, since the flood was o'er,

Three hundred years and fifty more.

This to each prudent man does show
From ih'inking wine no harm can flow.
And Christian folks it warns more o'er.
No water in their wine to pour,
The whilst there have been drowned therein
All beast and mankind in their sin.

We acknowledge the receipt of an
invitation to be present at the fif-
tieth birth-day of D. D. T. Moore,
and twentieth anniversary of the
Rural Neio Yorker on Wednesday,
February 2, at his residence in New
York.

We regret that we could not be
present at the celebration of such a
happy event, but wish friend Moore
many pleasant returns of the da}', and
that he and his paper may live and
prosper as they so well deserve.

Ed.

78

The Grape Culturist.

I

OBITUARY.

Died suddenly at his residence near
Hermann, on the 9th of February, of
paralysis of the heart, William Poe-
schel, in the 42d year of his life. This
announcement came all the more un-
expected to us, as we had had the
pleasure of a visit from the deceased
only two days before, and though he
had been ailing for several years, we
did not expect so sudden a termina-
tion of an eminently useful life.

He was one of those earnest, think-
ing and working grape growers, who,
with but an indifferent education, but
with indomitable industry and per-
severance, make their way against all
obstacles, and achieve success. Com-
mencing in 1849, on an uncultivated
piece of land near Hermann, with but
very small means, except his own in-
dustrious and ever-willing hands and
brain, and the help of a young and
equally industrious wife, he planted
his first vines, Catawbas, in 1849, made
his first wine, about one hundred and
fifty gallons, in fall of 1851, and stored
in casks buried in the ground, as he
had not funds enough to build a cellar.
We made his acquaintance in 1852, on
our return from California, tasted of his
first wine, and as our pursuits and in-
clinations tended to the same objects,
soon became fast friends, and fre-
quently exchanged ideas and experi-
ences. Poeschel was a very close ob-

server, an indefatigable experimenter
and could reason soundly upon his ex-
perience. We gratefully acknowledge
that we have learned much, very
much, from him. He it was who first
called our attention to the vast im-
poi'tance of early summer pruning and
thinning the fruit; he was without a
doubt, one of the best, if not the best,
grape growers around Hermann, and
his vineyards and orchards soon be-
came famous, as well as his wines.
We have tasted of every vintage, ex-
cept his last, and can justly say, that
we generally found them at the head
of the list. But in his zeal, and his
anxiety to perform all the nicer opera-
tions himself, he often spent whole
nights in the cellar, watching the fer-
mentation of his young wines, and this
more than anything else, undermined
his naturally strong constitution, and
made him an invalid for the greater
part of the last three j-ears. We
heartily sympathize with his afflicted
family, a wife, and seven children, in
their sad bereavement ; and feel that
one has left our ranks, whose place is
not easily filled, one of the most use-
ful members of society, and who has
done much, by the silent teachings of
his practice, to advance American
gi'ape culture, and win a " habitation
and a name" for American Avines.

Ed

We call the attention of those of our
grape growing friends, who wish to
obtain trellis wire and staples, to the
card of Messrs. Sellew & Co., in our
advertising columns, and think that
they will find it to their advantage to

i

get their supply from that firm, who
are the agents of the Washburn k
Moen Manufacturing Company, of
Worcestei", ^ilass., and an old and reli-
able firm.

On Our Table — Zymoteclmic News.

79

ON OUR TABLK.

We are crowded with exchanges,
catalogues, and all kinds of favors
from friends, and confess our utter
inability to notice thera all as they
deserve, although we would like very
much to do so. But a few of the
most prominent we cannot omit to
notice.

Second Revised Edition of " Doicn-
ing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of Amer-
ica. This splendid w^ork of nearly
1,900 pages, of the size of a family
bible, Avas sent to us by friend Down-
ing, and is a striking evidence of the
indeftxtigable industry and compre-
hensive knowledge of this veteran
pomologist. Our readers can form
some idea of the vast field reviewed, if
we inform them that the index of fruits
alone occupies 90 pages, double col-
umn. The task, so well begun by A.
J. Downing, has been worthily com-
pleted by his indefatigable brother,
and a sort of awe creeps over us when
we think of the immense labor, the
earnest research and vast knowledge
requisite for such a task. That
slight mistakes should occur in a

work as comprehensive as this, is but
natural, and w^e are only surprised
that there ai'e not a great many more.
Altogether it is an indispensable work
to ever}^ pomologist, and the most re-
liable guide in nomenclature we pos-
sess.

Scraps. This is the title of a small
volume, compiled for circulation
among the patrons of the Monthly
Statistics. It contains legends, songs,
etc., mostly translated from the Ger-
man, and the song Noah's Legacy,
which our readers will find in our next
number^ is a sample of one of the trans-
lations. We intend to cull more from
its pages.

Second Annual Report Rllnols Indus-
trial University. This seems to be a
very flourishing institution, and sets
our Scate a noble example to quit
wrangling over the location of our
agricultural college, but locate it and
work it judiciously. It contains
many valuable essays from Warder,
Hull, Flagg, and others equally well
known in horticulture and agricul-
ture.

ZYMOTECHNIC NEWS.

The first No. of this new 3Ionthly is
before us, and contains the following
articles: "Chemistry of Fermenta-
tion," "Zymotic Fungus," "Racking
off Wine," " Improvement of Wine by
Electricity," " Calculation of the abso-
lute per centage of sugar in Must,"
"Glj'cerine in Wine." These relate to
our specialty, wine ; there are besides
a number of articles on brewing, man-
ufacturing of spirits, vinegar, etc.

Mr. Frings informs us, that the first
number was unavoidably delayed, but
that the second will follow immediate-
l}', and that his subscription list is in-
creasing rapidly. As the grape gi'ow-
ing public needs all the information
obtainable on these important subjects,
we hail this accession to our list of
exchanges with pleasure, being satis-
fied that a great deal of knowledge can
be culled from its pages.

80

The Grape Culturist.

EDITOE'S LETTER BOX.

Arenzville, January 20, ]870.

Mr. Geo. Husmann, Bhiffton, Mo. :

Dear Sir : In the December num-
ber of the Grape Culturist, 3-011 are
expressing a doubt, whether you will
continue the publishing of the Grape
Culturist or not; but I would ea}^,
"Do not give np the ship/' and I
hope that you will get enough sub-
scribers, so that you will be enabled
to go ahead with it. Please set me
down as one of your subscribers. I
would enclose you the subscription
price, but I have hopes of getting up
a small club here, and I will send the
money together.

I see in the description of varieties
you give in one number of the
Grape Culturist, that you have not
fruited the Miles there. I will give
you my experience with it. About
three years ago I received of George
W. Campbell, of Ohio, among others,
three vines of the Miles. They grew
well, and this last summer they bore
a small crop of grapes, bunches small,
berries medium, of a poor frost flavor.
It has nothing to recommend it, save
its easiness of propagation of the
• wood, of which every eye, with a
little care, will grow, and make a
strong plant in one jear. It is a day
or two earlier than Hartford, but can
bear no comparison with it in yield
and quality of fruit. I don't want it.
Mottled bore a few bunches of
small size, berries medium, finely
colored, but the vines lost their leaves
too soon. I cannot call it valuable.
Could I have but three grapes for
table and wine, I would select, with
jny present experience, the folloAying :

Creveling, Delaware, Cynthiana; with
three more, they would be Concord
Hartford, Norton's Virginia ; but have
also good hopes of the Martha, Her-
bemont, llulander, and some of
Piodger's Hybrids, all of which fruited
with me the last summer.

If I can make it convenient next
summer, I shall visit Bluffton and
Hermann sometime.

Yours truly,

Henry Tiemeyer.

[TJianks for your notes on those
grapes. Shall be glad to see 3-ou any
time. — Ed.]

Warsaw, III,, January 31, 1870.

Editor ; I have an acre of Cataw-
bas that have never succeeded very
well that I intend to take up in Springy
and would like to have you name
some grape to replace with. I want a
grape that is hard}^, that will make a
white wine, and that will also do for
market. The land laj's on a ridge,,
about 100 3'ards wide with deep hol-
lows on each side. Is a blue or gray
loam with cla}^ subsoil. Have now
Concord, Clinton and J^orton's. Have
seen Martha and Rogers' JSTo. 1 spoken
well off; which of the two is best for
me. Respectfully, Subscriber.

[Both of the varieties you mention,
would, we think, suit your purpose f
they are both so good that we are un-
decided which to give the preference^
Goethe is the largest and most showy
grape of the two, ripens late, and
will keep well. Martha ripens before
the Concord, and would do well for
earlier marketing. Plant both and
you cannot go amiss. — Editor.}

Editors' Letter Box.

81

BuiGHTOX, Feb. 10, 1809.

Mr. George IIcsjiaxn :

I was gratified to see j'ou recom-
mend, in the Cultukist, racking off
wine from the lees. There has long
been a tradition that wine had better
stand on the lees after fermentation,
perhaps derived from a passage of
Scripture. V.y experience in wine-
making is quite limited ; have experi-
mented onl}- the last two seasons ;
have had a good deal of practice fer-
menting, refining and tampering with
cider for thirty years, and I know
there is nothing so injurious to cider
as to allow it to stand on a bucket full
of nast}^ sour sediment in the bottom
of barrels ; it sours immediately, and
affects the whole. I never could con-
ceive why it should not affect wine in
the same wa^-.

If we could learn some process b}'
which we could perfectl}- fine wine
and cider immediately after fermenting,
it would be one of the most useful dis-
coveries ever made.

I was also gratified to hear j-ou re-
commend longer pruning of the vine ;
to leave twice as much bearing wood
a*? has been the common practice. It
is the opinion of many of the best
grape growers in Ohio that the Catawba
wine was ruined by too much cutting ;
I think there is truth in that; such
strong growers as the Concord have
such an immense root power . to throw
up sap, it requires more wood and foli-
age to receive and elaborate it, not
necessarily more bunches. I am aware
there is such a thing as overworking a
vine the present season, so as to injure
it for future crops. This may be rem-
edied by thinning the bunches when
small.

I wish to ask a question : I have-
been fall plowing my Concord vines,
planted eight feet each way. In
plowing deep between the rows, I find
it cuts and mutilates the ends of the-
roots some ; does it injure them or not?
As root pruning is becoming popular
it occurred to me that if I call it root
pruning it might not injure them.

A. A. HiLLIARD.

[We think the excellent article of
Mr. D'lleureuse, which we publish in
this Number, will give us a method of
racking our wines earlier than it has
been done so far. The overbearing of
the vine can be prevented by early
pinching, leaving only the finest
bunches and most vigorous shoots.

We have been plowing vines in the
fall for fifteen years, and think it a
ver^'' important operation. It covers-
all the leaves, and thus lightly' manures
the vines with the most grateful food
they can have, exposes the soil to the
ameliorating influence of the atmo-
sphere, serves as a partial protection
to the crown of the vine, and prevents
washing. We have never plowed sO'
deep as to lacerate the larger roots,,
and do not think it injurious if some of
the surface roots are cut at that dist-
ance from the vine, as they will throw
out smaller spongioles in spring. The
operation has always benefited our
vines very much, and, as the saying is,
"The proof of the pudding is in the
eating," we think we can safely recom-
mend it. — Ed.]

Peouia, Jan. 30, 1870.

Mr. George Husmann, Bluffton :

Dear >S<>.— Inclosed find $2 25 for
your Grape Cultukist and the Ger-
man edition of the Zymotechnic News.

82

The Grape Culturist.

Allow me at the same time a few i*e-
marks about those papers. Your
Grape Culturist I think is necessary
for every one who cultivates the grape,
and I know from experience it has
clone and will do good. But, ray dear
sir, please remember that you find
among all the grape growers in this
country three-fifths whose experience
in grape growing is but a few j'ears
old^ therefore give us your Grape
CuLTCRisT in the most plain, distinct,
and clearest way possible. You will
always have among your readers a
goodly number who do not know the
meaning of " renewal system of train-
ing," " spurrengin," ''spur pruned,"
and other such expressions. IIow few
of your readers Jvuow anything about
making Avine, and also about a good
many expressions related thereto-
Please tell us this year in plain words
how to train best the ditferent varieties,
how to raise spurs o\\ old arms for the,
as you say, " Cordifolia" class,(why not
"Frost Grape ?") and how to treat each
variety of grape best to make it into
wine, how to handle must, to weigh it,
how warm it ought to be, and whether
the must to be weiglied, han to be
filtered, and all such things.

I have growing about 2,000 apples,
500 pears, plums, etc., about 5,000
grape vines, some forty varieties, all
planted with my own hands in the last
six years, and most of it raised myself,
because I am a poor man. Now, I
have to know how to make wine, citier,
vinegar, etc., and to make good arti-
cles which can be sold. "Will the
^^JVeios" teach me those things? I am
afraid not ; they may be good enough
for those men who know how to make
these thing?;, and, as that sample cop}-^

says, will tell such producers the new
improvements and diseoveries ; but I
wish before anything it would give us
the ABC in sucli matters. There are
hundreds and hundreds in such situa-
tions, and almost every year thousands
of dollars worth of fruit is gone to
waste, because we don't know how to
produce a merchantable product of it.
Yours truly, Ed. Roelfs.

[We confess that the above acted
rather depressing upon our feelings^
for several reasons. We had so far
been vain enough to suppose that we
could write plain English, nay had
even thought we \\ ere too plain some-
times, to judge from letters received
fi*om others ; we had also believed that
all of our grape growers could under-
stand us, and that nearly every one was
familiar with the meaning of such words
as our correspondent mentions ; and,
lastl}', we thought that the letter box
was open to every one, if he wished
information, to ask it, and we would
try to furnish it. We judge, however,
from the tone ot his letter, that he is
not ignorant of the meaning of all the
terms, and if he will ask information
on " one at a time," we will tiy and
give it to him or any one else of our
readers, in the plainest terms we are
able to use. Therefore, good friends,
send in your questions and we will an-
swer if we can ; although we do not
profess to ""know every thing," and
hope to learn a good deal from you.
Of course, 'we cannot say what the
" Zymotechnic News " will do, but we
know friend Frings to be accommoda-
ting, and think he will also tiy to in-
form you as " well " as he knows how.
Thanks for the interesting statistics
sent. Can you not also tell us how

Kdltor's Letter JBox.

88

maiu' acres were in bearing in your
neighborhood, what they produced, etc. ?
We want all such facts. — Editor.]

Cxi^TOx, IlEKiiY Co., JNIo., January iii, It^TO.

Mr. Geo. Husmaxn :

Dear Sir : I have two acres of Nor-
ton and Concord, and as promising
a young vineyard as I ever saw. My
Concords bore a few bunches last year,
and all ni}^ vines made an immense
growth of wood. I have about 100
Taylor's ; they have run over all crea-
tion, and although only two years old,
(some of them) have canes near the
ground as big as a child's wrist. I am
at a loss how to prune them, having
neglected it till now. You say in your
work " it requires long pruning on
spurs to bring out its fruitfulness."
Not being a vine dresser of very long
experience, I am not quite sure that I
understand your meaning, but suppose
it to be to prune the main cane long,
leaving two or three buds on a number
of spurs. If it would not be trespass-
ing too much on your valuable time,
will 5'ou write me just a few words on
this subject. Your attention to this
will greatly oblige your friend and obe-
dient servant. Wm. A. Dukcan.

P. S. Seriously is the Norton and the
Cynthiana identical ? D.

[You are correct in the treatment of
the Taylor you propose. Leave the
main canes long^ and cut back the side
branches, or laterals, to from two to five
buds each, according to their size and
strength. Leave these old arms, if they
have produced healthy, vigorous 3'oung
shoots ; the next \'ear cutout the weak,
imperfect wood, and then cut hack the
strongest of the young shoots, to two
to three eyes. They will not produce
their best fruits until the fourth and
fifth seasons after planting.

The C3'nthiana and Norton are not
alike, although verj'- similar in growths
and foliage. The Cj-nthiana berr}^ is

somewhat larger, bunch more compact
and shouldered, sweeter, and makes a
much more delicate wine, of different
flavor from the Norton, decidedly ; to
our taste, the best red wine yet pro-
duced in America. — Editor]

Macon City, February in, J 870.

Mr. Geo. Husmann, Bluffton :

Sir : My object in writing is to ask
your opinion in regard to grafting the
grape. I have read 3'our work on
grape and wine, but there is still room
for improvement. This differs in in-
serting the graft on the side instead
of splitting the stock as shown in your
work on grajDe. You will see the en-
closed is inserted a sufficient distance
below the rim or crown so as not to
break the rim of the same, allowing
also a greater number of grafts to be
inserted on the same stock.
Please answer by retuim mail.
Yours respectfully,

J". E. McLaughlin.
[We are well aware that there is
much '^ room for improvement "' over
our little work published in 1866. We
are progi'essing so fast in grape culture
that any book, however timely when
published, will soon fall behind the
new discoveries. Besides, it gives
only the author's views, and is there-
fore necessarily somewhat one-sided.
It w^as to obviate this that we started
the Grape Culturist, in which all can
give and exchange their ideas, and
which can keep its readers " posted "
on all new improvements. The pro-
cess of grafting you describe, is a
good one, as the sajD vessels are cut
through obliquely on the stock, as
they are in the scion, and thus gives a
better chance for uniting and an un-
interrupted flow of sap. It is better
adapted to small stocks, however, than
old vines. You will find it described
in February No., page 41, of Vol. I,
G. 0. which we send 3'ou. — Editor.]

84 Grcqye CuUurist Advertising Sheet.

du% $l^i$i$«

B}^ special agreement with tlie publishers, wo are enabled to club the Gkape
CuLTUKiST with the following journals, at the annexed rales:

Grape Culturist and Journal of Agriculture $3 00

" " American Entomologist 3 00

" " Colmau's Kural "World 3 00

" " Horticulturist 3 50

" " Zymotechnic News (English and German) 2 25

To those sending us the narnes and post office address of six subscribers, we
we will furnish the sixth co])y free.

Vol. I. will still be furnished at the reduced rate of $1, complete. To those
who desire it bound, we will furnish it bound in muslin, with index and title page,
at $2.25, post paid ; or they can be supplied with the coA-er at $1.00 each.

Cash Advertising Terms for 1870.

TWENTY CENTS PEU LINE, AGATE TYPE, EACH INSERTION.

Cover Pages Twenty-Five Cents per Lins.

BUSIXESS CAIJDS, FIVE TO SIX LINES EACH, 815 PER ANXUM.

FRUIT GROWING FOR PROFIT.

Everybody can have the benefit of thivtv vears' experieTice. in niv new Descrijitive Catalogue of 56
pages, for 10c. It tells what and how to plant. WM. PARRY, Cinnaminson, N. J.

mar70-lt

GREENHOUSE AND BEDDING PL ANTS.

Our new Illustrated Catalogue, cuutaiuiiig lists of Stove and IJediling Plantw and Flower Seeds.
Hardy Herbaceous Plants, Dahlias, Ghiiliolus, Lilies, and other Bulbs, is now ri-adv, and will be mailed
to all aijplicants. Postage prepaid . Address MICHEL BROS. "& KERN,

marTO-tf 107 JSTorth Fifth Street, St. liouis. Mo.

blj^ve "X'Oxj C3-OT is/i j^^"t:h: JL ?

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUITS.
[Nursery Established in 1857.]

A splendid stock of Vines and Plants are offered the coming Fall and Springs
including nearly every variety known to be of valuu. The popular and white Grape

MARTHA, OR {WHITE CONCORD,)

In large or small quantities. Also, Arnold's new Hybrids, Eumelan, Walter, "Wee-
hawken, Clmstine, Iline, and all valuable numbers of Rogers' Hybrids; also,
Delaware, lona, Israella, Concord, Hartford, Ives, Norlon's Virginia, etc., etc., in
all about one hundred distinct varieties.

Kittatinny Blackberries and Clarke Raspberries in large quantities, Jucuuda
and Charles Downing Strawberries, Downing's Seedling Goo.sebcrries, Cherry,
Versailles, White Grape, and Black Naples Currants, etc., etc.

Send stamps for Illustrated Catalogue and Price Lists to

api-69-tf GF.O. W. CAMPBELL. Delaware, Ohio.

Grape Vines, Strawberry Plants, Raspberry, Blackberry & (iooseberry.

Also, a few Peach and Cherry Trees, the finest growths. Particular attentioH
will be paid to small orders of plants to be sent by mail. For sale by

SAMVCL. MIL.I.ER, Bliifitou, Mo.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheeet.

mrmLOTiicm,mic Nxsmrs.

Por all Branches of Fermentic Arts— Manufacturing of
Wine, Beer, Spirits, Vinegar and Yeast.

THE '• ZYMOTECHXIC XEWS " will give a iletailed record and discussion of all improvements
which ol)tiun publicity, both in the Old and New World The more important ones of these im-
lirovemcnts « ill be subjected to the most careful tests in the chemical laboratories and technic establish-
ments, amoly at the editur's disposal, and the results thus gained will also lorm part of the communi-
cations of the "ZYMOTECHNIC XEWS."

The "ZYM(H'ECHXIC NEWS" will appear both in ENGLISH and GERMAN, and the yearly sub-
scription for each one of the two editions is but $1 in advance.

ONLY ONE DOLLAR A YEAR!

All Business Men standing in any practical relations to Zymotechnic Pursuits, more particularly
Producers of Wine, Brewers, JJistillers, Kectifiers, Wine and LLjuor Dealers, Vinegar and Yeast Man-
ufacturers, ought to subscribe for a copy of the ' ' ZYMOTECHNIC NENV^S ' ' in order to rest assured that
nothing new in the technical appliances of their pursuit will escape their notice. If but once in a while
a single item of interest and value to themselves has been made available, the small expense of $1 a year
will "have possibly been repaid a hundred-fold m a short time.

All letters and remittances are to be directed to the undersigned.

N. B. Corresponilence conducted in English, French and German,

P. O. Box 2,742.

St Loris, Mo., December, ISiJO.

CHAS. H. FRINGS, Editor,

202 Soutb Fourth Street.

jan70-tf

STAPLE.S, run 72 to the pound ]4@15cper lb

13 Weighs 7^ pounds to 100 feet, or 3S0 pounds to the mile 7|c ' '

' 100

G

12 K

323

.")

100

' 2(U

4

100

' 211

3

100

' 163

. . .7ic ' '

...8ic "

. .Sic • '

, ..9c "

A large stock on hand and for sale in quantities to suit, by

E. SELLEW & CO.,
.TO;u-o-2t 805 N. Main Street, St. Louis.

Grape Culturist Advertisinff Sheet.

FOR

RAFTING OR PROPAGATING.

2 50

3 50

I CO

I 00

75

:ts

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

CYNTHIANA $ 5 00 per 100 $35 00 per 1,000 eyes.

HERMANN 1000

MARTHA 3 00

DEVEREAUX 2 50

RULANDER 2

LOUISIANA 3

MAXATAWNEY

TELEGRAPH

CASSADY

CREVELING

GOETHE

lONA

ISRAELLA

LINDLEY, (Rogers' 9)

MASSASOIT, (Rogeis' 3)....

MERRIMACK, (Rogers' 19)..

NORTH CAROLINA SEED-
LING 75

ROGERS' HYBRIDS, Nos. 2,
«^i2 75

SALEM 75

WILDER, (Rogers' 4) 75

HERBEMONT Cuttings, 9 to I3 in., trim'd ready for plant'g 10 00 per i ,000.

DELAWARE " " " " 10 00 "

Hartford Prolific " " " " ^ 00 "

IVES' " '' " " 5 00

Cuttings will be shipped by express or freight, and an additional charge of
30 cents per 1000 for boxes and packing be added. Freight to be paid by
purchaser.

WE HAVE A LIMITED QUANTITY OF

WOOD FROM BEARING VINES,

From our former Vineyards at Hermann, for Sale.

All who wish to try them, will be furnished at the above rates, by addressing
Small packages will be sent by mail, post paid.

GEORGE HUSMANN,

BLUFFTON, MO.

75

00

25

00

20

00

20

00

S

00

S

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

THEI HORTICUI^TURIST

AXD

JOURNAL OF RURAL ART AND RURAL TASTE.

(ESTABLISHED BY A. J. DOWNING, 1846.)

Devoted to Horticulture, Landscape Gardening, Rural Architecture, Rural Emhellishments,

Pomology, Floriculture, and all subjects of Rural Life, Literature, Art and Taste.

HENRY T. WILLIAMS, Editor and Proprietor.

SUBSCRIPTION TERMS.— Kegular Subscription, S2 50 per annum. Monthly Numbers,

25 cents. JSI. B. All suhscripi Ions strivthj in advance. (J^^ To prevent loss of money through the

mail, subscribers will please transmit Cheek. Draft, or Postal Money Order for amount. "NYe

cannot be responsible for sums sent in any other way and lost.

CLUB TERMS.
3 copies to 1 P. O. address, ^1.75 [$2.25 each]. 10 copies to 1 P. 0. address, |1T.50 [$1.75 each].
5 •' " " 10.00[2.00 " ]. 20 "• 1 " 30.00 [ 1.50 '' ].

An extra copy sent free to the former of clubs of five, ten or twenty subscribers. Illustrated
Prospectus free on receipt of Postage Stamp . Advertising Rates— 25 cents, per agate line,
each insertion. Address, HENllY T. WILLIAMS, 7 Murray street. New York. P O. Box,
2445. The Horticulturist ior l^Qd tmd 1870, unbound will be s'upphed at $4.50. Bound volumes
for 1869, S3. 00 each.

PATENTED AUG. Gth, 1867, AND AUG. Sd ISGD.

For FERMENTATION and GERMINATION, and for PRESERVING, PURIFYING
and IMPROVING of Organic Substances.

Exceedingly useful in Malting, Brewing, Distilling, Baking, Manufacture of Wine, Cider,
Fruit Wines, Fruit Brandies, Vinegar, etc.; in Sugar Works, Oil Works, Mauuf;icture of Ex-
tracts, Preserves; iu Storehouses, Transportation of Grain. Produce, Fruit; Purltie-ation of
Water, etc. , etc.
^-W Rights for States, Counties, Districts, or Establishments, for sale. Apply to

P. 0. Box 6844.

R. D'HEUREUSE, New York.

I^XJBLISHED ^ISriD FOR S^LE

Sl\ LOUIS, 3IO.

MuENcn, FiiEDEiiiCK, School for American Grape Culture. Brief but thorough

guide to the laying" out of vineyards, the ti-eatment of vines and the production

of wine in North America.
MuENCH, F., Amerikanische Weinhausclnde unci Weinbereitmigsle7i7'e, etc.

Eitlier one of these books will be mailed free of postage on receipt of one dollar.
HusMANN, George, The Cidtivation of the Natioe Grape and Manufacture of

American Wines.

On the receipt of $1 50 this book will be mailed to any address.
Schmidt, J. A., The Diseases of Wine, how to prevent and how to cure them,

according to the doctrines of M. Pasteur.

This book will be sent, free of postage, on receipt of $2.

C. WITTER keeps a large assortment of books treating on the Culture oi
Grapes and Manufacture of Wines.

Catalogues sent on application. Please address letters,

jau69-tf

CONRAD T\T[TTEPt,

122 Si E. corner Walnut and Second Sts., St. Louis,

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUIT,

Warranted Genuine and of Superior Quality, in Large Quantities, at

Reduced Rates.

-CONCORD per 10,000 $250.00 iMARTIIA, extra strong per 100 $ 75.00

" per 5,000 1'2:).00 CYNTHIAXA, " per 100 100.00

" per 1,000 35.00 IVES, " per 1,000 50.00

HARTFORD PROL per 1,000 45.00 " per 100 6.00

" " per 100 6.00 RULANDER, " per 100 30.00

Forprices of all other Varieties, we refer to oiir PRICE LIST (gratis), and to our new HjLUS-

TRATED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE, containing valuable information on grapes and grape

culture, which will be mailed, free of postage, to any addre.'?.s, on receipt of 25 cents.

A GERMAN EDITION of same, by Fr. Muench, price 25 ceut.s (less than cost), has just been

published Please address

jan69-tf ISIDOR BUSH & SON, Bushberg, Jefferson Co., Mo.

The Bluffton "Wine Company

Offer a large stock of thrifty, finely rooted GRAPE YINES of all valuable and
popular varieties, together with all novelties in this line.

Large quantities of leading varieties will be furnished at a very liberal dis-
count on list prices.

Descriptive priced Catalogues sent to any address on application to

WILLIAM WESSELHOFT, Secretary,
jan69-tf Bliifftofif Mlssouri,

COOPER,

1618 Jackson street, St. Louis, Missouri,

Offers his services to Wine Dealers, as manufacturer of all kinds of casks, fer-
menting vats and cellar apparatus. He guarantees satisfactory work and lowest
prices. Refers to some of the principal wine dealers in the State of Missouri, for
whom he has made casks and vats for a number of years, and especially to the
I51uffton Wine Company, No. 22 South Main street, where casks and vats of his
manufacture can be seen by those interested in the business. febG9-tf

^ 3E1. ^at. JE^ 3S -"^MF •G^ -C^ 1» I
T'VVEIsrTY KINDS!

Immense Stock, especially of

Concord, Ives, Delaware, Hartford, lona, Catawba, Isabella,
Clinton, Rogers' Nos. 4, 15 and 19, etc.

Cut from Bearing Vines before hard freezing, and stoi'ed in frost-proof Cellars.

Very Low for Cash. Price List Gratis.

ALSO, LEADING VAEIETIES OF GRAPE ROOT IX STORE.
^Cau ship South safely at any time.

f,,j69-tf M, H, LEWIS, Sandushy, Ohio,

THE

GRAPE CULTURIST.

Vol. II.

APEIL, 1870.

No. 4.

THK 1VIAXA.TA.\A\N"KY.

86

The Grape Culturist.

I

THE MAXATAWNEY,

A chance seedling, originated at
Eagleville, Montgomery county, Pa.,
as early as 1844, and it is strange that
a varietj^ possessing so much merit
has not been more generally planted
and cultivated. At the East it seems
to be most too late in ripening, and
this may have worked against it. Here
it is early enough, ripening before the
Catawba, moderately productive, a fair,
although not rampant grower, uniformly
healthy and hard}', and if we add to
this its excellent quality, we must call
it the best luhite grape we now culti-
vate. It will not bear as much as the
Martha or Goethe, but it is better in
quality ; in fact, the best of all grapes
ive know, that are entirely healthy,
hardy and reliable.

Bunch medium size, long, rather loose

sometimes, but not alwa^'s, shouldered,
berry medium, oval, pale yellow, with
an amber tint on the sunny side, trans-
lucent, skin thin. Flesh tender, not
pulpy, sweet and delicious, resembling
White Chasselas, few seeds, quality
best for the table, and we have tasted
wine made of equal parts Maxatawney
and Martha, which was exquisite in-
deed. At the Wine Trial at Hermann,
in 1868, a bottle of Maxatawney wine,
made by Mr. Jacob Bommel, took the
first premium as best white wine on ex-
hibition .

Vine a good grower, foliage healthy
even the last extremely trying season,
not a very earl}- bearer, will generally
not produce a full crop before its fourth
summer, and will propagate readily
from cuttino-s.

APEIL.

AVORK FOR THE MONTH.

In April, most ol the operations dis-
cussed in the March number, and not
performed or finished in that month,
may be continued. Making trellis,
tying, planting, plowing and hoeing,
layering, etc. The sooner these opera-
tions are performed, however, the bet-
ter it will be. Alwa3's try to be ahead
with your work, especially in spring,
for when the vines once begin to grow,
you will have enough to do with sum-
mer pruning, tying the 3'OUHg growth,
destroying weeds, and keeping your
ground in order. With one hour's labor
done in advance you may save the work
of days, when you have once got behind.

The old adage, "A stitch in time saves
nine," could easily be remodeled and
applied to vinej'ards. Laggards had
better never commence grape growing ;
it will cei'tainly not pay for them. But,
if the diligent vintner should, from
causes beyond his control, get behind
with his work, our advice is to him,
" Try and get additional help, until
you have caught up again, for it will
be an immense saving of labor, time,
and money in the end.

Grafting may still be continued, even
into May, but you must take care to
keep the scions in a cool place, and in
a dormant position. Covering layers

Summer Pruning the Vine.

87

may be done as soon as the young
growth has started about a foot, which,
in our latitude, will not be until the
middle of May. In the South, no
doubt, April is the time, and as we try
to write for the whole country, we shall
often describe the necessary operations
ahead of time for northern localities,
always describing the stage of growth,
however, so that they also can easily
know when it should be done. Cover
with well pulverized earth, about two
inches deep over the old cane. If 3'ou
can mulch with spent tan or saw-dust,
it will be a groat benefit to the plants
during the heat of summer, and assist
the formation of roots.

For the South, summer pruning will
also commence during April. But, as
this is a eery important operation, we
have tried to discuss it more at length
in a separate article, to which we refer
our readers.

Surface drains should be carefully
cleared of all obstructions, and new
ones opened where necessary. As soon
as weeds show themselves, the plow and
hoe should be resorted to again, and the
ground kept in a mellow and friable
condition. But do not work the ground
when wet ; it will act like poison on the
vines, and you can not again get the
ground into the same condition during
the whole summer.

SUMMER PRUNING THE VINE.— No. 1.

Of all the operations in grape cul-
ture, this is one of the most important,
and 3^et it is most imperfectly per-
formed and understood by the majority
of our vintners. Many think that if
they have only performed fall pruning
properly, it is of very little moment
how summer pruning is performed.
Yet, the two operations are intimately
connected ; in fact, one is but a contin-
uation of the other. Without proper
and judicious summer pruning, it is
impossible to prune judiciously in the
fall. If 3^ou have allowed six to eight
canes to grow in summer, w^here you
need but two or three, none of them
will be fit to bear a full crop ; none be
properly developed. By pruning some-
what longer in fall ; early summer prun-
ing, rubbing out all imperfect and weak
shoots, will enable you to have only well

developed, strong shoots and bunches,
and take away all the weak, imperfect
ones. We therefore prune longer in
fall than the majority of our vintners,
which gives a double advantage ; should
the frost of winter have injured or
killed any of the first buds, we still
have enough left ; and should this not
be the case, we will have our choice to
rule oil' all imperfect shoots ; to reduce
the niHiiber uf bunches at the first
pinching, and thus retain only strong
canes for next year's fruiting, and have
only large, well developed bunches.

But to secure these advantages we
have certain rules, which we follow
strictlv, and which we will try and
make as plain to our readers, in a
series of articles, as we possibly can.
We are glad to see that the attention
of the grape growers of the countrv is

The Grape Culturist.

thoroughly aroused to the importance
of this subject, and that the old prac-
tice of cutting and slashing the young
growth in July and August is generally
discountenanced. It has murdered
more promising vineyards than any
other practice. But people are apt to
run into extremes, and many are now
advocating the "let alone" doctrine.
We think both are wrong, and that the
true course to steer in is the middle.
We shall be happy to ventilate this sub-
ject thoroughly, and communications
on this subject from our grape growers
•are earnestly solicited. We do not
claim to be infallible, nor an authority,
but will try and give our rules, and the
reasons for th^m, hoping that others
will do the same.

1. Perform the operation early. Do
it as soon as the young shoots are six
inches long. At this time j'ou can over-
look your vine much easier. Every
young shoot is soft and pliable. You
do not rob the vine of a quantity of
foliage it cannot spare (as the leaves
are the lungs of the plant and the ele-
vators of the sap). You can do three
times the work th»t j'ou can perform
a week later, when the shoots have
become hardened, and intertwined by
their tendrils ; and you can, at the
same time, destroy the small white or
blue caterpillars, which are biis}^ at this
time making their webs in the tops of
the shoots, and destroying the embryo
bunches and leaves. Eemember that
the knife should have nothing to do
with summer pruning. Your thumb
and finger should perform all the work,
and they can do it easil}', if it is done
early enough.

2. Perform it thoroxigldy and sys-
tematically. Commence b}' picking

out the shoots you intend to leave for
bearing wood for next year. These
are left unchecked ; but do not leave
more than you really need. If you
do, you squander the strength of the
vine. Iiemember that each part of the
vine should be thoroughly ventilated,
and if you crowd it too much, none of
the canes will ripen their wood as
thoroughly, nor be as vigorous, as
when each has room, air and light.

When you have selected these, com-
mence at the bottom of the vine, rub-
bing off all superfluous shoots, and all
which appear weak or imperfect. Then
go over each arm or part of the vine,
pinching ever}' fruit - bearing branch
above the last bunch of grapes, or, if
this should look weak or imperfect,
remove it, and pinch back to the first
perfectly developed bunch. Should
the bud have pushed out two or three
shoots, which is very frequent with
some varieties, it will generally be
advisable to leave only the strongest,
and remove the balance. Do not think
that you can do part of it a little later,
but be unsparing in taking awa}' all
you intend to take this time. You will
not find it so easy the second time,
and by leaving aii3'thing you intend
to take otf some other time, 3'ou are
squandering the strength of your vine.
Destroy all the caterpillars, and all the
insects you find feeding on the vines,
the steel blue beetle, who will eat into
the buds ; but protect the lady-bug,
mantis, and all the friends of the
vine.

In our next issue we intend to describe
the second and third operations of sum-
mer pruning, and hope, by that time, to
have received communications from our
friends upon this important subject.

uSrifional Wine- Growers' Association.

89

NATIONAL WINE-GROWEEtt' ASSOCIATION-
OFFICERS, ETC.

-THE CONSTITUTION,

For some time past it has been con-
templated by the leading wine-growers
of the country to form a national societ}',
similar to the American Pomological
Society'. It was expected that this
would have been done at the last meet-
ing in Philadelphia, but the time — the
wine-making season — was found unpro-
pitious to get the wine-growers together.
Correspondence has been going on, and
a meeting was held in this citj' last
week, when an association was organ-
ized and a constitution and by-laws
adopted, which we give below. There
is a decided impetus given to grape and
wine-growing throughout the country,
and much good is expected of this asso-
ciation.

We give below the names of the offi-
cers elected for the ensuing year, among
whom will be recognized the names of
some of the leading wine-growers of the
country :

President — K. A. Thompson, of Ohio.

Vice - Preside7\ts — William Griffith,
Pennsylvania ; G. F. Underbill, New
York ; J. Sackstetter, Kentucky ; Geo.
Husmann, Missouri ; Theo. Engelman,
Illinois ; G. W. Payne, Tennessee ; A.
N. Young, California ; Col. J. H. War-
ing, Ohio.

Secretary and Treasurer — William
Stoms, Ohio.

The following resolution was offered
by Mr. Thompson, and unanimously
adopted :

Resolved, That in The Grape Cul-
TURiST, SO ably edited by our brother
and co-laborer in the vineyard, George
Husmann, Esq., of Missouri, we recog-
nize the friend and assistant of the vine-

dresser and wine-maker, and cordially
recommend it to all grape and wine-
growers.

CONSTITUTION.

Article 1. This Association shall be
called the American Wine -Growers'
Association.

Art. 2. The object of the Association
shall be the development and encourage-
ment of grape and wine-culture through-
out the United States.

Art. 3. Theofficersof the Association
shall consist of a President, one Vice-
President in each of the wine-growing
States, a Secretary and Treasurer, who
may hold both offices. The President
shall be a wine-grower.

Art. 4. The Association shall have
power to alter or amend this Constitu-
tion, to make by-laws, to regulate the
time of meeting, and generally to do
such things as may be necessary for the
well-being of the Association.

BY-LAAVS.

1. The first meeting of this Associa-
tion shall be held at a time and place
to be designated by the President, and
thereafter annually, the time and place
to be designated by the Association.

2. It shall be the duty of the Presi-
dent to appoint an ad interim commit-
tee in each wine-growing district, and
it shall be the duty of said committee
to visit the vineyards in the vicinity
during the growing season, and report
upon the condition of the same at the
next meeting of the Association.

3. All members of this Association
shall be proposed b}^ some member, and

90

The Grape CuHurlst.

elected by ballot — one black ball shall
be sufficient to exclude.

4. The fee for membership shall be
three dollars per annum, which shall be
paid to the Treasurer, and disbursed
under the direction of the Association.

[We clip the above from the columns
of the Cincinnati Gazette of the 24th
of February last. It is the first in-
timation we have had that such an
organization was contemplated, and,
although we can readily see that occa-
sional meetings of the grape-growers
of the whole country and an exchange
of their views, and exhibition of their
products would be beneficial, the pres-
ent movement looks rather too much
like a revival of the so-called "Amer-
ican Wine-Cirowers' Association of
Ohio" — a very comprehensive title,
although but few, outside of Cincin-
nati, knew it existed. The notice
does not say whether the meeting was
well attended, nor by whom. On the
list of the officers we see three names
from that neigborhood, and but eight
of the States are represented by Vice-
Presidents elected.

Such a society, to do good, must be
established upon, and governed by, the
broadest principles, and by the most
even-handed justice to all; and can

only be of use to a few of the princi-
pal grape-growers, who have sufficient
time and means to attend its meetings.
We do not expect as much benefit
from them as from State, and even
county associations, Avhere each one
can attend, exchange his ideas and
experiences with those in about the
same latitude, and thus bring the ex-
perience of others directly to bear on
his own case. New York experience
is of little use to us here in Missouri,
and vice versa ; and although we are
far from underrating the benefits which
might arise from a general association,
for the purpose of more effectually
opening the market for our produce,
comparing of notes, method of culture,
etc., we think that smaller societies,
confining themselves to a narrower
circle, Avill accomplish more practical
good. We have a sad experience of
their operations on too large a scale,
and under too expansive a title, in the
Mississippi Valley G. G. Association,
which we firmly believe would have
done more good, had it confined itself
to our State, as first contemplated.

We do not wish to discourage the
project, however, but await further
developments, and shall keep our read-
ers posted on the subject. — Ed.]

PEUNING, TEAmiNG, ETC.

Washington, Ark., Feb. Gtli, 1870.

Dear Sir : I have been truly and
sincerely gratified to see the first num-
ber of the second volume of The Grape
CuLTURisT. I feared that the experi-
ment had not been financially a suc-
cess, and as no one can be required to
sacrifice his own fortune pro bono pub-
lico, I would not have been surprised.

whilst I Avould not the less have ap-
preciated your devotion to the noble
cause of grape and wine-culture, had
the publication ceased. I trust the
grape-growers will rail}' to its support,
and omit no opportunity of increasing
its circulation. It is hard for any
journal devoted to a specialty to main-
tam itself, and I therefore admire the

Pruning, Training, Etc.

91

spirit and determination with which
The Grape Culturist launches upon
another voyage.

I have been much interested in the
matters discussed during the past year.
jVEuch genuine light has been dissem-
inated, and some old prejudices are
fading away before the results of the
experience of practical men. " Facts
are stubborn things," and they insist
upon teaching us that the European
modes of training and culture are not
adapted to our native varieties. I
think two things alread}" established,
which were not generally understood
a year ago: 1st. That the Labrusca
famil}' are not adapted to very dry
situations and southern exposures. 2d.
That we have generally planted too
closely and pruned too severol}'. I
think I shall never hereafter allow any
vine (except some very feebly growing-
varieties) less than ton feet of room
on a trellis. With regard to pruning,
either you, or one of your correspon-
dents, has hit the only practical ad-
vice. That is, to study and observe
closely the habits of each variety and
prune ^' judgmatic ally,'" so as to leave
each vine with as much as it can fairl}'
mature, considering the age of the
vine and the fertility of the soil, and
at the same time provide for sufficient
new wood for the coming 3'ear. It is
useful to understand theoretically and
practically the systems of pruning and
training practiced in Europe. From
the Europeans we may also learn much
of the botany of the vine. But they
are useful only as hints, not as guides.
Their practice may amuse us as ama-
teurs ; but for the more profitable re-
sults in vineyard culture, the American
system of training and pruning is yet

an undeveloped science, if, indeed, it
ever can be reduced to rules. Study
nature, and use judgment, is all that
can be said.

Are you acquainted with a grape
they have near Mobile, called "Le
Tardy s' Black Spanish " ? A friend
obtained some slips last spring, which
have grown with extraordinary vigor,
and show very fine short jointed wood.
Perhaps it is well known under some
sj'nonym. For myself, I am singu-
larly deficient in the power of distin-
guishing varieties by the wood alone,
where the characteristics are not verj'
marked.

So far our winter has been remark-
ably mild. There has not been half
a dozen freezing days, and the ther-
mometer has not gone below about 25
deg. Fahrenheit. There are already
indications of spring. Our vines pro-
mise gloriously. The frost cut off a
portion of the crop last spring, and
they made more than usual of fresh,
sound wood, which is entirely clear of
mildew. Missouri has a proud posi-
tion in the United States for grape-
culture. She deserves it. But when
our government becomes settled, she
must look to her laurels.

Respectfully, Jno. E. Eakin.

[Thanks for your kind wishes and
appreciation of our eiforts. We shall
try to deserve them, and hope if such
kindly and enthusiastic spirits as
your's will continue to assist us, that
The Grape Culturist will continue
to " shed ligh c " upon some of the most
important questions. We do not know
the grape you name, at least by that
appellation. Can you advise us where
to obtain it ? We like to try all and
every thing in the grape line. — Ed.]

92

'I he Grape Culiurist.

AV'ine and Fruit Reporter.

TO OUR HEADERS.

Th') Committee of Ways and Means
has proposed to Congress a specific
duty of 50 cents per gallon on all
kiuds of imported Avines, — a rate,
which would increase by about ICO
per cent, the present duty on the
bulk of the imported article.

We have been requested by some
of the leading houses to prepare the
following memorial on the subject,
for presentation to Congress.

All of our readers who Avish to
sign it, will find the original at the
ofiice of the Wine and Frvit Beporter,
45 Beaver street.

Our out-of-town readers will be
welcome by sending a collection of
signatures from their respective
places to P. 0. B. (3,014 New York
City.

The Memorial of the Undersigned,
dealers in wines and liquors, at the
city and port of New York, To the
House of Representatives of the
United States of America, respect-
fully represents :

That your memorialists ask leave
most earnestly to remonstrate against
the adoption of the proposal made by
3"0ur Committee of Ways and Means,
to increase from twenty-six to fifty
cents per gallon^ the duty upon the
importation of low priced wines.

Hailing with livel}^ satisfaction the
prospect of relief held out to the
trade in the contemplated reduction
of the duty on brandies, they find
themselves constrained by a sense of
duty to submit to your honorable
Body the consideration that the great
advantages to be anticipated from

this measure would be more than
counterbalanced by the results which
cannot fail to ensue upon the pro-
posed enhancement of imposts with
which it is coupled. The consump-
tion of imported brandies, which are
used chiefly for medicinal purposes, is
necessarily limited; while cheap
wines form a principal element in
the alimentation of ever}' cultivated
nation.

The increase proposed would not
only be destructive to our trade, but
would press severely upon the mil-
lions of our people, the great majority
of whom would be driven to foi-ego
the use of an invaluable tonic, which
would bo converted into an article of
luxury, like the high grades of wines
which are subject to no higher duty.

We beg to consider the fact, ascer-
tained from the ofiicial statements of
the custom authorities, that the
quantity of wines, which hitherto
paid the lowest rate of duty, about
twenty-six cents per gallon, is equal
to ninety-four j)er cent, of all the
wine imported, and we think, impos-
ing such an enormous duty just on an
article that is destined to be a bever-
age for the mass, to be an act of
great injustice committed against the
people.

The American people are in want
of a drink. A nation has trans-
planted itself, but not its vines, fro-m
one hemisphere to another. AVe live
in a dry climate, and under moi*al
conditions exciting to body, brain,
and nerve ; and there is no other
liquid to satisfy our just demand

To Our Readers.

93

than that noblest gift of natui-e, the
wine; and above all, those growths
which, on account of their low cost,
are accessible to the million.

The teachings of science, the re-
sults of chemical investigation, the
doctrines of men of learning respect-
ing the sanitary influence of ferment-
ed grape juice on ihe human constitu-
tion, are wonderfully confirmed by
history. Where is the country in
which wine, introduced as a general
beverage, has not contributed to the
refinement and elevation of the na-
tional character? It has proved the
best safeguard against drunkenness
and crime. There are no drunkards
in countries where wine can be
bought at a poor man's price.

It is a mistake to believe that the
interests of our own grape culture
are unfavorably affected by a low
duty on imported wines. Our native
production of wines is far behind the
consumption, and the right applica-
tion of the W'ines of Europe in
rationally blending them with those
of America, wnll do more than any-
thing else to open the market to the
latter, and make it remunerative to
the growers. In support of this po-
sition we refer to the well settled
principles of oenology, and to the
testimony of all experts in the coun-
try.

Wherefore j-our memorialists re-
spectfully pray that the duties now
imposed upon the importation of wine
may not be increased as proposed, or
otherwise.

[When we read the above in the
columns of the Wine and Fruit Re-
porter, we could not help thinking of
the passage in Goethe's Faust : —

' 'Were not this thought so cursedly cunning,
One would be tempted to call it very stupid."

We can well believe that the imjyoriers
and dealers in foreign wines and
brandies, would find it to their inter-
est to reduce even the present tariff
on them; but when they would try
to make the grape growers of this
country believe that they would be
benefited by such a measure, we think
they have counted somewdiat too
much on their credulity. We do not
think they can get many to believe
that the}^ ought to favor the importa-
tion of foreign wines, to help them
to make their own wines palatable
and saleable. Only think, ye grape
growers of Ohio, Illinois, and Mis-
souri, what a profitable business it
would be to import the cheap Ehen-
ish and French wines, mix and blend
them with your Catavv^bas, Concords,
and Clintons, and then sell them
again to those same gentlemen who
present this memorial.

Friend Schmidt may have acted in
the interest of his patrons, the import-
ers and dealers, when preparing such
a memorial, and he should have
paused there ; but when he appeals-
to the grape growers of this country
to assist its j^assage, he certainly adds
" insult to injury ;" for it is an insult
to the character of American wines,
as well as to the good sense of its-
producers, when he asserts that they
can only be made palatable and sale-
able by blending them with the low-
est brands of imported wines. Amer-
ican wines have learned to stand
upon their owm merits ; they are no
longer the incipient and imperfect
products of ten years ago ; and if we
would try to mix and blend them

94

The Grape Culturist.

with the cheap imported clarets and
medocs, as well as with the lower
grades of German and Hungarian
wines, we would injure the reputation
of our products instead of raising it ;
for our common Concords and Cataw-
bas are better now, and much supe-
rior in qualit}', to nine-tenths of what
is sold as cheap imported wines. We
are Avell aware that there are firms
in New York who manufacture im-
mense quantities of artificial wines,
and thej' may need the help of some
ivine, to give their products charac-
ter ; but American loines, made from
native grapes, can stand on their own
merits, and need no foreign mixture
to give them character or open a
market to them. Wo have got be-
yond first exj^eriments ; our varieties
of grapes, suitable for wine making,
count by the dozens; and by judi-
ciousl}' mixing and blending them, we
can make better wine than the aver-
age of the imported. The time
is not distant when the American
wines will be exported, and when
they will make a name for them-
selves, in spite of any duty which
may be imposed upon them there.

We look upon this circular as the
'•doleful wail" of the importers,
who are becoming alarmed at the
vast dimensions American grape cul-
ture is assuming. They begin to
feel that the young giant can no

longer bo repressed or held under;
that our wines ai*e making a competi-
tion with their importations, which is
becoming more formidable every day.
We do not ask an increased duty,
because we think we can compete, in
quality and price, with their cheaper
wines, even as the duty now is.
But we think it is time that Govern-
ment ofiicials look a little sharjDer at
the quality of the goods they impose
duty on. We are aware that "ninety
four per cent, of the wines imported
arc classed with the loioest grades,
and that hundreds of thousands of
gallons are imported annuall3' of the
Jlner Avines, which, according to the
present law, shou'd pay a much
higher duty, smuggled in under in-
ferior brands. Let the officers do
their duty ; let them tax the wines
according to their quality, and we
will be content with the present
tariif. But we tell the importers,
once for all, that they are mistaken
if they think they can further their
interests by trying to induce the
Grape growers of the country to join
them in a memorial, alike insulting
to common sense as well as to the
quality of American wines. We do
not need their guardianship ; we are
capable of taking care of our own
business ; and they may rest assured
that they will not get much help
from us. — Ed.]

We republish, in this month's issue,
two articles from the first volume, as
they embody about all we have to say
on those subjects, and although all of
our old readers have seen them, yet

we have gained as many, if not more,
new subscribers, to whom we think
they will be of use. This must serve
as our apology for the repetition.

Editor.

Classifyituj and Judging Wines.

95

CLASSIFYING AND JUDGING WINES.

The reports of Committees on
Wine, appointed at the meetings of
the Horticultural and Winegrowers
Associations, have failed in many in-
stances to give satisfaction to the ex-
hibitors. This will alwaj's be the
case to some extent, as long as tastes
differ, and as long as we possess the
happy weakness to overrate ourselves
and our own. Yet something might
be done to secure to these reports
more justice, and in consequence
more favor and more weight, and I
Avill make some suggestions in that
respect.

In the first place, in appointing a
committee for the purpose of classify-
ing and judging wines, care should
be taken to select members who use
wine, as a drink about as regularly as
tea or coffee are used as such. Such
persons generally have no taste fordis-
tilled liquors, but abstain from them
entirely, while vice versa, persons who
like a dram of brandy' or of old
Bourbon, will never be good judges of
wine which they invariably will find
sour and weak, destitute of body.
Poorl}' qualified to be judges of
■\vine are also persons who like sweet
preserves or other sweetmeats, or i
who have partaken of such or the I
like, or of cordials, only a few hours
previous to acting as judges. Like |
improper is it to eat rich cheese or
other piquant dishes before serving j
on the committee, or during the trial
of wines ; a piece of stale bread, a
cracker or a boiled potato may be i
used with advantage to clear the
palate and restore a pure taste ; also

a spongecake, when judging superior
qualities of Avine. Whether smoking
is admissible or not I am not able to
say^ because I do not use tobacco in
an}' shape ; but the atmosphere in
the room in which the trial is to take
place ought to be pure and fresh, not
impregnated with tobacco smoke or
any other smell, as that would interfere
with the bouquet of the wine.

The wines before they are submitted
to the committee are classified accord-
ing to color, as: I, red wines; II
white wines, and III, wines which
according to color cannot be classed
with either of the two classes, (Shiller
wines) and in each class the wines are
arranged according to the vainety of
grape from which they are made, and
again according to age. This is essen-
tial ; old and new Avines ought not to
be drunk interchangeably ; the unfer-
mented sugar in the latter would in-
terfere with the finer qualities of the
former and nfake it appear sour, while
the oily smoothness of the old wine
would make the young wine taste
rough and coarse. To each class of
wines a separate committee ought to
be appointed.

The adoption of a scale from 1 to
100, by which to judge and classify
wines, and the latter number as the
standard of excellence is very good,
but b}' following it the committee
gives only the final conclusion at
which it arrives and leaves us in the
dark as to the premises upon which
the conclusion has been formed; it is
a judgment without an opinion of the
Court, referring to the points of law

96

The Grape Cvlturist.

and evidence upon which it is based.
This defect might easily be cured.
Wine is a compound, and the elements
which combine to establish its qualit}'
are well understood and defined ; none
ought to escape the attention of the
committee; but each one of them to
I'eceive its proper share 'of such at-
tention in the order in which it pre-
sents itself. The order will be about
as tollows : The bottle is uncorked ;
if it is old wine, the air in the room
will be perfumed at once and eager!}'
Avill the nostrils inhale the sweet scent.
Here is

1. Bouquet. It is a characteristic
of old ripe wines; in 3-oung wines it
is seldom if ever developed, nor in
inferior wines either.

Xext the wine is poured into the
goblets ; the attention will be directed
to its

2. Color and clearness. Wine which
is not perfectly clear and transparent
ought not to appear either in the mar-
ket nor in the committee room ; but
it is customary with us to exhibit wine
when only a few months old; it may
be perfectly clear when taken out of
the casks in the cool cellar, but after
it has been exposed for a few hours
to the warm atmosphere of the com-
mittee room, fermentation will set in
and the fluid will become more or less
turbid. Fermentation aifects not only
the clearness but also the flavor and
the color of the wine.

The goblet is raised, first towards
the light or the sun to reassure of the
unclouded transparenc}' of the li(|uid ;
then to the nose, more fully and defi-
nitely to establish the bouquet; then
a sip or two are taken, a hearty draught
follows with an approving nod, and —

3. Flavor and aroma are established.
If any doubts remain, the operation
may be repeated once or oftener ad
libitum. Alcohol (body) acids and
sugar condition the flavor and aroma,
and their harmonious combination, to-
gether with bouquet, color and clear-
ness, establish the qualit}' of the wine^
and the proper place in the scale can
now be assigned to it accordingly.

All this ought to appear in the re-
port, and it would be easy enough, if
the committees were furnished with
appropriate blanks, for every memljer
to note down his opinion on each of
the several elements ot wine, and
finally his judgment.

Another requisite is, that the com-
mittee do not act in haste, but take
time to consider: an evening session,
say from 9 to 1 o'clock, would be
advisable I A very good time to taste
wine is also in the afternoon from 5
o'clock to about 11 o'clock p. m., con-
ditioned always, that it is not a ])ottle
or two that are to be tried, but a dozen
or more. If the time so occupied is
divided in about two equal halves by
the introduction of a little lunch of
bread and butter, a slice of cold meat,
ham and dried tongue, oysters and
the like, it will not hurt it, at least
not be considered a fatal defect of the
judgment, at which the committee
may arrive. X.

[We have but little to add to these
suggestions, which we think timely and
judicious. It is certainly not enough
if the committee decides which wine
is best, but the public ought to know
why they found it so, and its promi-
nent qualities, which made it superior
to other wines exhibited, should be
mentioned.

I

The Wine Product of California.

97

In one thing, however, we beg to
diifer with our correspondent; it is
when he says '^ alcohol, acid and sugar
condition the aroma and flavor of the
wine.'' We think ihcy have but little
to do with it. A wine can be very
aromatic, jet very Aveak in body or
alcohol. Aroma, as we understand
the term, is derived from the fruit

itself, is is the peculiar odor by which
we distinguish Catawba from Con-
cord, and both from Norton's Virginia,
etc. It belongs to the variety of
grapes of which the wine was made,
and alcohol and acids have little to do
with its development, although the}'
develop bouquet, as we understand
the term. — Ed.]

THE WINE PRODUCT OF CALIFORNIA.

The official report of the year 1868
gives the following interesting facts :

The whole amount made

was 2,587,764 gals.

Or 700,000 gallons more than in 1867.
This is divided over those counties
which cultivate the grape most exten-
sively, as follows :

Los Angelos 1,111,200 gals.

Sonoma .... 348,136 "

EI Dorado 168,638 "

Amador 129,993 '•

Napa ..... 103,376 "

Sau Bernardino 74,500 '•'

Contra Costa 61,370 "

Calaveras 55,132 "

Placer 51,300 "

Tuolumne 50,397 "

Santa Clara 47,459 "

Butte , 30,828 "

It is remarkable that six of the above
counties are in the Sierra Nevada dis-
trict, where mining was followed exclu-
sively only a few years ago. There are
already over 6,000,000 vines cultivated,
and should grape culture progress at the

same rate in future, this will soon be the
prominent grape district of California.
Los Angelos has fewer vines than So-
noma, yet it produces three times as
much wine, which, however, explains
itself by the greater quantity of grapes
taken to market from those districts
which are easily accessible, as they ob-
tain a much higher price for the grapes
than if they were made into wine. San
Bernardina, which is least accessible,
furnishes the comparatively greatest
quantity of wine ; Sacramento, Santa
Clara and Solano furnish less than a
gallon per 20 vines, Napa 1 gallon to
each 15 vines, besides 46,000 gallons
of brand}'^, which requires five times as
many pounds of grapes as the same
quantity of wine ; Los Angelos pro-
duced 2 gallons of wine to ever}' 5
vines. The principal grape u'^ed for
wine is the Mission Grape, although it
is below the Zinfindal, Black Malvasier,
Riess'.ing, Golden Chasselas, Muscatel,
and several other varieties in quality,
but the superior quality of these vari-
eties was only discovered when the
greater part of the vineyards were
already planted and bearing.

98

The Grape Culturist.

GEAPE GKOWING IN PHELPS COUNTY, MO.

NearRolla, Phelps Co. , Mo. , Feb. 17, 1870.

George Husmann, Esq. — Editor
Grape Culturist. — Dear Sir: Wishing
to draw the attention of the grape
growing public to our county, I send
you a few notes, of which 3'ou may
publish such as you think fit for publi-
cation. Ours is a new county, but fast
settling up with emigrants from the
Eastern States and German}', and al-
though four years ago there was hardly
a grape-vino planted, there are now
about 25 acres growing, and about
12,000 more grape-vines will be set
out this spring. The varieties mostly
planted are Concord, Catawba and Nor-
ton's Virginia. Last year ihe first
crop was gathered by Mr. Neumann
and Mr. Stahr Concord was more
than an average crop, Catawba^ only
about half, it having suffered badl}' with
the rot. No rot in Concord or Nor-
ton's Virginia. Mr. Neumann's must
of Concord weighed 79 and 84 on
Oechsle's scales, the latter being gath-
ered a few days later than the first.
Our soil on the hills is mostly decom-
posed limestone and contains a great
deal of iron, iron ore being found on
almost every hill. We set out a vine-
3'ard last spring — 1,100 Concord and
100 Norton's ^'irginia — receiving the
plants from Mr. Isidor Bush. We only
lost nine Concord, but our Norton's
did badly ; we lost a great deal more
than the average. Our Concords made
canes from three to six feet in length,
some three-fourths of an inch in diam-
eter. Do 3'ou think it would be safe
to let these fruit next year, without
hurting the vines? In subsoiling our
vinej'ard Ave plowed up in one place
iron ore, and the grape-vines showed in

this place much better than an3'where
else. Good grape land can be bought
in our county at from $2.50 to 15.00
per acre. Timber is plent}'. The land
lies rolling ; Ave are about 700 feet
higher than St. Louis, and the climate
is very healthy. We have several Avild
grape-vines groAving on our land, the
foliage of which resembles that of the
Delaware, but l)iinch and berry is like
Norton's Virginia, only the berry is
much sweeter. It ripened last year
from July 25th to August 1st. We
could make no test of the must, as the
birds stole nearly all the grapes, and
we only got a few berries. It seemed
to be very productive. If you think
it Avorth trying, Ave Avill send you one
or two vines by mail.

In conclusion, I wish you better suc-
cess Avith the GuArE Cultuuist than
you had last year. I think it as indis-
pensable to ever}' grape grower as a
plow, for one single item may save the
subscriber a hundredfold the amount
of subscription. We had ordered last
year 1,000 2-year old plants at 860 per
1,000, saw 3'our note on choosing plants
for setting out a vineyard, revoked our
order, and took best 1-year old plants
instead, thus saving •520 cash. You
may count us as subscribers for life.
Yours respectfully,

Conrad E. Soest.

[Thanks for your kind wishes. We
are glad to hear that grape culture is
progressing in your county. We would
mucli like to try the wild grape you
speak of. If you Avill send us a few
plants, Ave Avill gladi}' exchange with !
an3'thing you may desire from our col- I
lection. — Ed.]

Curiosities and Gleanings of Grape Literature.

99

CURIOSITIES AND GLEANINGS OF GRAPE LITERATURE.

[Written for the Ohio Farmer.]

advertisement extraordinary i

4^780,723,425 grape vines !

The above small number of extraor-
dinaiy vines are nearly ready for sale.

They embrace 500,000 distinct varie-
ties. All these have been raised from
crossed eyes, in a manner peculiarly
my own, as suggested by my long ex-
perience. No vines in the world are
equal to them, since no man has so long
been in the business as myself. What
good variety is there or what well grown
vine, in all the country, that has not
been sent out and saved from everlast-
ing neglect b}' my skill and the admir-
able management of The Ego Mihi
establishment ? Clearly none at all.

Small, cheap, insignificant concerns,
got up in imitation of mine, are all mis-
erable failures.

I am free to say all my vines are
started in pots. I first use small ones,
holding two hogsheads filled with sand
from the Sahara Desert ; it being ascer-
tained by microscopical examination,
that each particular grain is rightly
formed, and by chemical analyses that
the constituents of that sand alone are
adapted to m}- purpose. I then trans-
plant to pots four times as large filled
with the bone-dust from the Catacombs
of Egypt. A fter thus transplanting ni}'
vines forty times, root pruning them
each time, and each operation giving
them four times their former room, I
plant them in the open ground where
they are finished off. When read}^ for
market, the roots are usuall}' 420 feet
long. I have, at great expense, pro-
cured the services of 1,000 men from

Brohdignag, who have over 500 years'
experience in grape propagation. It is
with their aid, added to my skill and
experience, that The Ego Mihi estab-
lishment is able to produce such aston-
ishing plants. And here I wish it dis-
tinctly understood^ that I do not conduct
business to make money — that is sec-
ondary. Good vines and vines for the
million are what I am aiming for. All
my costly adveitisements are simply
philanthropic eflTorts. I will probably
never get my money back ; but still I
shall go on doing good !

Besides the standard varieties, all of
which would never have been heard of
but for me, I am happy to offer several
new varieties, the first of which is my
seedling the Ipsa — vine extra hardy —
has been fruited successfully on the
north side of Greenland — exceedingly
vigorous, making 640 feet of cane the
first 3^ear — very prolific, bearing 3,000
pounds of fruit per vine the second year
— never drops its leaf — never mildews,
and is very easily grown from cross-
eyed cuttings. Bunch, veiy large, round,
long shouldered, loose and very com-
pact. Berries oblong, ovate, globular,
round, reddish, blue, black, with a deli-
cate touch of invisible green. Flavor,
delicious, very sweet, slightly tart, sub-
acid, agreeable. Must yields 220 per
cent, of sugar.

I propose to sell to individuals collec-
tively or to clubs of one or more, at the
following remarkably low rates :

Ipsa, 1 year old, forty times trans-
planted, fifty times root-pruned, ready
to bear the firstyear, $40. 10 each, $5,000
per 100; 2d-class, $30.50 each, $4,000

100

The Grape Culturist.

per 100. For description of my other
seedlings and prices, see my large Illus-
trated Catalogue of 3 pages, 65 per
copy. For account of my new Hybrid,
or cross between the grape Noah princi-
pally cultivated, the grape of Eschol,
and the old Falernian, see my large
work of three pages and a half, $20 per
copy. I would here give notice that I
have but two regular traveling agents —
Mr. Gulliver on land, and Capt. Sin-
bad on the sea. Both being gentlemen
of widely known veracity, my customers
may believe all they say.

Address Me Myself,

Ego Mihi, near Brobdignag.

[In looking over an old-time scrap
book, we found the above, which we
clipped from The Ohio Farmer a num-

ber of 3'ears ago, and as we have had
many a hearty langh over it, and think
that it is "good to laugh" sometimes,
we give it for the benefit of our readers,
and hope they will enjoy it as much as
we did.

It is a graphic and cutting satire on
some of the grape catalogues published
at that time, and the bombastic lauda-
tions of their vines, and varieties. We
are happy to say that this nuisance is
disappearing more and more, and that
these make-believe benefactors of the
public have been shamed out of this
style of writing. Yet we meet with it
sometimes even now, and it may be
useful to hold up a mirror like the above
now and then, in which these gentry can
behold themselves. — F.d.]

D'HEUREUSE AIR TREATMENT.

( Continued . )

THEORY OF FERMENTATION.

A brief allusion to the principles of
fermentation may be in place. Alco-
holic fermentation is the result of the
presence of certain micoderms, that
require air for vigorous healthy ac-
tion and propagation, while they suf-
fer from want of atmospheric oxygen.
Ozone 18 formed by rapid passage of
air through (aqueous) fluid, and invig-
orates the alcoholic, acts destructively
on other but injurious micoderms that
cause disease, putrefaction and acidifi-
cation ; but both kinds can only veg-
etate where they tind gluten to live.
Periodical currents of air through a
fermenting fluid accelerate, insure
and perfect the fermentation bj' invig-
orating the alcoholic micoderms, and

the excess of gluten is at the same
time gradually removed by oxidation,
so that none remains to support the
micoderms that necessarily perish
when their functions — conversion of
sugar into alcohol — is accomplished.
Unless invigorated, fermentation pro-
ceeds veiy slowly toward the end, as
when the atmospheric oxygen is ex-
hausted, the alcohol formed seems to
stupify the micoderms; a large pro-
portion of alcohol, or 2>i*esence of
alkaloids, (hops and glycerine for in-
stance) prevents or retards fermenta-
tion.

Ground taste in wine is due to the
gluten it contains and improper treat-
ment which brings out the taste.
Air-treatment removes with the gluten
all tendency to ground taste.

D'Hevi'euse Air Treatment.

101

now AIR-TREAT.MENT IS APPLIED TO
FLUIDS.

To impregnate a fluid with a gas,
we admit the gas below, that it may
rise upwards through the fluid. Ac-
cordingly the air, to act most effectu-
ally, is admitted into the fluid in a
divided state by perforated pipes or
mouth pieces, sunk near the bottom
of the vessel, impelled by an air-force
pump. Air-treatment of a hot fluid
for purification from albumen requires
a vigorous and continuous current of
air frequently for hours to coagulate
all albumenous parts ; for fermenta-
tion however, periodical gentle cur-
rents are sufliicient.

TO WINE ESPECIALLY,

A vigorous fermentation has been
found the most satisfactory for must
as well as other mash, and a suffi-
ciently high temperature (75* to 85°
P.) is essential. Fluctuation of tem-
perature should be avoided as always
detrimental. When the must is
warmed (in a gathering tank) to about
65° to 70'" P., the tanks or casks filled,
the temperature steadily maintained,
air is impelled vigorously for some ten
minutes, and unless sugar is added
a foaming up by a rising scum, will
soon take place. After this subsides
rfrom six to ten hours) air is gently
impelled two or three times each day
for about five minutes at a time, till
the fermentation is finished, which is
accomplished at the stated tempera-
ture in from five to fourteen daj's
without fail. The air pipes (of block
tin) are introduced into the casks
thi-ough the bung-hole, in tanks from
above, and, where pulp is worked for
red wine, should be stationary for the

opei'ation. The tendency to clarify
appears at once when the carbonic
acid gas ceases to foi*m. A few days
later the still somewhat turbid wine
may be drawn off to settle in casks,
bunged up, and a few weeks later will
be found clear, of free ripe taste, sub-
ject to no after fermentation or other
wine disease, free of ground taste, and
fit to be shipped to any part of the
world without more risk than old well
stored wines. Scrupulous cleanliness,
sweet vessels, etc., are, of coarse, al-
ways essential.

With proper care and judgment, all
wines can bo quickly finished by air-
treatment, that were previously but
imperfectly fermented in the usual
mode, even diseased wines (if free
from acetic acidification) restored.
But no general directions can in these
cases guarantee success to careless or
inexperienced persons. It should,
however, be borne in mind, that in all
the above cases, the object is the re-
moval of the excess of gluten by a
quickly started and lively (though
brief) fermentation, for which the
presence of some sound and active
ferment, sufficient sugar, proper heat
and air are essential. Addition of
ferment may, therefore, be required,
or of sugar, the determination of the
proper proportions of either, the
work of experience and judgment.
The ferment — if sound wine yeast or
another kind — should be brought into
full vigorous action before it is added
to the quickly-warmed wine (of 70 to
75** P.), this temperature retained
unchangeable during the few days of
subsequent finishing fermentation.
All subsequent processes are, howev-
er, obviated by the use of air-treatment

102

The Grape Culturist.

of Uio new must, cider, etc., which is
thus carried at once beyond the reach
of the many vicissitudes to which
wines fermented in the usual manner,
are subject.

Wines may be classified in a general
way as sweet and dry wines, or those
still containing sugar, and those en-
tirely or nearl}^ free from it. Drj-
■wines form the bulk of the product of
Eux'opean and domestic vintages, as
the modes to mnnnfacture them ap-
peared more simple. It has been
shown above how dry wines are more
quickly, safelj' and cheaply obtained
by air-treatment.

SWEET WINES,

However, are as yet obtained by par-
tial fermentation, interruption of this
process; and by addition of spirits
(to 20 per cent, or more of alcohol)
or glycerine, etc., stabilitj" is in^part-
ed, further iermentation and deterior-
ation rather kept under than pre-
cluded. They are cordials rather than
wines. No sweet and light alcoholic
wines are in the market (except
sparkling), for the simple reason that
ihey could not be manufactured with any
degree of stab d it y ; the remnant of the
gluten prevented it. Air-treatment
furnishes an easy solution to this
question also, and permits the manu-
facture of sweet wines of any desired
alcoholic strength and most perfect
stability, because free from gluten.
Americans are fond of sweet wines
and should have them.

The must, fresh from the grape (or
other fruit), heated to above 140 deg.
F. is vigorously air-treated for a couple
of hours (or less), till the albumen is
coagulated, which is removed liy bag

filtering, still hot. After cooling to 70
deg. F. it is subjected to air-fermenta-
tion with the addition of a quantity of
green must, suitable to insure the de-
sired proportions of alcohol and sweet-
ness. Or any wine obtained by thorough
air-fermentation may be sweetened with
crushed sugar free of gluten to suit the
taste, without danger of future disturb-
ance.

BRANDY.

The described air treatment for fer-
mentation of must or piguette secures
by full attenuation of all saccharine
parts a higher yield, of 10 to 15 per
cent, of spirits, than the usual mode,
in which 2 per cent, or more of the sac-
charine from the 12 to 30 in pulp or
juice, is left unconverted and irre-
claimablj' lost. (The loss in grain
mash thus saved is still higher, from
16 to 25 per cent.)

The azotized parts are rendered in-
soluble, and by clearing or straining-
are kept out of the still, permit the
formation of none or very little fusel
oil, so that a purer spirit at once re-
sults. Air-treatment in the still dur-
ing distillation of any pulp produces
spirits free of fusel (at least the first
run), and subsequent air-treatment of
any distilled spirits at a raised tem-
perature in suitable close vessels com-
municates quick!}' the properties of
age, destroys the fusel-oils. To retain
the fullest natural wine flavor in bran-
dies, redistillation for refining should
be avoided as much as possible, and
air-treatment provides the best means
to effect at once cheaply what many
years of storing is generally made to
accomplish with enormo-is expendi-
ture.

{To be CO ilinu rf.]

Noah's Legacy — Mississippi Valley Grape Growers' Association.

103

GcTiuan Text by Grunur. Translated by J. A. Schmidt.

NOAH'S LEGACY

When Noah felt approach his end
He said : "I'll make my testament. ' '
He counted over all his stocks,
His cattle, donkeys, goats and bucks;
The sheep, camels, and all the rest
"With which so richly he was blessed.

This done he said, '' I wish to see
At once my Iriend the Notary. ' '
To him, he spoke, " You shall divide
My property. Now do it right;
Let all my children have their share.
And take youi'.self what 's Just and fair

Thus they divided all. But still.
Before the lawyer signed the will,
(He was, as lawyers in average,
Fond of a pleasant beverage.)
He said: " But now, beloved sir,
"Who of your Wine shall be the heir? ' '

Said Noah. '' In dayliglitand here
"We can't decide that question, dear I
Let to the cellar us descend,

And see, how there the case may stand.
Don 't fear pains ! " " What my duty is, ' '
The lawyer said, " I never miss. ' "

A generous man old Noah was,

And freely lilled the lawyer's glass.

They drew a sample every where;

They tasted here, they tasted there.

And when they had the .stock gone through.

Took an inventory anew.

Back came to Noah youth and life.

He thought no more of child and wife.

' 'Dear friend," said he, " now put that down,

And head it with a golden crown;

Of all the wine which here you see.

The Human Race the heir shall l)e.''

"No death bell ! Let the goblets ring!
And jolly boys my requeim sing.
Each cask lilled with the golden wine,
Shall be a monument of mine.
"Write this and make, dear notary,
Eternal thus my memory.

ANNUAL MEETING OE THE MISSISSIPPI A^ALLEY GEAPE
GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

St. Louis, March l-2th, 1870.

The third annual meeting of this
Association will be held at the office
of the St. Louis Fair Grounds, south-
west corner of Fourth street and Wash-
ington avenue, St. Louis, commencing
on Wednesda}', April 6th, at 10
o'clock, A. M., and continuing two
days.

Members, and all grape growers,
are urgently solicited to send in
statistics for 1869. 1st The number
of acres, or number of vines planted
in the year, and distance apart. 2d.
The number in bearing. 3d. The to-
tal number. 4th. The amount of
grades sold, and average price. 5th.

The number of gallons of wine made.
6th. .Extent of injury sustained b}'
unfavorable weather, insect8,birds etc.

It is desirable that these statistics
be made up at once, and forwarded to
the Secretary, who will furnish blanks
to any one desiring it.

According to a resolution adopted
last year, one session during the meet-
ing will be devoted to the discussion
of the mode of treatment of the "must,"
having particular regard to its condi-
tion as affected by the seasons, as well
as to its normal condition generally.

A much larger quanity of wine
than usual was made last year, some
of it by new processes, and much of

104

The Grape Culturist.

it is thought to be of superior merit.
A full exhibition of samples of vari-
ous vintages, especially that of 1S69,
for comparison, will add much to the
interest of the meeting.

The business of grape growing has
increased so rapidly within the past
few years, that not a little anxiety is
felt on the part of those engaged in it,
and others, in regard to the future
prospects of the business. The col-
lections of full statistics annually
will afford the best means of forming
conclusions on this subject. It is
hoped, thei'cfore, that this important
item of the business of the Associa-
tion will not be neglected. If the
returns are sufficiently complete, they
will be at once tabulated and pub-
lished.

Short essays upon pertinent topics
are solicited, and those unable to

attend the meeting are requested to
forwai'd such papers to the Secretary,

Samples of Avine from a distance
maj' be forwarded to the Secretary.

The Planters' House will entertain
members during the meeting at a re-
duction of one dollar per day from
their usual rates. The St. Nicholas
will charge two dollars per day only.
The railroads have not yet been heard
from, but the usual reductions are
hoped for. James E. Starr,

President.

L. D, Morse,
Secretary, No. 104 Olive St., St. Louis.

[\Ye hope that all our wine grow-
ers will forget former short coinings
of this society and unite in making it
the most useful meeting yet held. It
can do good, if all combine to make
it useful. We hope the meeting will
be large!}' attended. — Ed.^

EDITOEIAL COUETESY,

While our brethren of the press
are welcome at all times to copy from
our pages, if they see any thing therein
they think of interest to their readers,
and while we shall at all times take
the same liberty with them, we cannot
say that we admire the method lately
followed by the Journal of Agriculture.
They copy three original articles from
our pages, sent by our correspondents,
giving the Grape Culturist due credit
therefor. But they do not copy our
comments on those articles, and thus

intentionally or not, convey the idea
that we endorse all our correspondents
have said, while we differ, in our com-
ments, fi'om them in several points.
We do not think this fair dealing.
The comments are just as much a
part of the article as the article itself,
and we must protest against the course
pursued, and hope they will in future
"give the whole animal, tail and all,"
however little they may think of the
latter appendage. — Ed.

Editor's Letter Box.

105

EDITOE'S LETTER BOX.

Cold w ATE K, Michigan.

Will ,you state in Culturist, quality
and productiveness of Wilder as com-
pared with Concord? J. P. Parson.

[The Wilder has not been as fully
tested for loine as the Concord. Where-
ever we have seen it fruit, it produced
as heavily as the Concord, and we
think it will make a better wine. Its
quality for the table is much better,
and the bunch and berry even more
showy. We also think it will keep
bettor than Concord. — Ed,]

Clark's Nurseries, Covixgtox, Ga., \
March 1st, 1870. S

Mr. G. Husmann :

Sir : I have been reading the Grape
Culturist with great interest and de-
light; I consider it of great value to
all, who are engaged in grape grow-
ing and wine making; the advantages
of your Journal (over any other agri-
cultural or horticultural journals pub-
lished) derive from the fact, that you
are able to comment on an}- commu-
nication sent to you for publication,
based upon your own experience,
"whereas many publishers insert arti-
cles (having no experience in grape
culture and wine making) which are
sometimes instead of beneficial, quite
the reverse ; also, a number of co-
laborers make known their long and
successful experience, through your
columns.

In the Februaiy number Grape Cul-
turist appeared an inquiry request of
one of your correspondents whether
cuttings obtained from vines propa-
gated last summer are suitable for

planting? The repl}^ is, it makes no
difference, if the vines are one or
more j'ears old, if the wood is well
developed and matured, it is suitable
for planting.

Having some experience in grape
culture, I beg leave to make a few
remarks in reference to grape cut-
tings. When the cutting first com-
mence pushing out its buds, it has as
vigorous an appearance as buds of
old vines, but as soon as two to four
leaves are formed, the tips generally
wither and often dry up. This little
shoot remains in this feeble state for
some time, though the roots are grow-
ing. During this time, which is appa-
rently a standstill, the roots are doing
their work, they are furnishing the
cutting the supply of sap, which has
been sent forth into the little shoot
first formed. As soon as the cutting
has received the requisite amount of
sap, it will send it forth again into
the little shoot. The tip being with-
ered or dead, laterals or suckers are
pushing out and grow sometimes sev-
eral feet in length, representing a wild
appearance. The foliage on the young
growth resembles that on the parent
vine more than the wood. The latter
can not in many instances be recog-
nized by the closest observer. Upon
these grounds, I assert, there is sel-
dom any wood well developed on
young vines, and what cuttings could
be obtained are generally laterals or
suckers. I have learned by observa-
tion that vines raised from suckers
are not as healthy as vines from bear-
ing canes. The main objection I have

106

The Grajie Cultur'ut.

to cuttings from young vines or suck-
ers iS; viz : They will cause the fruit
to ripen irregular, mature later_, and
by continued propagation from such
vines, Avill finally not mature at all.
Besides my own assertion of the
above facts, I will refer to an ar-
ticle on projDagating vines in the
February number, 1869, Grape Cul-

TURIST.

It says : Wood from young vines
are not good for propagation. The
writer stated the reason ; I would not
say that cuttings from young vines
(wood well matured) will not grow as
readily as cuttings from old vines.
The point in view is, whether there
can be as good and reliable plants
obtained from young vines and suck-
ers as from bearing vines ? Have
our propagators any object in view
advertising their plants for sale, when
they say our plants or grape wood
are from bearing vines ?

"We expect to propagate a good
many vines this spring of different
varieties. I will here give you my
plan, how I expect to prepare the
ground for Nortons and other hard
wood cuttings. The soil is a deep,
loose, sandy loam. Hay off my beds
4 feet wide, remove the soil 6 to 8
inches deep, put a good coat of stable
manure and cotton seed down, put the
soil back again, fertilize with bone-
dust. I have the soil deep enough on
the top of the manure so that the
cuttings do not reach the manure;
stable manure and cotton seed being
beneath the plants, Avill create a stim-
ulant fx'om below. If the seasons are
too dry, I have a branch convenient,
which I can run between the beds. I
will mulch with sawdust or spent tan;

I have both convenient. Do you
think this method a good one?
Yours truly,

L. A. BURKHART.

[We think you are mistaken entirely
in supposing that vines propagated
from laterals ripen their fruit irregu-
larly, or are unproductive. It is a
well established fact, that many vari-
eties, for instance the Concord, Gcethe,
Herbemont and many others, produce
most abundantly, and their best fruit,
on laterals spurred in, finer fruit than
they will ever produce on the main
canes, and we know of not a single
principle in vegetable physiology upon
which you could base your theory,
other than the mere assertion. Ee-
member that we say, the wood must
be well developed and ripened ; if it
is all this, we care not from what part
of the vine it comes, only we do not
want the large rank canes which you
seem to prefer, for two reasons, they
seldom make roots, and when they
do, their pith is so large and the
wound made in cutting them so great,
that it will seldom heal over com-
pletely, and they will not make as
sound and healthy plants as those
grown from smaller, firmer wood.
Propagators, when they advertise
"Wood from bearing vines," have a
twofold object. First, to assure their
customers that the varieties are true
to name, and secondly, it is an old
erroneous prejudice, that strong wood
will grow better, of which they take
advantage, to insure more ready sales.

Your plan of planting cuttings in
hot beds may be good enough, if you
take care not to get the manure too
near their base, and mulch well. But
it is a vQvj laborious process, and the

Editors' Letter Box.

101

addition of bone-dust besides, as a
fertilizer, is certainly- too much of a
good thing. We would not like to
jilant vines thus unnaturally stimu-
lated. If they are removed to soil of
common fertilit}', they will be like a
highly fed and pampered colt, which
is suddenly left to shift for itself, with
what it can pick up. It will be a de-
cided change for the worse. — Kd.]

Pboria, Feb. -Zith, 1870.

Mr. Geo. Husmann, Bluffton^ Mo.:

My Dear Sir : Encouraged by yoxLV
valuable answers in the Grape Cul-
TURisT, I allow myself a few ques-
tions.

You recommend for Norton's Vir-
ginia, Taylor, Clinton, etc., to bear
on old arms ; now, do you pinch the
bearing shoots of the old arm, above
the second bunch of grapes, just the
same as bearing shoots on arms which
are renewed every 3'ear, and will
those shoots then, at their base, have
good strong eyes, for next year to
bear; or do you let only every other
shoot bear, and those which do not
bear, allow to grow higher, and there-
by produce better e3'es, for another
season to bear from.

You say the quality of Norton's
Virginia wine depends to a great ex-
tent on the condition and texture of
the soil. I have a few Norton's Vir-
ginia vines now six years old, 6x3
apart, growth very vigorous, the
fourth year bore from 10 to 20 lbs.
per vine ; the fifth, or last season, I
taxed them too heavy with raising
layers, and so only got half as much.
Now, I would like to plant about one
acre of these, but Avould like very

much to know whether my soil and
situation is any way fit to raise good
Norton's Virginia wine. I will try
to give you a description of my soil :
Bluff land, three to four miles distant
from the Illinois Eiver, about 200 feet
elevated ; natural growth, oaks, hick-
ory, sassafras, wild vines, blackber-
ries, etc.; sloping to the south; top
soil blackish, one to six inches, then
grayish yellow to red ; at the foot of
the hills, sandstone, flagstone, lime-
stone, etc. I send you a small sam-
ple of that taken two feet deep.
How do you call it, loam, clay, muck,
or what ? and do you think Noi'ton's
Virginia could profitably be planted in
such soil ?

I have so far trenched all my soil
full two feet deep not quite inverting
it, but laying it mostly side-ways,
filling in below with about six inches
of straw. I tried this soil three feet
below the surface one winter, exposed
to the atmosphere, and planted corn
in it, which was extra good ; also one
acre, dug two feet deep in fall of '63,
planted Delaware vines in it last
spring, and Peach Blow potatoes be-
tween the rows, a good many of
these weighed two lbs. each, and
yielded at the rate of 250 bus. per
acre. I will second you in shallow
planting, but I think deep digging of
the soil preferable over all and ever}'
plowing. I have this Avinter, besides
burying my vines, covered the whole of
my vineyard with two to four inches
deep of straw. Do you think this
good? Please tell us some time this
year how to prepare and handle must
to weigh it, has it to be filtered, ought
it to have a certain degree of warmth,
and how is that to be found ? How

108

The Grape Culturhi.

must wine be treated to weigh it
with Oechsle's scales, etc., etc.
I am, respectfully yours,

Ed. Eoelfs.

[You ask a good many questions all
at once, but we will try to answer
them to the best of our ability.

If you do the pinching early enough,
you will have no trouble in getting
good strong eyes at the base of bear-
ing shoots, which j^ou can cut back to
two or three buds. That is the plan
we follow, but we do our pinching
early enough, so as not to stunt the
development of the shoot, and we
iiinch every shoot on the arm. When
pruning, we spur in the strongest,
and cut the weakest out entirely.

The sample of soil you sent us, we
should call clay, mixed with sand, and
as far as we can judge, from mere de-
scription, would call your soil good for
Norton's Virginia. But "the proof
of the pudding is in the eating." If
you can make first class Norton wine
there, it is better proof than all sup-
positions. If you send us a sample
of the xcine made on your soil, wo can
tell you, we trust, whether it is good
or not.

We can only see a difference be-
tween deep digging and deep plowing
in favor of the latter, as it pulverizes
and mixes the soil more thoroughly.
If you prefer the extra labor of
working with the spade, why we do
not pretend to censure you. "Every-
body to his liking," as the old lady
said when she kissed the cow. We
prefer to do our work on a cheaper
plan, if we can do it as well or better
by it.

The straw will not hurt your vine-
yard, but we think you would do well

to turn it under with the plow this
spring. It will then serve as manure,
the only benefit we can see in it.

When we weigh must, we bring it
to a temperature of about 6.5 deg.; it
need not be filtered, but should of
course have no skins or seeds of
grapes suspended in it. Wine, to
weigh it with Oeehsle's scale, should
be fully wine, which means that it
should not contain unfermented sugar,
and be clear. Then have it at about
the same temperature as the must,
65 deg.; unscrew the small weight at
the bottom of the soale, which is left
on in weighing must, and the wine
scale 1 — 12 will indicate the degrees.
—Ed.]

Saxdusky, Feb. 7, 1870.

Friend Husmann :

My Dear Sir: Enclosed you will
find two dollars, subscription to your
valuable paper. Please excuse me
for not writing sooner — have been so
busy.

I was an oflicer of the Ohio Grape
Growei's' Association; have attended
every meeting since they discarded
wine, and will state to 3'ou that at
every meeting of the society wine has
been introduced, drank in the com-
mittee room, and in public and pri-
vate ; there was no such thing as
keeping it out.

I was also present as an officer of
the State Horticultural Society when
it was merged, as they called it, into
that society.

The truth of the matter is, it was
a funeral, and they held the wake at
friend Ohmer's, Dayton, Ohio. His
beautiful mansion was kindly thrown
open on this important occasion, with

Editor's Letter Box.

109

well filled tables of cake and wine;

aud the thing was a ven' pleasant
affair after all said and done. This is
the end of the Ohio (irape Growers'
Association, said to have been killed
by wine.

The truth of Ihe matter is, it was
killed b}- taking up the time of the
society in discussing the temperance
question, which should not have been
introduced.

Yours, truly,

D. O. ElCHMOND.

[We think if the Society, instead
of excluding wine, had advocated its
general introduction, in the place of
ardent spirits, as a temperance measure,
it would have been more successful,
and have done more good. We do
not believe in the doctrines of men
who put on sanctimonious faces and
profess to be better Christians than
our Savior himself, who even changed
water into wine to promote innocent
hilarity. If they are too weak in
that respect, and must make sots of
themselves, even when drinking wine,
whj-, let them abstain ; but let them
not try to hinder those who use wine
as it was intended to be used — in
moderation. — Ed.]

Elizabethtowx, Pa . Feb. 8th, 1870.

George Hlsmaxx :

Dear Sir: Enclosed find 82 for one
year's subscription to Grape Cultur-
IST for 1870. January No. received.

I am glad to hear that the Grape
CuLTURisT is to be continued, and
hope it may receive the encourage-
ment it so richly deserves. I am
much interested in E. F. Underbill's
article in January number on '^ Treat-
ment of the American Grape-vine,"

and hope he may give us a better
method of training than any we yet
have.

The grape here was only an aver-
age crop this season. Concord very
fine but Clinton was attacked by a gall
fl}-, which caused the leaves to fall
before the grapes were ripe, thereby
injuring the quality of the crop.
Young vines of Martha, Telegraph,
Ives', and several of Rogers' numbers
which bore their first crop gave pro-
mise of being well suited to our soil
and climate.

Grape growing here is but in its
swaddling clothes, yet I think Lan-
caster county possesses a soil and
climate as well suited to the growth
of this noble fruit as any to be found
east of the Alleghany mountains.
Yours trulj",

Addisox Eby.

[We are sorry to hear that you are
troubled with the same enemy to the
Clinton vine, which threatens to make
it almost worthless here. We had sup-
posed that Clinton succeeded well in
most sections of your State.

We like the spu-it which makes every
man believe he has a good if not the
best locality. It gives encouragement
to his efforts, lightens his labor, and
will bring success even against obsta-
cles where despondency would never
have achieved anything. Let every
one believe that nature has done a
great deal for him, and he will be all
the more willing to do his share also. —
Editor.]

Mr. John Eeicherter, of Grasshop-
per Falls, Kansas, an old correspond-
ent and customer writes to us : that
all who have paid any attention to

no

The Grape Culturist.

grapes there, have had good crops ; ho
has grown Concord bunches, the last
two years, ten inches long; that he
does not know the weight of grapes
exactly, but has often gathered two
common pails full from single vines
and that, although his Concord vines
suffered from rot last summer, ho j^et
made a very satisfactory crop. Cataw-
ba lost its leaves, rotted and ripened
unequally, but still made a tolei'ablo
crop, while his Catawba crop in 1868
was as abundant as the Concords, and
of a very fine quality; therefore, he
thinks he Avill try Catawba a little
longer, and we think he is right
"Where it will do as well as that it
would be folly to dig it up. Dela-
ware^ Cassad}^ and other varieties,
which have lost their leaves in other
localities, he reports entirely healthy,
and thinks that Kansas, as a State, is
peculiarly adapted to Grape culture.
[This is a synopsis of his letter, writ-
ten in the german language, we are
glad he can send us so good a report,
and we say "success to Kansas and
her industrious grape growers. — P]d.]

Kkytesville, Charitou Co . , Mo , Feb. IT, '70.

Geo. Husmann, St. Louis, Mo :

Dear Sir: Enclosed please find $2
for the Grape Culturist. Please ac-
cept my thanks for the continuance
of the journal since my time expired.
I would not think of being without
your valuable journal.

I have a vineyard of about four
acres of Delaware, Norton, Concord,
and a few vines of other varieties, all
doing well. I will give you an inci-
dent of last season, which ma}- bo of
some interest to you. Last spring
my bearing vinos were in fine condi-

tion and put out strong, healthy buds,
and gave promise of a good crop.
About the last of May there came a
heav}- hail storm and greatly injured
the buds and young shoots. The man
I had employed to cultivate and man-
age my vines (a German of experi-
ence) without ni}^ knowledge, imme-
diatel}^ after the storm, stripped all
the buds and young shoots from the
vines. He claimed that the vines
would put out now buds and make a
full crop. In about fourteen days
after the hail the vinos put out ioavc'^.
The Delaware bloomed and niade over
half crop of the largest and best ma-
tured Delaware grapes I have ever
seen. The tbliage all remained per-
fectlv fresh ahd green until frost.
The Concords only made a few bunches
of grapes, Norton more. I have no
doubt but what grape growing can be
made a success here.
Yours truly,

F. 31. liELLFUM.

[The circumstance j-ou mention can
be easily explained. Every bearing
bud on the grape-vine is a triple
one. The middle is the principal one,
and generally brings the fruit-bearing
shoot. If l)y a hail-storm, trost or
otherwise, this bud is damaged, while
the cane rojnains sound, the side buds
will start new shoots, which are how-
ever widely difierent in fertility in
diffei'ont varieties. In the Delaware
and some other varieties they will
produce nearly as well as the first or
principal bud — in the Concoi"d not so
much — while ill Norton's Virginia and
some other varieties they are nearly
barren. We had a similar occurrence
in 1864, when the hard frosts of win-
ter killed nearly all the middle buds.

Editor's Letter Box.

Ill

aud only the side buds remained.
Our Concords bore two-thirds of a
crop, the Norton only about one-fourth,
the Catawbas onl}' about one-eighth.
The Delaware and Cassady, two of
the most fruitful vines we know, will
often, if uninjured, push forth all three
buds^ and we have seen and ripened
nine bunches from a single eye, on
three shoots, on a Cassad}' vine. We
know Chariton county to produce
some famous wines, and have no doubt
of the success of grape culture there. —
Editor.]

OLivEii's I'liAiRiE, Feb. 17, 1870.

Mr. Editor : A few days ago, in
digging up the rooted layers of our
grape-vines in order to transplant
them into the vineyard, 1 found, two
inches under ground, a fine bunch of
C3'nthiana grapes perfectly sound and
good to eat.

This grape must have grown and
matured beneath the soil, for I cov-
ered the layered canes in the begin-
ning of June last, directly after bloom-
ing time.

Western grape growers are unani-
mous in calling the summer of 1869
the worst season for rot and mildew in
grapes they ever saw. If in such a
season we can raise healthy bunches
in the wet soil, what a country for
grapes must ours be ?

Yours trul}', Herman J.^iger.

[The above is from Newton county.
Mo., and the correspondent asks:
Have you seen anj'thing like this
already ? We answer that we have
frequently found sound bunches of
grapes on layers, in fall or during
winter, which had been covered in
midsummer. They keep perfectly
plump and fresh, and we have thought

seriously of trying it on grapes to
keep over winter. Every farmer
knows that apples can be kept in ex-
cellent condition by just covering
them with leaves and soil to keep out
frost, although they will decay rapidly
when exposed to the air afterwards.
Why should it not be possible to keep
grapes by the same method? — Ed.]

Mr. Husmann :

As I am endeavoring to grow a few
vines of the Concord and Clinton ;
also of the Scuppernong, a question
has presented itself to my mind as to
the practicability of cultivating with
the ploiv near the vine. For instance,
I planted the Scuppernong thirty (30)
feet apart each way, and cultivated
the ground in cotton last year, and
expect to do so again this year.

What 1 wish to know is this : Will
I or will T not be injuring the vines
by cultivating the one in cotton and
the other in vegetables, allowing a
breadth of space of four feet for vine-
row ? If you will advise me some
about this matter, from your great
storehouse of experience, I shall be
greatly obliged to you.

Very respectfully, J. Dozier Bass.

Pittsburg, Upsher County, Texas.

[We do not think you will injure
the vines by planting other vegeta-
bles among them, provided always
you do not get too close to the vines,
so that the vegetables or other crops
you grow draw the substance the vines
ought to have. AVe frequently plant
potatoes or cabbage among our vines
the first season, and have not seen
any ill effects from it, although we
have raised remarkably fine vegeta-
bles.—Ed.]

112 Grape Culturist Adoertlsing Sheet.

By special agreeineiit willi tlie i)ublishers, we aie enabled to club the Grape
Culturist with the following journals, at the annexed rates:

Grape Culturist and Journal of Agriculture '. $3 00

" " American Entomologist 3 00

" " Colman's Rural World 3 00

" " Horticulturist 3 50

" •' Zymotechnic News (English and German) 2 25

To those sending- us the names and post office address of six stibscribers, we
we will furnish the sixth copy/"yee.

Yol. I. will still be furnished at the reduced rate of SI, comi:)lete. To those
who desire it bound, we will furnish it bound in muslin, with index and title page,
at $2,25, post paid ; or they can be supplied with the cover at $1.00 each.

Cash Advertising Terms for 1870.

TWENTY CENTS PER LINE, AGATE TYPE, EACH INSERTION.

Cover Pages Twenty-Five Cents per Line.
BUSINESS CARDS, FIVE TO SIX LINES EACH, $15 PER ANNUM.

FRUIT GROWING FOR PROFIT.

Everybody can have tlic benefit of thirty years' experienoe. in my new Descriptive Catalogue of 56
pages, for 10c. It tells what and how to plant. . "WM. PARRY, Cinnaminson, N. J,

mar70-lt

GREENHOUSE AND^BEDDING PLANTS.

Our new Illustrated Catalogue, containing lists of Stove and Bedding I'lants and Flower Seeds,
Hardy Herbaceous Plants, Dahlias, Gladiolus, Lilies, and other Bulbs, is miw ready, and will be mailed
to all applicants. Postage prepaid. Address MICHEL BROS. & KERN",

marTO-tf 107 North Fiftli Street, St. Louis, Mo.

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUITS.

[Nursery Established in 1857.]

A splendid stock of Vines and Plants are offered the coming Fall and Spring,
including nearly every variety known to be of value. The popular and white Grape

MARTHA, OR {WHITE CONCORD,)

In large or small quantities. Also, Arnold's new Hybrids, Eumelan, Walter, Wee-
hawken, Christine, Hine, and all valuable numbers of Rogers' Hybrids; also,
Delaware, lona, Israella, Concord, Harlford, Ives, Norton's Virginia, etc., etc., in
all about one hundred distinct varieties.

Kittatinny Blackberries and Clarke Raspberries in large quantities, Jucnnda
and Charles Downing Sti-awberries, Downing's Seedling Gooseberries, Cheri'v,
Versailles, White Grape, and Black Naples Currants, etc., etc.

Send stamps for Illustrated Catalogue and Price Lists to

apr69-tf GEO. W. CAMBBELIj, Delaware, Ohio,

(irape Vines, Strawberry Plants, Raspberry, Blackberry & Gooseberry.

Also, a few Peach and Cherry Trees, the finest growths. Particular attention
will be paid to small orders of plants to be sent by mail. For sale by

SAMUCIi MILIiER, Bluftton, ITIo.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

For all Branches of Fermentic Arts— Manufacturing of
Wine, Beer, Spirits, Vinegar and Yeast.

THE " ZYMOTECHNIC NEWS" will give a detailed record and discussion of all iiniirovements-
which obtain publicity, both in the Old and New World. The more important ones of these im-
provements will be suliJL'cted to the most careful tests in the chemical laboratories and technic establish-
ments, amply at the editor's disposal, and the results thus gained will also iorm part of the communi-
cations of the "ZVMOTECHXIU NEWS."

The "ZVMurECHNIC NEWS" will appear both in ENGLISH and GERMAN, and the yearly sub-
scription foi' each one of the two editions is but $1 in advance.

ONLY ONE DOLLAR A YEAR!

All Business Men standing in any pi-actical relations to Zymotechnic Pursuits, more particularly
Producers of Wine, Brewers, Distillers, Rectiliers, Wine and Liquor Dealers, Vinegar and Yeast Man-
ufacturers, ought to subscribe for a copy of the ' ' ZYMOTECHNIO NEWS ' ' in order to rest assured that
nothing new in the technical appliances of their pursuit will escajje their notice. If but once in a while
a, single item of interest and value to themselves has been made available, the small expense of $1 a year
will have possibly been repaid a hundred- fokl in a short time.

All letters anil remittances are to be directed to the undersigned

\. 15. Correspondence conducted in English, French and German.

P. O. Box 2,742.

St Lot is, Mo., December, 1809.

CHAS. H. FRINGS, Editor,

202 South Fourtli Street.

ian70-tf

FENCE AND GRAPE WINE.

STAPLES, run 72 to the pound ]4@l.')eper lb

HE

12

Weighs 7i pounds to 100 feet, or 3!^9 pounds to the mile
"0 " 100 " 3--y

100
100
100

2Ht

.?ic
,9c

A large stock on hand and for sale in quantities to suit, by

R. SELLEW & CO.,

mar7o-2t 805 N. Main street, St. Louis.

Grape Culturist Advertising ISheet.

GRAPE WOOD

FOR

Grafting or Propagating.

CYNTHIANA $ 5 oo per 100.

HERMANN 10 00

MARTHA 3 00

DEVEREAUX 3 50

RULANDER 350 " ,

LOUISIANA 3

MAX ATAWNE Y i

TELEGRAPH i 00

CASSADY

CREVELING

GOETHE

lONA

ISRAELLA

LINDLEY, (Rogers' 9)

MASSASOIT, (Rogeis' 3)

MERRIMACK, (Rogers' 19)..
NORTH CAROLINA SEED-
LING 75 " "

ROGERS' HYBRIDS, Nos. 3.

15

50

1.1.

CO

"

00

75 cts.

75 "

15 "

75 "

15 "

15 "

15 "

15 "

8,13, ^-- " "

$35 00

per I

,oco eves,

15 00

u

. 35 00

((

30 00

u

. 30 00

t;

S 00

u

. 8 00

('

6 00

;i

6 00

(.1,

6 00

ii

6 00

((

6 00

;(

6 00

u

6 00

(.1.

6 00

i(

6 00

((

6 00

(.

6 00

((

6 00

ii.

SALEM y^

WILDER, (Rogers' 4) 75

HERBEMONT Cuttings, 9 to 12 in., trim'd ready for plant'g 10 00 per 1,000.
DELAWARE " " '' ^ " 10 00

Hautford Prolific " " '' " 5 00 "•

IVES' " '' " ^' 5 00

Cuttings will be shipped by express or freisfht, and an additional charge of
30 cents per 1000 for boxes and packing be added. Freight to be paid bv
purchaser.

WE HAVE A LIMITED QUANTITY OF

WOOD FROM BEARING VINES,

From our former Vineyards at Hermann, for Sale.

All who wish to try them, will be furnished at the above rates, by addressing
Small packages will be seat by mail, post paid.

GEORGE HUSMANN,

BLUFFTON, MO.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRIIT,

Warx'anted Genuine and of Superior Quality, in Large Quantities, at

Reduced Rates.

•<'OXC()IlD per 10,000 $250.00 MARTHA, extra strong per 100 $ 75.00

per .'■.,000 1-2.-..00 CYNTHIANA, " per 100 lilO.OO

per 1,000 S.'i.OO IVES, " per 1,000 50.00

HARTFORD PROL per 1,0;)0 45.00 " per 100 6.00

". " per 100 6 00 RULANDER, " per 100 30.00

For prices of all other Vjirieties, we refer to our PEilCE LIST (grath) , and to our new ILLUS-
TRATED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE, ontaiaiug valuable information on grapes and grape
culture, wiiicli will be lu.iileil, free of po-staiie, to any address, on receipt of 25 cents.

A (jiERMAX EDITION of same, by Fr. Mueiich, price 25 cents (less than cost), has just been
published Please address

janco-tf ISIDOR BUSH & SON, Bushberg, Jefferson Co., Mo.

The Bluffton MTine Company

Offer a large stock of thrifty, finely rooted GRAPE VINES of all valuable and
popular varieties, together with all novelties in this line.

Large quantities of leading varieties will be furnished at a very liberal dis-
•count on list prices.

Descriptive priced Catalogues sent to any address on application to

WILLIAM WESSELHOFT, Secretary,
jan69-tf Bliifftotif MissoiirL

COOP

Id 18 Jackson street, St. Louis, 3Iissoii)'l.

Olfers his services to Wine Dealers, as manufacturer of all kinds of casks, fer-
'menting vats and cellar apparatus. He guarantees satisfactorv work and lowest
prices. Refers to some of tlie principal Avine dealers in the State of Missouri, for
whom he has made casks and vats for a number of years, and especially to the
Bluft'ton Wine Company, No. 22 South Main street, where casks and vats of his
manufactuie can be seeu bv those interested in the business. febeo-tf

^ 3aL jBlW^'M^ "^^y <0> ^D^ 3DI

Immense Stock, especially of

Co:icord, Ives, Delaware, Hartford, lona, Catawba, Isabella,
Clinton, Rogers' Nos. 4. 15 and 19, etc.

Cut from Bearing Vines before hard freezing, and stored in frost-j^roof Cellars.

Very Low for Cash. Price List Gratis.

ALSO, LEADING VARIETIES OF GEAPE EOOT IN STORE.
Can ship South safely at any time.

febo tf M. H, LEWIS, Sandusky, Ohio,

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

THE HORTICUIijTURIST

AND

JOURNAI. OF RURAL ART AND RURAL TASTE.

(ESTABLISHED BY A. J. DOWNING, 1846.)

Devoted to Horticulture, Landscape Gardening, Rural Architecture, Mural Embellishments,

Pomology, Floriculture, and all subjects of Rural Life, Literature, Art and Taste.

HENRY T. "WILLIAMS, Editor and Proprietor.

SUBSClilPTION TERMS.— Ke-ular Subscription, $2 50 per annum. Montlily Numbers,

25 cents. N. B. All subscriptions strictly i/h advance. ^fW To prevent loss of money through tlie

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CLUB TERMS,
o copies to 1 P . O . address , |1 . 75 [$2 . 25 each] . 10 copies to 1 P . O . address, f 17 . 50 [ $1 . 75 each] .
5 ■' " " 10.00[2.00 " ]. 20 " 1 " 30.00 L 1.50 " ].

An extra copy sent free to the former of clubs of five, ten or twenty subscribers. Illustrated
Prospectus free on receipt of Postage Stamp . Advertising Rates— 25 cents, per agate line,
each insertion. Address, HENRY T. WILLIAMS, 7 Murray street. New York. P O. Box,
2445. The Horticulturist for 18C9 and 1870, unbound will be supplied at $4.50. Bound volumes
for 1869, $3.00 each.

PATENTED AUG. Gth, 1S67, AND AUG. 3d 1S69.

For FERMENTATION and GERMINATION, and for PRESERVING, PURIFYING
and IMPROVING of Organic Substances.

Exceedingly usefulin Malting, Brewing, Distilling. Baking, Manufacture of Wine, Cider,
Fruit Wines, Fruit Brandies, Vinegar, etc. ; in Sugar Works, Oil Works. Manufacture of Ex-
tracts, Preserves; in Storehouses, Transportation of Grain. Produce, Fruit; Purification ol
Water, etc., etc.
Igg" Rights for States, Counties, Districts, or Establishmenis, for sale. Apply to

P. 0. Box 6844. R. D'HEUREUSE, New York.

I>UBLISHED ^ND FOR S_A.LE

BY

ST. LOUIS, MO.

MuENCH, Frederick, School for American Grape Culture. Brief but thorough

guide to the laying out of vineyards, the treatment of vines and the production

of wine in Norlli America.
MuENCH, F., Amerikanische Weinbauschule unci Weinbereiiu^ignlehre, etc.

Either one of these books will be mailed free of postage on receipt of one dollar.
HusMANN, George, The Cultivation of the Native Grape and Manufacture of

American Wines.

On the receipt of $1 50 this book will be mailed to any address.
Schmidt, J. A., The Diseases of Wine, how to prevent and how to cure them,

according to the doctrines of M. Pasteur.

This book will be sent, free of postage, on receipt of $2.

C. WITTER keeps a large assortment of books treating on the Culture oi
Grapes and Manufacture of Wines.

Catalogues sent on application. Please address letters,

CONKAD WITTER,

jan69-tf 122 S. E. comer Walnut and Second Sts., St. Louis.

THE

GRAPE CULTURIST.

Vol. II.

MAY, 1870.

No. 5.

MAY.

WORK FOR THE MONTH.

May, with its genial sunshine, is es-
pecially the pushing and growing month,
and the vintner will have enough to do,
tying the young shoots of his vines
destined for next year's canes, summer
prunino- and pinching, etc. In tjdng
up the 5'oung canes, his object should
always be to train them where they have
the most room on the trellis, and as
speedily as possible, to the upper wire
of the trellis along which they may be
led, and form a leafy canopy, shading
and protecting, but not smothering, the
fruit below. The best material for tying
is the inner bark of the Pawpaw, slit
into convenient strips. Bass wood bark
is not quite strong enough, and is apt
to be rubbed through by the friction of
the branches ; and twine is too expen-
sive. Rye straw cut into convenient
lengths, also the husks of corn, slit and
soaked in water, and the leaves of the
Adams Needle ( Yucca filamentosa) are
also good. Of summer pruning, we shall
treat in a separate article.

As soon as weeds appear, after the
first plowing and hoeing, plow and hoe
again, but more shallow than the first
time, and always in dry weather. Keep
the ground well pulverized, especially in
your new plantations, around thej'oung
vines. They will grow much more freely.

Examine j^our grape grafts, and rub

off all suckers from the stock below, as
they will rob the graft of the nourish-
ment properly belonging to it. But take
care that you do not move the scion, or
rub off the buds on them.

Do not be impatient if the scions do
not start at once. They always start
later than the stock ; very often even^
the principal bud having started, it
drops off again, and the side bud or
dormant one (of which there are two
besides the principal one, on each well
developed joint — each bud in fact being
triple,) will start a week, or even a mouth
later. As long as the scion is fresh and
green, there is hope that it will grow,
and those starting late will often make
up by vapid growth for lost time. Keep
them well covered with saw dust oi' tan,
so as to shade them from the sun, and
keep them moist, while the young buds
can easily penetrate it.

Fill up around j^our layers with well
pulverized soil, and as soon as thej'
have grown fifteen to eighteen inches,
pinch off the leading shoot. Thej- will
become more stocky, and make better
roots.

Examine your cutting beds^ and keep
them clean and mellow, plowing between
the rows and loosening around the Gut-
tings with hoe and weeding fork. Should
the weather threaten to become too drj',

lU

Tlie Grape Culturist.

and yon can procure saw dust or spent
tan for mulching, it will be of great
benefit to them. If you can not procure
these, mulch with well pulverized earth,
drawing it up over them, but it will not
do to let this bake and harden into a
crust.

In vine^^ards planted this spring, leave
no more than one shoot to grow, rubbing
ofl' all others ; but on thi*? allow all the
laterals to grow, as that will make it
raoi'e stock3\ On vines in their second

year, if they start strong and vigorously,
you can leave, on strong growing kinds,
from three to four shoots, as they should
have two or three bearing canes the
next year, and one spur as a reserve
near tlie ground. Look sharp after all
noxious insects, especiall}' the steel blue
beetle, the different small worms which
make their nests in the tips of the 3'oung
shoots ; but protect the lad^'-bug, the
Mantis and its eggs. The^^ are among
the best friends 3'^ou have.

SUMMER PRUNING THE VINE— No. 2.

I

We come now to the second stage of
summer pruning, and shall try to be as
explicit as possible in describing our
mode. In answer to numerous inqui-
ries, we will state that this practice
was first followed here by Mr. William
Poeschel, one of our most observant and
best vine dressers. He perceived that
some shoots, of wjiich the ends had been
eaten off' by worms at a very early time,
developed their bunches much more
rapidly and evenly. He stated the fact
to us in the summer of 1852, also showed
us some rows he had pinched in this
manner, and some he had treated in the
old manner of summer pruning, namely,
waiting until after the bloom, and then
pinching or cutting the shoot two leaves
beyond the last bunch. The difference
was so marked and apparent in favor
of the new method over the old, that
we were at once convinced of its ad-
vantages, and advocated it through the
press. We can well remember a very
warm controversy we had about this in
the columns of the Cincimiatus, and are
happy to say that it ended in a convic-

tion of our friend Warder to the "■ new
heresy," of which he became a warm
advocate from thai time on. We could
state many similar cases ; and the suc-
cess of Mr. M'Fike at Alton, so often
commented upon in public, is owing, to
a great extent, to his following this
method as soon as his vines commenced
bearing. It is one of the discoveries
the diligent observer of nature so often
makes, small it itself, but important in
its results, and which each of us can
make ever}' day if he will observe
the habits of his plants thinkingly,
and draw conclusions from his obser-
vations.

After the first pinching, the dormant
buds in the axils of the leaves on the
fruit-bearing shoots will each push out a
lateral shoot opposite the 3'oung bunches.
Our second operation consists in pinch-
ing these laterals each back one leaf as
soon as we can get hold of the shoot
jibove the first leaf, so that we get a
young and vigorous leaf additional, op-
posite to each bunch of grapes. These
; serve as elevators of the sap, and also

loica Wine.

115

as an excellent protection and shade to
the fruit. Remember, our aim is not
to rob the plant of its foliage, but to
make tico leaves grow where there was
but one before, and at a place where
they are of more benefit to the fruit.
Had we allowed the fruit-bearing shoots
to grow unchecked, as some grape-
growers advocate, these buds would have
remained dormant ; the old leaves drop
off in August, and the fruit is exposed to
the scorching sun. Besides, the branches
intertwine so with their tendi-ils that it
is very difficult to manage them after-
wards. By our method, our rows of
vines have the appearance of leafy walls,
each bunch of fruit properly shaded,
and yet each part of the vine is properly
ventilated.

We come now to another of those ac-
cidental discoveries, which has proved
of great use to us in the management
of the Concord, Herbemont, Taylor,
etc. In the summer of 1862, when a
piece of Concord, planted in 1861, was
growing rapidl}^ a severe hail storm
cut up the young shoots, completely
defoliating them, and breaking the ten-
der and succulent shoots at a height of
about two feet. The vines were orow-

ing rapidly, and the dormant buds in
the axils of the leaves immediately
pushed out laterals, which made very
fair sized canes. In the following fall,
when we commenced to prune, we found
from three to five of these strong later-
als on each cane, and accordingly short-
ened them in to from three to five and six
buds each. On these laterals we raised
as fine a crop of grapes as we ever saw,
certainly much finer than we had evcj-
before raised on the strong canes ; and
we have since learned to imitate hail
storms, by pinching the leaders of young
shoots when they have grown say two
feet, forcing out the laterals, and grow-
ing our fruit on the latter : thus meet-
ing with another illustration of the old
proverb, " It is an ill wind Avhich blows
nobody any good."

In our next number we shall take up
the third and last pinching, thus giving
our system of summer pruning complete.
Will not some of our friends give us
their methods, and the reasons for them ?
We expect to differ with many, and as
we think a proper course of summer
pruning one of the most important ques-
tions in grape culture, would like to
have it fully discussed.

IOWA WINE.

We had the pleasure of receiving a
bottle of wine from W. ]\loersehel.
Homestead, Iowa, which he says is a
combination of equal parts of Dela-
ware, Concord, and Isabella, and
iibout which he wishes to have our
opinion. As we are always ready to
try such samples of wine, and give
our opinion, here it is :

Color, white or light yellow ; wine
brilliantly clear, showing careful

handling.

with a very fine flavor.
Delaware predominating, not as heavy
as some pure Delawares we have
tested, but heavy enough for a deli-
cate wine, and need not be ashamed
to show its face anywhere among fine
wines, and very creditable to the skill
of the maker. Vintage of 18t)8. It
can be truly called a very fine hock
wine, but not containing as much acid as
the generality of the imported Hocks.

116

The Grape Culturist.

THE CHEMISTRY OF WINE.

BY CHAS. H, FRINGS.

{ConUmi^d .)

Except alcohol, acids, gl^^cerine^
and flavor, there is nothing contained
in the must which may be classified
among the wine-making substances.
We van regulate the alcohol and acids.
Glycerine is formed from the sugar,
thus onl}' the flavors remain, of which
the inexperienced believe that they
are contained in lesser proportions in
a must increased \>jii solution of sugar,
than in a so-called natural must.

We have already, in a former part
of this article, defined the diff'erence
between "general flavors" and bou-
quet. The first are formed by oenanth
ether, which is contained in the must in
such quantities, that a barrel of it con-
tains enough to flavor twenty barrels
of wine to a sufficient degree. Bou-
quet is also formed from ether, which
can only then be developed to its
greatest perfection when the different
ingredients of the must have been
regulated to their proper proportions.
Neither those wines which are too
sweet, nor those which contain too
mucli acid, will develop as fine a bou-
quet as those which are neither the
one nor the other.

All the experiences ot the latter
years serve to demonstrate that, the
musts, regulated b}' proper addition
of sugar and water, furnish Mnnes of
finer bouquet than the so-called natural
wines of the same season, from the
same locations, and the same varieties
of grapes. Those who wish to con-
vince themselves of this, can easily do
so, if thev ferment the husks of so-

called natural must with a solution of
20 per cent, of sugar and water. The
wine thus made will have a much finer
and stronger bouquet than that first
pressed, without any addition. All
the wines made from varieties of the
Fox grape will likewise develop a
much finer and more pleasant bouquet
if they have been increased b}* addi-
tion of sugar and water. The foxy
flavor is very similar to cenanth
ether in this respect ; both are only
pleasant and agreeable, if contained
in the wine in verj- small proportions^
and strongly diluted.

As to the ferment necessary, our
American grapes contain sufficient to
ferment at least treble the amount re-
quired, so that the assertion, "that
the juice of grapes cannot bear any
addition without at the same time
losing wine-making ingredients," is
entirely without foundation.

On the contrarj', we find that all
wines in which the proportions have
been reasonably adjusted and regu-
lated, are much better than the so-
called natural wines.

Experiments on an extended scale
have been made to this end in Ger-
many and France. Samples of ra-
tionally improved wines from poor
locations have been put among a num-
ber of samples of fine natural wines
from the best locations, and the ex-
perts who were to judge them, wei'e
unable to distinguish them. The
celebrated Johannisberg Cabinet,
which formerl}' stood at the head of

2 he Chemistry of Wine.

117

Rhenish wines, has lost its former
pi'oiid position, because Pi'ince Metter-
nich is obstinatel}" opposed to the
later advancements of science, and
refuses to be benefited hj them.

The " Grumberg " in Silesia, of
which the story goes, that those who
drink it must be awakened a couple of
times during the night, and turn
around, so that its sharp acid did not
destroy their entrails, is now a ver}'
good wine, and the sparkling made
from it is considered the equal of the
best sparkling Hock.

That these improvements in wine-
making should meet with a strong
opposition, is but natural, and easily
explained. In Germany, their strong-
est opponents were, and are yet, those
who are in possession of the most re-
nowned locations, thought they had a
monoj)ol3^ upon the wine trade, and
could, under the old condition of
things, so much easier obtain enor-
mous prices for their products, as the
wines from less favored locations
were hardly saleable except in vqyj
favorable seasons. This has changed
entirel}^. We find no longer those
sour, unpalatable wines in Germany ;
and the poor vineyardists on the Mo-
selle, Avho alread}^ despaii-ed of their
ungrateful soil, which so poorly re-
warded all their toil, are now again
gladdened by sure returns, as the doc-
trine of rational wine has made them
more independeut of the freaks of na-
ture and the weather, which formerly'
gave them only one saleable crop in
five or six years.

But although the vast importance
of these improvements can not be de-
nied, and have become established
facts, there yet remains a class, who

stubbornly close their eyes, and fight
against them like Don Quixotte of
yore against the windmills. How-
ever, they cannot stay the march of
progress. The Prussian Agricultural
Council have already several years
ago, by an enlightened document, pro-
tested against the passage of laws
prohibiting the improvement of must,
and even the courts have sanctioned
the progress in wine making. The
court at Brudisal gave, even as early
as 1859, the following verdict :

1. Every Avine is in so far an artifi-
cial product, as no ivine is produced
by nature, but only the product of the
grape-vine, which is made and fer-
mented by human skill and activity,
and only through their help becomes
wine.

2. There is nothing contained in
gallized wines which is foreign to the
ingredients of good wine ; on the
contraiy, by the addition of sugar
and water, ingredients which must be
in every must, the unfavorable pro-
portions between acid, sugar and
water are equalized and reduced to
such proportions as should exist in
every good wine.

3. Those ingredients added to the
must by gallizing are not injui'ious to
health, nor do they take from the
wine any of its health- pronwting
qualities.

4. Therefore, gallized wine is not
an artificial surrogate of natural wine,
but on the contrary, b}' gallizing of
sour or inferior musts a wine is pro-
duced which is fully equal to the wines
of medium quality.

This was the verdict ten years ago,
in a German court of law.

At the present day, when experi-

118

The Graye Culturist.

ments have led us to the knowledge
that not only the inferior classes of
must are benefited by rational im-
provement, but is to a certain degree
applicable to every must, it is no lon-
ger proper to call it gallizlng or petio-
tizing. Dr. Gall himself admitted,
just before his death, that his method

had been excelled b}* that of Petiot,
and even the latter has been excelled
by the later discoveries of organic
chemistry. Has not the art of brew-
ing also gone through innumerable
changes and improvements, and is
wine making less a science than it ?

( To be continued)

GRAPES IN CANADA— GROWIXG HARD WOOD VARIETIES FROM

CUTTINGS.

CiTYEXGINEEK'S OPFlf'E, }

HA3III.T0N, Ont., Canada, Feb. 18, 1870. S

George Husmann, Esq. :

Dear Sir : — I am much pleased with
3'our journal on grapes and wine,
which I would not be without for
three times its cost. I have read
most, if not all, your published Avrit-
ings on grapes and wine, and look
upon you as our best authority.

Parties living so far south as Mis-
souri, may fancy growing grapes in
Canada unprofitable, but such is not
the case, as we have a very good
grape region here on the south shore
of Lake Ontario, between this city
and the Niagara river, where we are
raising and maturing fine crops from
all varieties not quite so late as the
Catawba.

The Concord, Delaware, Rebecca,
lona, Rogers' Hybrids, &c., do re-
markably well. Very generally we
have no frost to injure the vine foliage
before the 20th of October, last year
being an exception to previous years,
and leaf blight or any other disease
is so far unknown here.

By reference to the December num-
ber of Tilton's Journal, you will find
I was awarded two first prizes at the
show of the Lake Shore Grape Grow-

ers' Association of Western New
York for grapes grown here last
season, viz. : " The best white grape
for the table " — Rebecca ; and " The
Clinton.'"

As you, in so kind a manner, invite
contributions to your valuable jour-
nal, I submit a receipt by which I
have been most successful in propa-
gating the Delaware and other varie-
ties, and by which I believe good
plants might also be made from cut-
tings of 3'our "Norton^' and " Cyn-
thiana " varieties, said to be quite as
diflScult to strike as the Delaware,
if not more so.

Make two eye cuttings during the
fall or winter, in the usual way, from
well ripened, one year old wood, with
a sharp knife, and not ivith shears on
any accoinit. Pack the cuttings in
sand, in a cool cellar, and don't re-
move them until the vines out doors
are in leaf. Then dig a trench in
well cultivated soil, in an easterly
and westerly direction, which fill
with sand, and in this set the cuttings
close together. Consolidate with
your feet, and mulch slightly with
saw dust, tan bark, rubbish, straw, or
leaves. Have j^repared two boards.

Grafting tJie Vine.

119

each twelve inches wide, nailed to-
gether at right angles, which place
over the cuttings. In ten days you
will find every vine has made a start,
then raise the covering on the north
side, about four inches, to admit light
and air, and gradually raise higher, as
the vines grow, and towards the end
of summer remove altogether.

By this plan I have made superior
plants, not losing five per cent.

Youi's, sincerely,

Wm. Haskins,

City Engineer.

[Thanks for your interesting com-
munication. We are glad to hear
that 3'ou succeed so well with grapes.
We desire to see grapes grow and
succeed well ever3"where.

The Norton, Cynthiana and Her-
mann are the most obstinate of all
the varieties to propagate we have,
much more so than even the Delaware.
Your method we think a good one,
but most too expensive to be followed
oil a larger scale. A heavy mulch
will almost answer the same purpose,
in our opinion, but our readers can
not go amiss by trying both. — Ed.]

GRAFTING THE VINE.

Friend Husmann :

In the March number of the Grape
CuLTURiST I notice that a subscriber of
Warsaw, 111., intends taking up an
acre of Catawbas and replacing them
with something better. Why did you
not tell him in j'our editorial remarks
to graft them instead of removing and
replacing with others ?

If they are not diseased l^e^'ond re-
demption he certainly will gain largely
b\' grafting them. Let it be done
deep, say six inches below the surface
of the ground, in which case the new
variety will in a few j^ears be estab-
lished upon its own foundation.

AYere it my case, and the Catawba
vines in anything like health, I would
not have his proposed change made, if
some one would furnish the new vines
free of cost and do all the w^ork of tak-
ing up the okl and planting the new in
the bargain.

If the coming season be a fruitful
one for the vine I think we can show

3'ou the importance of using old stocks
after the above advised plan.

In your remarks on Werth's Graft-
ing the vine, w here 3^ou state that for
late grafting, that is, when the leaves
have expanded, the scions should be
kept dormant. This is not quite the
thing I fear, although it was formerl}'
my impression.

If your vine is in full vigor of start-
ing growth, and 3'^our graft quite dor-
mant, the vine will have a great ten-
dency to break out in lots of suckers
before the graft can callous and unite,
and often drown it, as it were.

But let your grafts be in a forward
condition, saj^ the buds nearly- ready to
burst, and success is almost certain, if
the operation is well done.

Last spring I set two Creton grafts
which had started nearly an inch upon
vines that had grown two feet or more
successfully, while i^ome other sorts,
which I had kept back, nearly all
failed

120

Tlie Qrape CuUurtst.

This is somewhat of a crititjue, I
know ; but the kindly feeling existing
between us will assure you that it is
given in the true spirit.

Yours truly, S. Miller.

Bluffton', Mo., March VI, 1870.

P. S. My former ill success in late
grafting I now attribute to keeping the
grafts in too dormant a condition.

S. M.

[We like to be criticised, as we wish
to learn while we teach ; therefore
friend Miller need not fear that he will
" hurt our feelings." But, while graft-
ing is a great help to test new varieties,
and for experimenting, we think he
will acknowledge that success is not
always certain, and that grafting an

acre or two is rather a serious under-
taking for any one who is not familiar
with all the niceties of the operation.
We believe that nine-tenths of those
who have unsatisfactor}^ Catawba vine-
yards would do better to dig them up
than to graft them, not because gi'aft-
ing is not practicable, but because they
will not get the grafts to grow, or care-
less hands will disturb and ruin them
when they are growing. Thus it is
with scions on which the buds have
started already. We all know that the
bud is extremely brittle and tender
then, and that the slightest touch will
break it. Therefore we advise early
grafting whea root and scion are yet
dormant and can be handled with im-
punity.— Ed.]

THE EUMELAN.

This variety was found as a chance
seedling at Fishl<ill, N, Y., where it has
been in cultivation in the garden of
Messrs. Thorne for man}- years, jdelding
abundant crops of grapes, remarkable
both for goodness and earliness. The
original vines were purchased by Dr. C.
W. Grant, and are now in the possession
of his successors, Messrs. Hasbrook &
Bushnell, lona Island, from whom we
obtained it. As we can not speak of
it from our own experience, we give the
description of its progagator, Dr. Grant,
leaving out all excessive praise, which,
in our opinion, has damaged his success
more than all his opponents :

" Bunches of large size, elegant form,
and proper degree of compactness ; ber-
ries large black, with fine bloom, ad-
hering firmly to the bunch long after

ripening ; flesh tender, melting, all go-
ing to wine-like juice under slight pres-
sure of the tongue ; ripening very early
(even before the Hartford) and evenly
to the centre ; flavor pure and refined,
very sugary, rich and vinous, with a
large degree of that refreshing quality
that belongs distinctively to the best
black foreign wine grapes. Vine a strong
grower, producing remarkably short-
jointed wood ; leaves large, thick, dark-
colored, firm in texture (it strikingly
resembles Elsinburg), and gives promise
of being a very hard}-, early, healthy
grape. The American Horticultural
Annual of 1869, says of the Eumelan :
• This variety has been tested in several
localities. It has proved with us, near
New York, remarkably healthy in foli"
age. Tiie ICumelan makes a superior

>

^

t: n E] E xj m: E L, A N^

122

The Grape Culturlst.

red wine, and. should it prove suc-
cessful, will rank high among wine-
grapes.' "

We copy the annexed cut and descrip-
tion from the Catalogue of Isidor Bush
&, Son. What we have been able to
gather about its health and growing pro-
pensities throughout the country, seems
to be favorable, and although we can
not say any thing about it from personal

experience, we are determined to give
it a fair trial, and would advise our
readers to do so, on a limited scale. It
seems to belong to the southern division
of the Aestivalis class, of which we have
already so man}- valuable grapes, and of
which the Herbemont may be considered
the type. Its foliage seems to have been
good the last very tr3ing season, v\^hich
is a favorable indication, Ed.

D'HEUEEUSE AIR TEEATMENT.

( Gonchided . )

It is obvious, that must de[)rived of
gluten (what no other known process
accomplishes) in the hot state as ex-
plained, like any other extract, may be
subsequentl}' concentrated (without the
addition of sugar or anj'thing else) ;
kept in casks on draught as preserve,
confectionery, or maj^ be emplo3'ed as
addition in wine-making in distant parts
to produce greater varieties of wine at
any place. Enormous quantities of thus
purified concentrated must from Cali-
fornia, or other Southern grapes, of
little bouquet and much sugar, could
be more profitably employed to blend
with green musts of Northern strong
flavored grapes, poor in sugar, than
turning either separately into wine.

CENTRALIZATION IN WINE INDUSTRY.

If we recall to mind numerous home
manufactures only a few generations
back — for instance, the flax grovvn on
the family field, spuu by the family,
woven on the family (heir) loom, and

takeu periodicall}^ to market to be
b-old — we wonder at the slow, tedious,
penny-wise business, that aimed to do
all the work but earned little. Mills
now buy the flax, and sell the linen to
the dealers. All other industries came
to be remodelled in the same manner ;
producers, manufacturers and dealers
are distinctly separated, to make it
pay ; and still we see wine men adhera
to the primitive policy in wine making.
Certainly as long as wines had to be
stored several years to be ready for
shipping, the excuse was not unfounded
tiiat tlic investments required of dis-
trict establishments were enormous.
Air-treatment, however, annihilates
this oV)jection, permits the cellars to be
cleared a few months after vintage, to
be i-ead}' for next season. Central wine
;.re3S-]iouses in grape growing districts,
are bound t(* be profitable, to take
before long the place of the numerous
small press-houses, purchase grapes by
contract for 3'ears ahead, and a few
months after vinta2;e turn over their

D' Heureuse Air Treatment.

123

ripe matui-ed ^product to the dealers.
Large establishments work cheaper,
cau have more intelligent and compe-
tent supervision, have a choice of nu-
merous varieties of grapes to blend
and produce choicer wines than the
small producer can, and make the
business easier, more agreeable and
more profitable on all sides by yield-
ing quick returns to all parties inter-
ested. The American wine industiy
can only prosj^er by employing quick
ripening methods in manufacture, and
division of labor as indicated.

SHIPPING GRAPES.

Grapes more qualified for the table
are produced in large quanties and
offer better remimerat.on to the grow-
ers to ship to a distant market than to
the press-house. A great deal, how-
ever, is now spoiled in transportation
and storing; it behooves us to reduce
the loss to the lowest possible figure.
Eveiybody has observed that confined
air favors and quickens decay, that
circulation (currents) of air preserves.
This demonstrates the benefits of the
air-treatment without direct oxidizing
action in the gluten. Through the
compartments of the railroad cars, the
storehouses or vessels, currents of air
are directed ; occasionally the vapors
of a little burnt sulphur (or other dis-
infectant) are employed in conjunction
with air to destroy the germs mold or
decay that may have found their way,
or even attached to the grapes or other
produce. A (Root's) blower, run by
hand or power, furnishes air or other
gases to a system of pipes to the bot-
tom of the compai'tments (a number of
which operated in turn), and the air, af-

ter it circulated over the objects in the
compartments is allowed to escape by
flues, or by these may retui'n to the
blower to repeat its action. All kinds
of fruit, produce or meal are preserved
for a long time at any season of the
I year in this manner, which permits an
exchange of the products of the vari-
ous part of the country, aye, of the
globe, heretofore unattainable.

CONCENTRATED PRESERVES.

The preparation of juices or extracts,
purified by air treatment and concen-
trated, was alluded to under " Sweet
Wines." Many thousand tons of fruit
will annually find their way into market
in this condensed shape, and with great
benefit to all concerned ; while in the
destructible green state they would have
remained almost worthless. The aro-
matic {fruity flavors are mosty retained
by conducting the process of purifica-
tion and concentration at a heat not
exceeding 140 to 150 deg. F.

There is no necessity to put these
articles up in air-tight, hermetically
sealed jars or cans ; barrels answer the
purpose. Nor need those alkaline pow-
ders and lyes, under the name of pre-
serving powders or fluids (every one of
them detrimental to the digestion of the
consumer), be added to the air-purified
preserves ; their keeping properties are
secured by deglutination. It will be
remembered that the object in employ-
ing the aforesaid injurious adulterations,
is to neutralize an acid action for some
time, b}' which alone fermentation or
putrefaction can take place. Gl^'cerine,
oil of hops, and other essential oils,
ever,, sugar, salt, alcohol, &c. , are em-
ployed for the same purpose ; that is,
to act for the time being in the capacity

124

The Grape Culturlst.

of an alkaloid, and to retard or prevent
impending changes.

The mere mention makes it plain,
that innumerable articles could be re-
duced to the fluid, syrupy or solid state
in the manner described on the ground,
for the sake of economy ; to prevent
the loss by spoiling in transportation
or storing, to reduce the freight by de-
creasing the bulk, and to return the
refuse to the soil as manure, after it
served as fodder. All this, and more,
will be generally adopted before many
years pass by.

RETROSPECT.

The foregoing attempts to demon-
strate the importance of, air-treatment
for American Wine industry, and to
foreshadow some of the changes which
it is bound to effect ; equal changes by
the same powerful agent, the support
of all organism, are certain in numer-
ous other industries. The revolution
worked by Bessemer's (air) process in
iron and steel manufacture, is but the
forerunner in the manufacture of or-
ganic substances of almost any kind
by air-treatment, a revolution, however,
pregnant only of unalloj'ed benefits to
the whole human family. In this pro-
gressive spirit it is hoped, it will be
received by those millions whose health
it secures, and whose labors it shall
lighten, be the same^ wine making,
brewing, malting, distilling, sugar or
oil making, tanning or the manufacture
of extracts, transportation or storing,
the puriflcation of spirits from noxious
fusel oils, or of plain drinking water
from organic contaminations.

Not to give rise to misconception,
it should be stated that the inventor

of air-treatment is far from consider-
ing the details, as hereinbefore pub-
lished, rigid I'ules for all cases alike,
but mere guides ; in fact, modifications
in details, according to the species of
mu8t, &c., treated, in the hands of in-
intelligent experts vi^ill, no doubt, give
excellent results. For instance, where
a few weeks longer time for fermenta-
tion is no object, one vigorous air-
treatment of the must, for one-half to
one hour, at about 65" F., previous to
fermentation, may answer ; in other
cases one-fourth to one-half hoiir pre-
liminary vigorous action, and subse-
quently gentle treatment during fer-
mentation several times for one or two
days, or only once every daj', may do
the work. It must necessarily be left
to those qualified and inclined to sys-
tematical experiments, to ascertain
the best modes, applicable to the con-
ditions that, constantly varying, come
into play. It seems essential to ac-
celerate the fermentation, so as to
carry the greatest amount of must as
quickly as possible through the fer-
ment-rooms, that are frequently badly
protected against cold, generally not
arranged for heating, and of limited
capacit}'. Proper air-treatment per-
forms it, abler men ma}' develop
more.

R. d'HEUREUSE.

[We call the special attention of our
readers to this able article of Mr .
d'Heureuse, as we firmly believe that
his process of air-treatment will be of
immense importance to the grape grow
ers of the country. He has so fully
explained the principles of his method
that further comment from us is super-
flous. — Editor.]

Higher Duty on Wine.

125

HIGHER DUTY ON WINE.

The Ways aud Means Committee of
Congress have proposed to raise the
duty on low-priced wines from twenty-
six to fifty cents per gallon. This
class of wine comprises about ninety
per cent, of the whole quantity im-
ported.

When gold was at 140 the duty de-
sired for the full protection or encour-
agement of American wine growers was
seventy-five cents per gallon, and it was
believed that such a duty would double
the supply of native vsdne in one year,
the present prices not being high
enough to tempt the grape grower, lo-
cated convenient to the large cities, to
make wine when the fruit would yield
a quick return at an average of seven
cents per pound.

I'he proposed increase of duty, though
no more in proportion to the present
price of gold than the old duty, as com-
pared with the price of gold at the time
it was established, meets with remon-
strance from the wine importers of New
York City, who are preparing a me-
morial to Congress on the subject. In
this memorial they advance the follow-
ing argument : " It is a mistake to be-
lieve that the interests of our own
grape culture are unfavorably affected
by a low duty on imported wines. Our
native production of wine is far behind
the consumption, and the right applica-
tion of the wines of Europe, iu ration-
ally blending them with those of Amer-
ica, will do more than anything else to
open the market to the latter and make
it remunerative to the growers. In
support of this position we refer to the
well settled principles of cenology and

to the testimony of all the experts in
the countr}'."

That the wines of America are " ra-
tionally^ blended " with those of Europe
is well known, but as the blended arti-
cle is sold under the name of the Eu-
ropean, it is evident that the American
wine is not the one sought to be im-
proved. So long as our wines are ab-
sorbed to give sprightliness to the
imported wines, deadened by a sea
voyage, and in extending others of a
higher price, we can never expect our
products to become legitimately estab-
lished in the American wine market ;
and if Congress would raise the duty
on the cheap wines twenty-five cents
per gallon annually for three years, it
would be very soon seen that the sup-
ply would equal the demands of the
country, and that the increase of this
one duty at least y\o\\\(\ oppress no one,
give to our husbandmen, who are now
experiencing low^ prices on their pro-
ducts, a new field for efibrt, and take
from the debtor page an immense sum
in our account with Euiope.

It is very probable that Congress is
not informed as to the growing magni-
tude of the wine business of this coun-
try. It is not possible ; for so far as
statistics are concerned we are igno-
rant ourselves, though an occasional
item gains the surface which gives an
intimation of it — an item, for instance,
in the last number of the Clltueist,
which gave a list of sixty vineyards
around Peoria, HI., having about 150,-
000 vines under cultivation, represent-
ing at a fair estimate as many gallons
of wine, if used for that purpose.

126

The Grape Culturlst.

It is useless on the eve of a new cen-
sus to speculate as to the number of
vines around Hermann, or the products
therefrom ; but vineyards cap every
hill. Where there was one acre five
years ago five now surround it, and
while the annual product at that time
was less than fifty thousand gallons,
that quantity was made by one firm the
past season ; and proportionately, con-
sidering the immense number of grape
roots that have been shipped from that

place for several years past, what may
we consider will be the exhibit for the
State when the census statistics shall
have been collated. D. W. Tainter.

Hkumaxn, Mo.

[This very interesting article reached
us long after our own comments on the
same subject were written. It shows
plainly what the grape growers of the
country think of the measure proposed.
We endorse every line of it. — Ed.]

For the Grape Culturist.

TRAINING AND SUMMER PRUNING.

Mr. Editor: I will say a word on
several communications in the Feb-
ruary number, page 45-48. I think
the experience of the vintners gen-
erall}', at all times and in all countries,
is agreed upon this, that in the open
vinej'ard the vines should be kept in
a sort of dwarfed state, more or less.
The canes and shoots should not reach
higher than the hand of the vintager
can conveniently reach without the
use of a ladder. Therefore, a trellis
of from 6i to 7 feet high I deem too
high b}' 1 or 2 feet.

After manifold expei'iments I have
uniformly adopted seven feet as the
most proper distance of the rows,
while the distance in the row must be
conformed to the peculiar character
of the vine and the richness of the
ground.

Like the editor, I am in favor of
rather long pruning and afterward
regulating the amount of fruit reason-
ably to be expected by thinning out,
but — like him — I insist upon this

being done as soon after the vegeta-
tive life has been resuscitated as prac-
ticable. Mr. Hoag says (page 48) ;
"After tying up the canes in the
spring, and Avhen the new grow^th has
reached even 4 or 5 feet, we prune
again, cutting out what we deem
necessar}' to sufficient!}' balance the
vine; the ground is often literally cov-
ered with lopped brandies, etc." This
is precisely what I most hate to see
in a vineyard, a wholesale carnage
which can not but seriously distui-b
the whole system or natural order of
the plant. Indeed, the patient vine
will endure more abuse than most
other living beings, but smarts and
whines under the mistreatment Avhen
suddenly checked in its luxuriant de-
velopment, and only graduall}' recov-
ers from the infliction. Just the 3'oung
leaves and shoots are the vine's ele-
ments of life ; by removing them in
masses the whole plant must and will
sicken, till b}' new exertions the lost
foliage is restituted. Deeming sura-

Hybridizing the Grapes.

127

mer pruning to be one of the most
essential operations of the vine-grower,
I demand, hoAvever, that it shall be
done without inflicting more than the
least possible violence to the plant.
Therefore, in thinning out you must
not wait till the forms (the clusters
of incipient fruit) arc fully unfolded
and have bloomed, but pinch them off
forthwith so soon as the}' are dis-
tinctly seen, and at the same time
shorten the fruit shoot right beyond
the last remaining form, whereuijon
large and healthy leaves just near
the clusters and best fit for their pro-
tection will be brought forth. In re-
moving the barren shoots, or supter-
fluous shoots, do not allow them to
grow several feet high befoi-e cutting
out; whereby you would wantonly

waste energies and enfeeble the remain-
ing shoots designed for bearing wood,
but rub them off in their earliest stage
when an inch long or less. The re-
moval of '^ entire canes," after being
furnished with leaves, I deem bad
policy. The planting of the vines at
a very great distance is no sure means
against rot and mildew, though both
may be furthered by the want of air
and light ; a Catawba standing soli-
tary and alone may rot as badly as
other vines in the dense row.

Fr. Muench.
[Our valued correspondent gives
our views so fully and precisely, that
we can only endorse every word he
says, and refer our readers to the
article of summer pruning, republish-
ed from Vol. 1 in last number. — Ed.]

HYBKIDIZIXG THE GRAPES.

Walla Walla, W. T., March -22, 1870.

Dear Husmann : Much has been
said and written on the subject of
crossing and hybridizing the grape,
and among some writers there seems
to be an entire ignorance of the sub-
ject, which seems likely to mislead
those who would take an interest in
this important branch of progress in
improvement, and cause them to fail in
the laudable effort to produce new and
improved varieties of grape, as well
ii8 other matters growing out of the
.application of the principle, to which I
will allude in the course of this article.

Very able writers have given the
process of hybridizing, and are so far
from correct that I think it best to

go into the particulars of the opera-
tion. Select a bunch of grapes, near
the flowering season. You will ob-
serve some of the most advanced buds
or berries are turning pale yellow at
the base of the berry where the petals
are attached to it. This specimen
will goon bloom (if we can call it
blooming: for it is so unlike any
other plant in this particular that
it can hardi}^ be called a blossom).
Watch closely now, and as the sun
warms the air, one of the petals or
parts composing the cap of the berry
will let go its hold at the base where
it connects with the berry and will
cui'l up. Soon another does the same,
and still another, and another; the

128

Ihe Grape Culturlst.

fifth, however, remaining and having
a tendency like the otliers to cuvl or
roll, will throw the cap of petals off
from the anthers, which until this
time are folded neatl}' together on
the stigma, and the stamens coming
from the base of the berrj- to the
anthers now spring back from the
berr}", holding the anthers out at a
distance from the stigma like five sen-
tinels guarding the work that is now
complete — I say complete — and now
let us go back and watch another
part of the process, to see if I am
correct. First, however, let us take
a sharp pointed knife and remove the
cap of petals. At this stage we com-
menced our observations, and we find
as before said, the stamens lying
against the side of the berry, and the
anthers folded neatly on and around
the stigma.

There is now no pollen, but the an-
thers are a clammy substance, Avhich
in two or three minutes' exposure to
warm air, dries and becomes a fine
powder or pollen of a yellowish hue,
instead of the watery color, the stigma
is dry and a clear green ; but as soon as
it is exposed to the air, a little moisture,
clear and watery looking, rises on the
stigma. This, mind, is the condition
upon artificially removing the cap.
Now let us see the natural operation.
One, and finally tAvo of the petals let
go and curl up — the air enters, a third
petal curls up — the clamni}' matter be-
comes dry, forming the pollen — then
drops of moisture appear on the
stigma, the pollen is absorbed by it,
and carried doAvn through the pistil
to the embryo seeds, the fourth petal
loosens its hold, the Avhole cap, as
before stated, curls oft", the stamens

spring back, and in five to ten minutes
the moist or viscid matter is dry on
the stigma, the work of impregnation
is DONE, and all the ingenuity of the
human race could not arrest the pro-
cess and introduce foreign pollen to
this stigma and produce a hybrid or
cross.

I present these as facts to the hor-
ticulturist and botanist as undeniable,
and challenge any living man to dis-
prove them.

Now let us apply the process laid
down by several writers on hybridiz-
ing.

One says, " watch the falling of
the petals, and with a pair of small
scissors cut oft" the anthers and j;re-
ve)it natural fertilization; then dust
the stigma with the foreign pollen
and protect for a day or two to keep
insects from bringing and introduc-
ing other pollen, which they often do,
and again apply pollen after a few"
hours and for a number of days."
It is onl}^ necessary for me to men-
tion the above to call the attention
of interested men, and they will see
the fallacy of such statements.

But there is a matter of much im-
portance connected with the principle
of hybridization. As intimated at the
outset, aside from that of producing
a new grape, as I see from various
sources that efforts are being made to-
fertilize unproductive varieties, such
as the Taylor, bj'- planting them with
other varieties that bloom at the same
time. Now, if, as I positively affirm,
that accidental fertilization is abso-
lutely impossible, and if the natural
process of fertilization is as I describe
it, I have clearly proved that point;
then why should our grape culturists-

Hybridizing the Grapes,

129

go to the useless expense of planting
as stated ?

But the most important point is,
that we ma}' not spend our time try-
ing to introduce foreign pollen into
the stigma of a grape that is alreadj'
fertilized and the stigma has become
DRY, and then go on for years, plant
and watch Avith care, and at last find
that we have onl}^ the natural varia-
tion or tendency to sport, as the re-
sult of our labors.

Now I will give a process for hybrid-
izing that will succeed.

Observe the approach of the flower-
ing season, and wait until some petals
have fallen, so as to be sure that
the time has arrived for operating.
Select a bunch well located for con-
venience, and cut away or thin out
the berries ; choose a berry that shows
a yellowish line at the base of the
petals; applv the point of a sharp knife
and remove the petals, and with a pair
of small scissors clip off the stamens,
and if your subject was near casting
its petals, naturally you will not have
to wait more than five minutes before
a. slight moisture will appear on the
etigma; then apply the pollen 3-ou
wish to introduce, either by a camel's
hair brush, or better by taking hold
of the anther with a pair of small
tweezers, leaving the stamen attached
with its load or covering of pollen,
and rub or touch the stigma until the
pollen is clearly seen on the stigma.
If the pollen has dropped from the
stamens and is in a paper or some
little vessel suitable for the purpose
then take a thin blade of steel or
wood and carefully pour on the pol-
len. I often use the point of my
knife blade to applj' the pollen ; any

way, so that you get it on when the
stigma is moist, for then and only
then is the stigma in season to receive
fertilization, for after this viscid mat-
ter returns into the pistil to the ovules,
the stigma never again becomes moist,
and hence no fertilizing matter can en-
ter, and that berry must fail. This is
not a difficult operation ; it will only
be necessary to remove the petals at
the proper time by knife, scissors, or
any other instrument, and apply the
pollen at the time stated, by brush,
blade or otherwise. And I ask every
man who has a grapevine, to examine
the flowers and make a trial, and
then say if he believes that accidental
crossing or h^'bridizing is a ■possibility.
Of the advantages of hybridizing it
is useless for me to add anj' thing, as
much has been said and written, and
all intelligent persons are convinced
of its importance, but of the useful-
ness of studying the structure of the
flowers, the habits and mode of fertil-
izing, etc., there has not been enough
importance attached, as by doing so
we may be able to remedy some of
the failures in setting fruit that cer-
tain varieties are liable to.

A. B. Roberts.

[We would like to '' argue the point"
with our friend, but our space will not
permit for this number. We know
from personal observation that Tay-
lors have been impregnated by Clin-
tons, and also by male plants stand-
ing beside them, and produced much
more perfect bunches. We do not
know noil) it was done, but we have
observed the fact in its results,
and "facts are stubborn things." —
Ed.]

130

The Grape Culturist.

A CHAPTER ON BOEERrf : Terebra Ejusdem Farina.

Nearly every tree, plant and animal
has an attendant borer that labori-
ously gnaws at it. The ones which
I now, propose to notice are those
annoying the vineyardists ; one of
the animals of the human species,
most bored.

There are two kinds of borers
known to trouble grape vines and
their owners, neither of which have
as yet effected a lodging within my
plantations; though there doubtless
are some vineyards, in and about
Nauvoo, that may have suffered from
their depredations.

One of these borers was first
brought to light by some doctor — of
the inquisitive kind (confound them),
who must always go at the root of
thing's. This borer, (not the doctor),
attacks the roots of vines and riddles
them pretty thoroughly ; it is quite
hurtful but does not claim my imme-
diate attention; some more worthy
but rather enthusiastic entomologists
having promised to watch him and
report, 1 abandon the creature to their
tender mercies.

The other, and the only one which
now claims my special attention, is
generally a close-shaved, roundheaded
borer, differing from the peach borer
in being pale faced, the head stuck on
a long black looking body, Avith only
two well defined legs ; no '^volegs but
many pronouns.

This indefatigable, and in no way
over-scrupulous borer, lays its eggs at
all times of the year at the base of
stumps, a piece of furniture insepara-
ble from those halls known as Tem-

perance Halls (!) the why I know not,
unless it be by way of antithesis, it
being a matter of fact that therein
the most senseless and intemperate
ideas are hatched, and kept alive, to
bore the unfortunate mortals who be-
friend the vine : thence comes the
total-abstinence borer.

How to ward off or arrest the con-
tinual encroachments of this garru-
lous and obstinate driller has been the
constant thought of the successors of
Noah, most affected by the persistent
gnawings of this vermin.

The task might have proven easy in
the enlightened and progressive impul-
sion of the nineteenth century had not
an unforeseen miscegenation increased
the difficulties in the way.

Republics have disadvantages that
mar their advantages ! More than any
other human aggregations they are sub-
ject to the pernicious effects of that most
plentiful and destructive insect, which
has been called by distinguished natur-
alists, the Politician. The world over
it is considered as the bane of demo-
cratic institutions ; entomologists well
known, for their careful observations
have, most appropriately, classed thia
parasite among the genera borer, and
a most disastrous one has it thus far
proven.

There generally is no genuine sym-
pathy between these two classes of
borers, their general instincts and ap-
petites leading them to bore for the
juices of human animals in quite differ-
ent ways : the miscegenation mentioned
above lies in the fact of a most unna-
tural combination between them to suck

Ants in Vineyards.

131

dr}^ the poor, defenceless vintner ; and
it is in this union of brandy and water
where lie the difliculties which beset his
path in his laudable attempts to arrest
the ravages of the Total Abstinence
borer.

But here we have a chance for a bit of
philosophical reflection : Verily the mys-
terious arrangements of nature should
ever excite our wonder and admiration ;
the same bar over which flows the spir-
ited springs that alleviate the indomi-
table thirst of the Politician borer fur-
nishes also the food for its coudemner
and hater, the Abstinence borer. Allah
is great ! but in borers there are no
profits.

These borers are common in our fruit-
ful Union, and their presence may be
detected by the gab, or saw-dust which
they throw out in abundant quantities
in the eyes of their innocent victims, or
in the fact that the heads of those who
cave under their attacks, soon show
signs of being cracked, as bad as the
bark of trees under similar treatment.
Unlike the vegetable borers, pruning
them out with a kiiife would no doubt
prove dangeious ; scolding water might
be too radical a cure ; rubbing or throw-
ing soft or hard soap on or about them

seldom does good ; even common sense
powder is no preventive.

The one thing peculiar — though not
remarkable — about these borers, is that
they move, like troops, with elected
officers. It is asserted, and no doubt
often proves true, that nothing short of
some fat juicy office can arrest the on-
ward attacks of the leaders : this is the
only kind of soft-soap remedy which
may prove effectual, but it must be ap-
plied plentifully and most vigorously.
Shutting them up in wine-cellars some-
times proves efficient, but the remedy
is said to be most ruinous. It is to be
hoped that the great and iDouderous
minds now assembled in convention in
Springfield, to doctor the sores of a
diseased constitution, may not find it
out of their way to invent — they pos-
sess enough genius — or recommend
some remedy which may prove a pallia-
tive, if not a cui-e, for these abominable
borers. Should nothing happen to
remedy their increase, I know of no
really effective remedy except leaving
the business. Vineyardists will take
due notice thereof, and govern them-
selves accordingly, as they best please.

N. TOH. O'LOGY.

Golden Hill? Vixf.vaud, March otli, 1870.

ANTS IN VINEYARDS.

PoKTLAXD, Callaway To. , >[o . Marcli 15, 1870.

Editor Grape (Julturist :

Dear Sir : In reply to F. Hilde-
brand's request for information con-
cerning "Yellow Ants," I would say
that they breed in decaying wood,
sods, under rocks, etc., — that he can
find them now possibly in his stakes
or trellis posts in great numbers.

They can be detected before appear-
ing above ground, by streaks of mud
or sand, which they deposited on the
surface of the stakes last summer, and
under which they ascend. I have
found them in stakes 18 inches below
the surface, and have taken up such
as were ^'■inhabited" by the scamps.
Last 3'ear I destroyed most of them

132

The Grape Cultiirist.

early in the season — first, by taking up
the stake and hewing off the decayed
part occupied by them; second, by
cutting off the tips of young shoots on
which they had collected, and destro}'-
ing them ; and last, b}' putting wood
ashes around infested stakes. With
trellis, where the posts are generally
farther from the vines, a safe and sum-
mary way would be to scald them. Not-
"withstanding the numbers destroj'ed
among m^- vines last year, now when
making trellis, removing old stakes, or
spading up our garden, I find great

numbers of them. They threaten be-
ing a formidable enemy of the grape
grower here the coming year.

With many thanks for the eflfbrts
j'ou are making for grape growers and
wine makers, please accept my thanks
for your article ( n '' Humbugs." Keep
on, you are on the ''main track" — let
the bugs hum. Very respectfully,
James M. Cole.

[Thanks for your communication.
It is just of the kind we want: plain,
matter-of-fact advice. Let us have more
such items. — Kditor.]

AXNUAL MEETING OF MISSISSIPPI YALLKV GRAPE GROWERS'

ASSOCIATION.

The meeting took place in the hand-
some rooms of the St. Louis Agricul-
tural Association, liberally tendered
for the occasion by its gentlemanly
Secretar}', Mr. Kalb.

As the absence of the President,
Mr. James E. Starr, made it our duty
to preside the first day, wo were un-
able to make as full notes as we could
have wished. We were unable also
to obtain the full reports of the dif-
ferent wine committees, as we had to
leave the s-ity the day after the meet-
ing. We will give them in the next
number, in full; and as we are so
cx'owded with important matter for
this month, Avill content ourselves
with a short synopsis of the proceed-
ings, and some discussion of varieties,
as well as we can remember them.

The election for the ensuing year
resulted as follows: Dr. L. D. Morse,
President; Dr. E. S. Hull, 1st Vice
President; Dr. J. H. Coe, 2nd Vice

Pres'dent ; Wm. Muir, Secretary; J.
H. Tice, Treasurer.

DISCUSSION OF VARIETIES.

Goethe (Rogers' No. 1.) Was gen-
erallj' thought well of, for wine, table
and market. All concurred that it
was vigorous, health}-, productive and
hard}-, although Drs. Spalding and
Hull expressed doubts in regard to
its foliage, as the}' thought it too thin
to withstand our summers' heat, al-
though it stood the last summer re-
markably well ; considered the most
])romising grape for white wine now
under trial.

Wilder (Rogers' 4.) Dr. Hull said
it had a facility of ripening its fruit
without loaves. Several expressed
doubts as to its foliage being healthy
enough, though all concurred that it
was prolific, and a most excellent
grape in quality. Doctor Spalding
thought that the Merrimack (No. 19)
more reliable in foliaije.

How Many Acres of Grapes Have We in the United States ?

133

Ives. Was recommended as a relia-
able, healthy grape, making a good
wine^ and thought by Messrs. Colman
and Spalding to be a desirable grape
for early marketing, and also for late
market, as it holds well to the bunch
and ships well, although not of very
good quality. Seems to have stood
the last season remarkably well every
where, as it is hardy, healthy, and
productive after its third year, though
not an early bearer.

Rentz. Dr. Spalding thought it a
promising variet3^ for wine, especially
for sparkling; said he had drank the
best sparkling he ever tried from it.
The vine was health}-, productive and
hardy, thought not fit for the table or
market.

Martha. Seemed a general favorite,
though some expressed a doubt whether
it would make better wine than Con-
cord ; had rotted some with Dr. Spald-
ing ; seems not to be sufficiently tested
with the majority present to express a
decided opinion.

Maxataivney. Was highly recom-
mended as a hardy, healthy vine, and
the fruit of very fine quality, a fair,
though not rank, grower, and suffi-
ciently prolific after the third j-ear.

Telegraph. None seemed familiar
with it, except ourselves, and we need
not reiterate our opinion to our rea-
ders. We think it one of the promis-
ing new varieties for red wine, as also
for early table and market we know,
and the growth and foliage are unex-
ceptionable.

Cynthiana. Those who had tried it
concurred m the opinion that it made
the best red wine we yet have. Messrs.
Eiehl, Spalding and Husmann spoke
warmly in favor of it, Mr. Eiehl con-
tending that he could distinguish the
foliage from the Norton, and still
more the fruit and wine. The ques-
tion of identity with Norton was dis-
cussed at some length, and all con-
curred in its vast superiorit}-, in the
quality of its wine, over the Norton,
as it is more delicate, lighter in color,
and of a much finer flavor.

Draciit Amber. Was recommended
by Mr. Mason as a good grape for
early marketing, productive and heal-
thy. Others thought it too foxy for
any purpose.

[In our next we will give a more
detailed account of the j)roceedings.
— Editor.]

HOW MANY ACEES OF GEAPES HAVE WE IN THE UNITED

STATES.

This question is often asked and
answered so variously and widely
apart, that I feel like again putting
it up for the replic-s of readers of the
Grape Culturist.

One of our pomologists — who has
made the subject somewhat of a study
— estimates that if all our vines, now

in vineyard and in gardens of ama-
teurs, were placed in vineyard at dis-
tances of 8x10, we should have over
2,000,000 acres. He has taken records
of townships and counties, gx'aduated
them, and throwing in California at
200,000 acres, of which 100,000 are
figured up by actual records of the

134

The Grape Cnlturist.

large vineyards, without reference
Avhatever to the amateur vines or
vine3'ard8 of small extent, he feels
that his estimate is one below rather
than above the actuality. Atad.

[Our correspondent is right. Let us
have statistics, and tr}^ to ascertain
the importance of American grape

growing. Please send them in to us,
kind I'eadcrs of the Grape Culturtst,
and we will sum them up at the end
of the year. Let us show to the
world, and especially to the import-
ers, that we have become a wine-pro-
ducing nation. We think the above
figures none too high. — Editor.]

SPAEKLING WINES.

i:y isinoR bush, ST. LOns, missoiri.

This class of wines, which graces al-
most every festive board of the j^res-
ent day, and which — considering the
magnitude of its consumption and of
its value as a market article — stands
at the head of the whole liquor line,
was first manufactured in France, in
the province of Champagne (whence
its name ) about the middle of the last
century.

Not that the wines of that 2:)rovince
are peculiarly or better adapted than
others ; on the contrary, they lack
bouquet and spirit. And from the
very fact that those wines were infe-
rior and could not be sold in compe-
tition with other French (still) wines,
the manufacture of sparkling wines
was resorted to. Sugar and cognac,
at first added to give these wines
more strength and life, naturally led
them to this invention : The manu-
facture of sparkling wine, in which
the vintners of the Champagne be-
came experts. And they carefully
kept it a secret for a long time, so
that most people thought the wines
of the Champagne were naturally so
sweet and sparkling, while in truth
they can no more or easier be manu-

factured into sparkling wines than
any others.

This product soon grew in favor
and enriched its producers. Eheims
and Epernay have gained a world-
wide famcj the rich widow Cliquot
became a name more known than
that of the chief heroines of ancient
and modern history; and nothing can
give a better idea of the magnitude
of trade in this jjroduct than the fol-
lowing figures taken from reliable
official data : During the last 25 j-ears
187,693,990 bottles of Champagne
have been shipped to foreign markets.
The tables of the Chamber of Com-
merce of Eheims show an ascendant
course froni 9,000,000 of bottles in
1844 to 22,000,000 in 1869. The home
consumption in France has been about
3,000,000 of bottles every year.

We do not attempt to enter into a
detailed description of the process
how these sparkling wines are made;
but general brief outlines of the
mode of its manufacture may be of
interest to those who do not know it
already.

Wine, about one year old and clear,
is brought into a new fermentation

Obituary.

135

by addition of sugai" (syrup) in such
a manner as to retain the carbonic
acid (in well corked strong bottles).
After this fermentation the sediment
is removed, sugar is again added to
sweeten it, and by the absorption of

the carbonic acid the sparkling wine
has been produced. This process re-
quires however from one to two years'
time, good cellars, careful and skillful
handling.

[To he continued .'\

OBITUARY,

Again it becomes our painlul dut}'
to announce to our readers the death
of one of the veteran grape growers
of the countr}', Col. John J. Werth.
The task is a doubly painful one, as
his decease also deprives us of one of
our ablest contributors — one so inti-
mately connected with the short history
of our Journal, as to almost justify the
appellation of its father ; for Colonel
Werth it was who first requested us to
publish such a journal, suggested its
name, and was from its start one of
its warmest supporters and friends.
Nearly every number contains an arti-
cle from his pen, always breathing the
same genial feeling, true love of the
grape and mankind ; clear, practical
and to the point. Although it has
never been our good fortune to meet
him face to face, we feel that we have
lost a friend, whose place can not be
filled again. We have before us a let-
ter, dated March 9, but three days be-
fore his death, from which we quote
the following : " I thank you for the
sympathy expressed with my condition.
When a man has passed his sixty-third
year, he can not hope to get rid en-
tirely of as troublesome a companion
as asthma, but I am much better now,
and hope to be more regular in future in
my contributions. I am much obliged
by the very accurate printing of my

contributions in the Culturist, the
most so of the many contributions to
the press, political and horticultural,
during thirty 3^ears. This testimony
is due to your compositor."

On the 11th of March, while on a
visit to a friend's grapery, near Rich-
mond, Va., he ruptured an arter}^, and
on the next morning at 4:30 he breathed
his last.

We immediately wrote to his son,
Mr. John Werth, expressing our sym-
pathy, and requesting such data of his
father's life as would be of in*^erest to
those who had so often perused his
writings, and received the following
reply :

KiCHMON'D, Va., April 3<1, 1870.

Geo. Husmann, Esq., Blujfton, Mo :

Dear Sir : Your favor of the 24th
ult. came to hand a few days ago.

In complying with your request, I
can not do better than furnish j'ou the
enclosed notice, taken from one of our
city papers, with a few additional re-
marks from my own recollection of my
father's life.

His first attention to the culture of
the grape dates, I think, from the year
1825, about the time of his first em-
barking in coal mining, an amateur
culturist of the grape until 1867, since
which time he engaged more exten-
sively in this line.

In 1850 he visited California, and
after a general prospecting tour through
that State, gave to the public the result
of his observations in pamphlet form,

136

The Grape Culturist.

entitled "A Dissertation on the Re-
sources and Policy of California, Min-
eral, Agricultural and Commercial."
This work met with such approval by
the public, both at home and abroad,
that it was translated into seven (7)
languages, and generally disseminated
throughout Continental Europe, one or
two of the crowned heads ordering
some hundred thousands of copies for
distribution among their subjects.

Since his return from California
(1852) he has been generally engaged
in coal mining. A public spirited man,
he thoroughly identified himself with
questions of material importance to his
State, but more especially the agricul-
tural interest.

Hoping that the material furnished
will be sufficient to enable you to con-
struct such an article as you desire,
and thanking you for your high appre-
ciation of my father and desire to honor
his memory, I am, sir,
Ver}' respectfully

And truly yours,

John Wekth.

"Death of Col. John J. Werth.
— On Saturday morning at 4 o'clock
Col. John J. Werth died near this cit}'.
Returning home Friday evening he was
taken sick, and took shelter under the
roof of a hospitable citizen of the
county, where he breathed his last.

" Colonel Werth was one of the most
useful men of his day. Well informed,
active, and earnest, he was always en-

listed in some enterprise for the public
good, to which he gave his hearty and
efficient support. In his own undertak-
ings he was one of the most energetic
of men. He was especially interested
in agriculture, horticulture, and fruits,
and no man was more useful in the
direction and management of the fairs
of the State Agricultural Society. His
death deprives that Society of one of
its most valuable members. He be-
stowed much attention upon grape cul-
ture, and was himself an extensive
cultivator of the vine.

"" These tastes were blended with a
strong practical capacity for more ac-
tive and exciting pursuits. He began
business in this city as a hardware
merchant, turned miner, and acquired
a large amount of information and
practical experience in that business.
At the time of his death he w^as con-
ducting some important mining opera-
tions.

" Colonel Werth was socially one of
the most generous, frank, and estima-
ble of gentlemen. He was, further-
moie, a man whose conversation was
alike instructive and entertaining. He
was one of the truest and most agree-
able gentlemen we ever knew, and his
death is a public loss."

[He has passed from earth, but his
memory will remain green, and his ex-
ample and teaching will animate many
to '"go and do likewise." — Editor.]

p. O., DuTZOW, Mo., April 8th, 1870.

Friend IIusmann :

You wish to receive communications
from the friends of American grape
culture in the different sections of this
country, to ''compare notes" — that is,
to state their own experience on the
effect of summer pruning, and the best
mode of performing it.

I have only to remark that I am
as much as yourself opposed to the
'' slashing" process in July and Au-
gust, and no less to the "let alone"
maxim; and that my own long and

successfully tried practice is in fu.
accordance with the rules indicated
by you — so much so, that if I were to
be grape raising in one of the coun-
tries of the old world, I would pre-
cisei}^ pursue the same plan, despite
the universal practice there in vogue;
being fully persuaded that the way of
proceeding adopted by us is of gen-
eral application, best suited to the na-
ture of the vine, and insuring better
success than any other.

Respectfully and friendly yours,
Frederick Munch.

Editor's Letter Box.

131

EDITOE'S LETTER BOX.

McAuTiilK, Ohio, Feb. -JOth, 1870.

Mr. Geo. Husmann, Editor :

Dear Sir — I am a subscriber ai,d
reader of 3-our valuable journal. Am
engaged in the vine3'ard business to
some extent ; made last fall about 1,300
gallons of wine, about two-thirds of
which is Concord, and one-third Ca-
tawba ; followed the directions in your
book. The Concord is very clear, and
doing finely ; but the Catawba was made
late, and the temperature has been too
low to promote fermentation, and is not
entirely clear yet. I have only a com-
mon house cellar, and no good way to
warm it up. I am a new beginner at
wine-making, and lack experience in
that business. I wish to inquire in re-
gard to Mr. R. D'Heureuse's air treat-
ment. If it can be applied to advantage
to wine after it has gone through the
first fermentation, is there any danger
of acetic fermentation ? I have some
notion to send for an air-pump, and try
the experiment on a small scale.

I will say that I bought one Concord
vine about fourteen years ago at $5.00,
and it was the best investment that I
ever made in my life. I presume that
the progeny- of that vine now will amount
to more than one million. I have raised
about half that many myself, besides
what others raised to whom I sold vines.
The original vine produced 100 pounds
of grapes in 1<S68, and a fair crop in
1869. It is now the best vine I have,
and I esteem it as the goose that laid
the golden egg, though at first it caused
me to be the butt of ridicule many a time;
but I bore it all patiently, and trusted
to fortune and diligence, and have not

been disappointed, though I have made
many mistakes ; yet have succeeded bet-
ter than could be expected under the
circumstances, for the first vineyard I
ever saw I planted myself, and it was
a success. My motto has been — Go
ahead.

Respectfully, yours,

E. P. ROTIIWELL.

[We think you can do no better than
leave the Catawba alone until warm
weather sets in ; as soon as it begins
to ferment, shake up the lees well, so
that they become thoroughly mixed with
the wine. Rapid fermentation will then
set in. Leave the bung of the cask but
loosely on it, until fermentation ceases,
and treat it in all respects like new must,
racking it as soon as it becomes quiet
and clear. You will have to wait some-
what longer, but it will be good wine in
the end. Glad to hear of your success.
You should take care of said "goose,"
and test its longevity. We have a no-
tion that a healthy Concord vine prop-
erly cared for, will last a lifetime. You
will find an article on air-treatment in
this number. — Editor.]

UOCKINCHAM ViNEYAKD, SCOTT Co., lOWA, )

March Uth, 1870. j

Editor Grape Culturist :

I see in an article of the last Febru-
ary number, that you seem to be op-
posed to the root-piuning of the grape-
vine. I take the liberty to hold a dif-
ferent position from you, and I will give
my reasons for it. I v\ ould not advocate
root- pruning because our forefathers
did it ; I have learned the rudiments of
the art of grape -growing and wine
making on my father's place, in Alsace^

138

Ihe Grape Culturist.

and had a chance to converse with in-
telligent grape-growers in Lorraine and
Champagne, besides having a limited
experience of m}' own in this country.
I find it is of great benefit to the grape-
vine to cut oft* roots to the depth of six
inches at the outside. I would not
advise any man to root-prune an old-
established vineyard, because, in that
case, the vines would have A'er}' little
roots left to live on. In the spring, when
the ground is moist, these surface roots
(which are the strongest of all on vines
that have never been root-pruned) will
start a very strong growth, and in the
middle of the summer these roots, being
in comparatively dry soil, don't do their
expected share towards keeping up such
growth ; the consequeuee is weakness
and disease in the leaf or fruit. Again,
in the fall, when the grapes are begin-
ning to color, these same roots, at every
shower, carry too much sap to the fruit,
and cause the berries to burst. Root-
pruning ought to be commenced in the
fall of the first season, and kept up
regularly every year, to cause the lower
roots to get stronger.

This article is already too long. I
have never written any thing for inser-
tion in a paper, therefore you will excuse
my shortcomings ; but I believe, with
our poet, Boileau, in his Art poetique :

Ce que I'on con9oit bien s'enonce clairement,
Et les mots, pour le dire, arriyent aisemcnt.

Yours, trul}^,

Charles Schaeffer.

[Our experience is contrary to yours,

and we think you can no more force the

roots of the Concord, or any of those

varieties which root near the surface

naturally, to thrive and grow strong in

the cold sub-soil, than a fish will thrive

if you take him out of the water. Work

the soil deep, and let the roots then go
where the}- please ; it is the most natural
and most beneficial process. If the
food they find there suits the roots, the}'
will go down after it. — Editor.]

Ripley, Ohio, April 7, 1870.

Geo. Hl'smann, Esq., Bluffton, Mo:

Dear Sir : The Grape Culturist
interests father, who has been culti-
vating grapes for the last 20 years,
and myself ver}- much, and wo are
indeed glad that you have continued
the "Tvork. Be assured, it will finally
succeed. Although I would not dis-
courage the producing of health}',
robust varieties of grapes for the dif-
ferent latitudes and climates in which
they are cultivated, 3'et it seems to
me, that for the purpose of scientific
grape growing, we should direct our
attention more towards the discover}'
of the real causes and the histology
of th.e diseases which now ravage
among our grapes. I am fully con-
vinced that by attention and careful
microscopical and chemical experi-
ments, combined with a rational prac-
tice in the vineyard, very much could
be explained which is now a hidden
mystery. I expect to give this sub-
ject some attention the coming sum-
mer, and shall report to the Culturist
from time to time, if I find anything
worth noticing. Last summer I ob-
served that Concords which hung just
under an eaves trough and the cornice
of the house, were entirely healthy,
while grapes on the same vine but
away from the house, rotted very
much. Can you explain this phe-
nomena y

Very respectfully yours,

George Bambach.

Editors' Letter B0.1'.

139

[We can easily explain this. The
protection of the roof kept off the
rain. Wc have often observed simi-
lar cases, and Mr. William Saunders,
Superintendent of Public Gardens at
Washington, D. C, recommended
boards nailed on the top of the trellis
as a preventive against mildew years
ago. For ourselves, Ave prefer varie-
ties not subject to disease, to the doc-
toring of those which are diseased.
We have done and seen enough of
this, to satisfy us that vevy little can
be done in that way, although no
doubt many diseases arise from faulty
treatment of the variety. — Editor.]

GuAXT City, Mo. March 16th, 1S70.

Geo. Husmann, J'^sq., Bluffton, Mo.

Dear Sir : As I intend putting out
a small vineyard this spring, I want
to get some information from you in
regard to the proi:)er distance to plant
ray vines. I am a reader of the Grape
CuLTURisT, besides several agricultur-
al papers'having '^Yinej-ard Depart-
ments" among them, and there are so
many different views about planting
and pruning vines, that I thought I
would venture to ask your opinion.
My ground lies mostly to the south

and east, and I intend planting the
Concord, Clinton, Delaware, Hartford
and Ives principally, with, possibly,
a lew of some other varieties. Some
say plant 0x6, some OxS, and still oth-
ers who say 12x12 and even further
than that. As you are a practical
vineyardist of Missouri, I would be
pleased to have your opinion as to the
proper distance, and also as to the best
mode of training the vines, whether
to stakes or trellis.

Enclosed find one dollar for which
please send me A^ol. 1 of Grape Cul-

TURIST.

Please answer by mail or through
Grape Cilturist, and oblige,
Yoiu's truly,

J. H. Pierce.

[We plant all btrong growing vai'ie-
ties, such as (Concord, Herbemont?
Norton etc., 0x10 feet, the vines ten
feet apart in the rows, the rows six.
Delaware, Creveling, Cassady, Alvey,
all Tttoderate growers, 0x6 feet.

Trellis is the best and cheapest mode
of training ; five feet high with three
horizontal wires, of No. 12 wire The
posts may be twenty feet apart, with
an intermediate stake for support. —
Editor.]

By special agreement with the publishers, we are enabled to club the Grape
CuLTUKiST with the following journals, at the annexed rates:

Grape Culturist and Journal of Agriculture $3 00

" " American Entomologist 3 00

" " Colmau's Rural "World 3 00

" " Horticulturist 3 50

" " Zymotechnic News (English and German) 2 25

To those sending us the names and post office address of six subscribers, we
we will furnish the sixth copy/ree.

Vol. I. will still be furnished at the reduced rate of $1, complete. To those
who desire it bound, we will fui-nish it bound in muslin, with index and title page,
at $2.25, i)Ost paid; or they can be supplied with the cover at f l.UO each.

140 Grape CuUurist Adoertising Sheet.

THE AMERICAN NATURALIST.

The only ^laguzine in the Country devoted to the poiiulurizalion ol'

3Sr .A. T XJ T^ .A. 3L. lEi I S T O IR "2" ,

A Popular, Entertaining and Instructive Monthly Maeazine, Illustrated with Plates and

"Wood-Cuts. Published by the Peabody Academy of Science, Salem, Mass.

Edited by A. S. PACKARD, Jit , A. HYATT, E S. MORSE, and F \V. PUTNAM.

The FOURTH volume of the \atukalist (enlarged to 64 paries each number) commences with the
number for March, 1870. As the articles in the Xatiralist, thougli of a popular and non-technical
character, are written by authorities on the various suljjects, each volume forms an Illi'stuateu Ency-
clopedia OF Natural Histoky f great value as a work of reference to the student and general reader,
as well as to those more immediatelv interested in the >tudy of Natur<'. The Natikalist is for (he Stu-
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[Send for Circular containing testimonials and an account of the Magazine, and club rates with other
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" " " '•._).• volumes " 10.00, •' " 1-2.00.

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To any person sending us one new subsciiljei with their own suitscrlption for Vol. IV, ($8 00) we will
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To any one sending 10 subscriptions (40.00) for Vol. IV, either from nev or o/d subscribers, we will
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TO CLUBS of 5 to 9 at the rate of $:{ 50 for each subscription; of 10 to 19. at the rate of $.'5.25; of 20
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(if on any other place 25 cents must be added to pay for discounting) , payable to order of Ameiucax
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FRUIT GROWING FOR PROFIT.

Everybody can have the benefit of thirtv years' experience, in mv new Descriptivi' Catalogue of .")()
pages, for 10c. It tells what and how to plant. WM. PABRY, Cinnaminson, N. J.
mar70-lt

HCJLVE! IZrCDU- C3-OT AdlJ^IE^TIEEIj^?

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUITS.
[Nursery Established in 1857.]

A splendid stock of Vines and Plants are oflered the coming Fall and Spring,
including nearly every variety known to be of value. Tiie popular and white Grape

MARTHA, OR {WHITE CONCORD,)

In large or small quantities. Also, Arnold's new Hybrids, Eumelan, Walter, Wee-
hawken, Christine, Hine, and all valuable numbers of Rogers" Hybrids; also,
Delaware, lona, Israella, Concord, Hartford, Ives, Norton's Virginia, etc., etc , in
all about one hundred distinct vaiieties.

Kittatinny Blackberries and Clarke Raspberries in large quantities, Jncnnda
and Charles Downing Strawberries, Downing's Seedling Gooseberries, Cherry,
Versailles, White Grape, and Black Naples Currants, etc., etc.

Send stamps for Illustrated Catalogue and Price Lists to
apr69-tf CwEtK W . <,AMPBELL. DHuumrf. Ohio.

Grape Vines, Strawberry Plants, Raspberry, Blackberry & Gooseberry.

Also, a few Peach and Cherry Trees, the finest growths. Particular attention
will be paid to small orders of plants to be sent by mail. For sale by

SAMUEI. ITIIL,L,ER, BUtffton, Jlo.

Grape Cidturist Advertising Sheet.

"zmxLOTECumic Niiinrs.

For all Branches of Fermentic Arts— Manufacturing of
Wine, Beer, Spirits, Vinegar and Yeast.

THE " ZVM(JTECHXTC NEWS" will give a detailed record and discussion ol' all improvenieuts
which obtain publicity, both in the Old and New W^orld The more important ones of these im-
jjvovcnien's will be sulijecteil to the most careful tests in the chemical laboratories and technic establish-
ments, uni]ily at the editor's disposal, and the results thus gained will also lorm part of the communi-
cations of the " ZYiMOTKtHNIC NEWS."

The ' ' ZVMOl'ECH.VKJ NEWS " will appear both in ENGLISH and GER.MAN, and the yearly sub-
scription for each one of the two editions is but $1 in advance.

ONLY ONE DOLLAR A YEAR!

All Business Men standing in any practical relations to Zymotechnic Pursuits, more iiarticularly
Producers of Wine, IJrewers, Uistillers, Rectiliers, Wine and Li.juor Dealers, Vinegar and Veast Man-
ufacturers, ought to subscribe fur a copy of the " ZYMOTECHNIC NEWS ' ' in order to rest assured that
nothing new in the technical appliances of their pursuit will escape their notice. If but once in a while
a single item of interest and value to themselves has been made available, the small expense of $1 a year
will have possibly been rejiaid a hundred-fold m a short tmie.

All letters and remittances are to be directed to the undersigned

N 1! Correspomlence conducted in English, French and German.

P. O. Box 2,742.

St Louis, Mo., December, 18 ;9.

CHAS. H. FRINGS, Editor,

202 South Fourth Street.
jan70-tf

FENCE AND GRAPE WINE.

STAPLES, run 72 to the pound U@l.')Cper lb

Hi

12 1

Weighs 7i pounds to 100 feet, or 389 pounds to the mile 74c

1'

100

....7ic "

100

" 2tU "

" ...8ic "

100

" 211

....Sic •'

100

" i(5r;

... 9c

A large stock on hand and for sale in quantities to suit, by

R. SELLEW & CO.,

mar7c»-ot 805 N. Malu street, St. Louis.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUIT,

Warranted Genuine and of Superior Quality, in Large Quantities, at

Reduced Rates.

CONCORD per 10,000 S'JW.OO MARTHA, extra stronj? i)er 100 $ 75 00

pel- 5,000 125.00 CYNTHIANA, " per 100... V.' 10000

" I't-i- 1,000 35.00 IVLS, " per 1,000 50 00

HARTFORD PROL per 1,000 4."). 00 " per 100 6 00

" per 100 6.00 RULANDER, " per 100.'.'.'.'.'. Soioo

For prices of all other Varietie*, we refer to our PRICK LIST (gratis), and to our new ILLUS-
TKATED DESCRIPTIVE CATAIiOGUE, containing valnable information on grapes and "rape
culture, which will he mailed, Iree of po.staije, to any address, on recei)jt of 25 cents. "

A GERMAN EDllION of .same, l>v Fr. Muench, price 25 cents (less than cost), has just been
published Please address

jan69-tf ISIDOR BUSH & SON, Bushberg, Jefferson Co., Mo.

The Bluffton "WinG Company

Offer a large stock of thrifty, finely rooted GRAPE VINES of all valuable and
popular varieties, together with all novelties in this line.

Large quantities of leading varieties will be furnished at a very liberal dis-
count on list prices.

Descriptive priced Catalogues sent to any address on application to

WILLIAM WESSELHOFT, Secretary,
jan69-tf BUiffton, lUssouri.

COOPER,

16 IS Jackso^i street^ St. Lo}iis, Missoiu'L

Offers his services to Wine Dealers, as manufacturer of all kinds of casks, fer-
menting vats and cellar apparatus. lie guarantees satisfactorv work and lowest
prices. Refers to some of the principal wine dealers in the State of Missouri, for
whom he has made casks and vats for a number of years, and especially to the
Blutlton AVine Company, No. 22 South Main street, where casks and vats of his
manufacture can be seen by those interested in the business. feboo-tf

^i 3E1L jBk. lE^ 3Ei ^OO^ -^ <0> 3D> f
TAVEiSTTY k:i:nds!

Immense Stock, especially of

Concord, Ives, Delaware, Hartford, lona, Catawba, Isabella,
Clinton, Rogers' Nos. 4, 15 and 19, etc.

Cut from Bearing Vines before hard freezing, and stored in frost-proof Cellars.

Very Low for Cash. Price List Gratis.

ALSO, LEADING VARIETIES OF GRAPE ROOT IN STORE.
Can ship South safely at any time.

aiootf M, IT, LEWIS, Sandusky, Ohio.

Grape Gulturist Advertising Sheet.

GRAPE WOOD

FOR

Grafting or Propagating.

75

00

25

00

20

00

20

00

8

00

8

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

6

00

YNTHIANA $ 5 00 per 100 $35 00 per 1,000 eyes.

ERMANN 1000 " ....

ARTHA 300 " ...

EVEREAUX 250 " ...

ULANDER 250 " ....

OUISIANA 250 " ...

AXATAWNEY i co " ...

ELEGRAPH i 00 " ...

ASSADY 75cts. " ...

REVELING 75 " " •••

OETHE 75 " " ...

3NA 75 " " •••

5RAELLA 75 " " •••

INDLEY, (Rogers' 9) 75 '' " •••

[ASSASOIT, (Rogeis' 3) 75 " " •••

[ERRIMACK, (Rogers' 19).. 75 " " •••

[ORTH CAROLINA SEED-
LING 75 " " •••

LOGERS' HYBRIDS, Nos. 2,

8,13 75 " " ...

ALEM 75 " " •••

WILDER, (Rogers' 4) 75 " " •••

lERBEMONT Cuttings, 9 to I3 in., trim'd ready for plant'g 10 00 per 1,000

).ELAWARE " " " " 10 00

Iartford Prolific " " "• " 5 00 "

VES' " •' " " 5 00 "

Cuttings will be shipped by express or freieht, and an additional charge of
o cents per 1000 for boxes and packing be added. Freight to be paid by
lurchaser.

WE HAVE A LIMITED QUANTITY OF

WOOD FROM BEARING VINES,

From our former Vineyards at Hermann, for Sale.

All who wish to try them, will be furnished at the above rates, by addressing
Small packages will be sent by mail, post paid,

GEORGE HUSMANN,

BLUFFTON, MO.

GREENHOUSE AND BEDDING PLANTS.

Our new lUustrattd Catalogue, containing lists of Stove and liedding Plants and Flower Seeds,
Hardy Herbaceous Plants, Dahlias, Gladiolus, Lilies, and other IJulbs, is now readv, and will be mailed
toall ai)plicants. Postage prepaid. Address MICHEL BROS. "& KERN,

niar70-tf 107 North Fifth Street, St. Louis, Mo.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

the: HORTIGUIiiTURIST

And

JOURNAL OF RURAL ART AND RURAL TASTE,

(ESTABLISHED BY A. J. DOWNING, 1846.) ■

Devoted to Horticulture, Landscape Gardening, Rural Architecture, Rural Embellishments,

Pomology, Floriculture, and all subjects of Rural Life, Literature, Art and Taste.

HENRY T. "WIIjIjIAMS, Editor and Proprietor.

SUBSCRIPTION TERMS.— Rej,nilur Subscription, $2 50 per annum. 3Ionthly Numbers,

.25 cents. N. B. All subscriptions stridly in advance. US" To i)revent loss of money through the

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cannot be responsible for sums sent in any other way and lost.

CLUB TERMS.
?> copies to 1 P. O. address, $1.75 [$2.25 each]. 10 copies tol P. O. address, $17.50 [$1.75 each].
5 •' " " 10.00[2.00 " ]. 20 •• 1 " 30.00 [ 1.50 " ].

An extra copy sent free to the former of clubs of live, ten or twenty subscribers. Illustrated
Prospectus free on receipt of Postage Stamp. Advertising Rates — 25 cents, per agate line,
each insertion. Address, HENRY T. WILLIAMS, 7 Murray street. New York. P O. Box,
2445. The Ilorticvlt wrist for 1869 and 1870, unbound will be supplied at $4..'j0. Bound volumes
■for 18(39, $8.00 each.

PATENTED AUG. 6th, 1SG7, AND AUG. Sd 1SG9.

For FERMENTATION and GERMINATION, and for PRESERVING, PURIFYING
and IMPROVING of Organic Substances.

Exceedingly useful in Malting, Brewing, Distilling, Baking, Manufacture of "Wine, Cider,
Fruit Wines, Fruit Brandies, Vinegar, etc. ; in Sugar Works, Oil "Works. Manufacture of Ex-
tracts, Preserves; in Storehouses, Transportation of Grain. Produce, Fruit; Purification of
Watei-, etc., etc.

Rights for States, Counties, Districts, or Establishments, for sale. 'Apply to

P. 0. Box 6844. R. D'HEUREUSE, New York.

I>XJBLISHED A.:N^D FOR S^LE

BY

CONRAD A^ITTER,

ST. LOUIS, MO.

MuENCH, Frederick, School for American Grape Culture. Brief but thorough

guide to the laying out of vineyards, the treatment of vines and the production

of wine in North America.
MuENCH, F., AvieriJcanische Weinbauschule unci Weinbereitungslehre, etc.

Either one of these books will be mailed free of postage on receipt of one dollar.
Hlsmann, George, The Cultivation, of the Native Grape and Manufacture of

American Wines.

On the receipt of $1 50 this book will be mailed to any address.
Schmidt, J. A., The Diseases of Wine, how to prevent and how to cure them,

according to the doctrines of M. Pasteur.

This book will be sent, free of postage, on receipt of $2.

C. WITTER keeps a large assortment of books treating on the Culture ot
Grapes and Manufacture of Wines.

Catalogues sent on application. Please address letters,

CONRAD WITTER,

|an69-tf 122 S, E. comer Walnut and Second Sis., St. Louis.

THE

GRAPE CULTURIST.

Vol. II.

JUNE, 1870.

No. 6.

JUNE.

WORK FOR THE MONTH,

June is, with us here, eminentl}'
the growing month, and the vintner
will have a busy time of it, a time
which is especially' trying to slug-
gards.

Keep the 3'oung shoots of your
vines well tied to the trellis, but tie
loosel}', so as not to cramp the 3'oung
growth and crowd the foliage. Tie
always so as not to interfere with the
fruit-bearing branches. This will also
be the time to pinch the ends of the
young canes, as described in the arti-
cle on " summer pruning " in May
number. The third and last stage of
summer pruning will be treated in a
separate article.

Keep your vineyards clean, plow
and hoe frequentlj' during rfry weather,
it is the best mulch and manure you
can give 3'our vines. Look after your
grape grafts, keej) them free from
suckers, and well mulched with saw-
dust or spent tan. As soon as the
graft starts into vigorous growth,
keep it tied well, so that the winds
cannot blow or break it off. Attend
to the cutting beds, keep thom clean
and mellow with plow, hoe, and weed-
ing fork. Clean and mellow soil is a
requisite for success in growing an}'
plant, but especially for the grape
vine.

Stir the ground about your spring
layers, taking care, however, not to
disturb the young rootlets which will

be forming about this time. This
will be the time for summer layering,
which need not be attempted, how-
ever, where the vines are large enough
to shade the ground. It can onl}' be
successful the lirst and second year
after planting. For this purpose, the
leading cane for layering shou'd be
left loose and trailing on the ground,
and when it has grown to the desired
length, pinch off the leader, so as to
push the laterals into more vigorous
growth. Make the ground loose and
mellow, and cover the leading shoot
to the depth of about one inch with
mellow soil. The laterals will then
take root and make good plants.

We know that summer laj'crs have
been condemned by man}' as worth-
less plants, and no doubt there are
many such; but where they have air
and light enough, we have had them
make roots of three feet long, firm
and solid, and wo would as soon plant
a vineyard with such layers as with
the best spring layers. It matters
not hoiv a plant has been grown ; if it
has an abundance of firm, well ripened
roots, it will grow and flourish. We
would certainly rather have a good
summer layer than a poor spring
layer.

The operations of this month are
mostly a continuation of the work in
May, and thus but little more can be
said about them.

142

The Grape Culturist.

THE EFFECTS OF THE COLD SNAP.

We were not a little amused at the
" dolorous wail " in which most of our
brethren of the press indulged when
the frost of Easter night had killed
those of the primary buds of the vine
which had already expanded. We do
not blame them, however, for report-
ing what those of their correspond-
ents— who ought to have known bet-
ter— saw fit to report to them. We
say " ought to have known better "
advisedly; for grape growers ought to
hiow by this time, the grape is the
most reliable of all fruits ; the}^ ought
to have known that each well-devel-
oped bud on the vino is a triple one,
and that when the first or primary
one fails, the secondary buds will push
forth, and produce at least a, fair crop,
if not an abundant one. They ought
to have known besides, that onl}- those
vai'ieties which push out early, were
at all aff'ected, while those which start
later were not injured. We did not
feel alarmed at all, because we knovv
from former experience, that such
calamities are not half as great as
they look at first sight, and because
we put our i-eliance, not on a single
one, but on several varieties.

In our vinej^ards here, of which
about thirty acres are in bearing, wo
may sum up the damage done, about
as follows :

Injured to about one-fourth of the
crop, we find the following varieties :
Ives, Concord, Hartford, Clinton, Tay-
lor, Marion, Blue Dyer, Franklin,
Devereaux, North Carolina Seedling,
and Union Village.

Not injured at all. — Norton, Cj-n-
thiana, all the Eogers Hybrids, Mar-

tha, Creveling, Delaware, Maxataw-
ney^ Alvej', Baxter, Eulander, Berks,
Blood's Black, Cassady, Catawba, Di-
ana, Hermann, Huntingdon, lona, Is-
raoUa, Mary Ann, Perkins, Telegraph,
and Venango. These Avere not ad-
vanced enough that the frost could do
any harm. We hear similar reports
from other portions of this State and
Illinois.

As wo may safely calculate that one-
half of the entire area bearing this
year in the West is planted in Con-
cords, it will come near the truth if
we estimate the damage at about
one-eighth of the entire crop. Even
allowing one-eighth more for other
sections, where the damage may have
been greater than here, the result
would be on'e-fourth of the entire
crop instead of nine-tenths, as many
of the despondent ones calculated;
and if we take into consideration the
wonderfully recuperative habits of the
vine, even this may be made up in
the course of the season, so that our
prospects of an abundant grape crop
may yet be called good.

But the obseiwant mind can draw
lessons from ever^^ thing, and to such
even this disaster may be productive
of good for the future, so as to more
than balance the momentary loss.
We have learned the following, which
we submit to our readers, and should
like to have them add their lessons, as
wo have no doubt they have also been
studying in the school of disaster.

1st. Do not place your reliance on
one variety, but cultivate several, so
that if one is afflicted, you will still
have a crop from the other.

Bandom Notes on Grape Matters.

143

2d. The grape is the most reliable
3f all fruits, for the reason that oven
the secondary buds will produce a
tialf crop if the primary ones are
iilled. This does not hold good alone
3f frosts in spring, but also of those
.n extremely cold winters ; in the
pointer of 1863-1864 all the j)rimary
Duds on the Concord Avere killed in
Fanuar}-, yet our vines produced from
;he secondary buds at the rate of
i,000 lbs. per acre.

3d. Prune long in autumn; it is
nuch easier to rub out superfluous
shoots at the first summer pruning
ban to add what is ''not there." If
rou have an abundance of fruit-boar-
ng branches, you can much bet-
er afford to have them thinned by

frost than when j'ou have hardl}^
enough ; and if the frost fails to do
it, you can easily do it yourself.

4th. Choose those varieties, other
qualities being equal, which start late
in spring. They are the safest to
depend upon.

5th. Do not believe the croakers,
or your own faint spirit, at every lit-
tle mishap, but rather put your trust
in Him, who ''tempers the wind even
to the shorn lamb," and always look
forivard with a hopeful spirit instead
of backward. The courageous hearts
win the battle of life, not the despond-
ing ones, and as the vine is clothed in
green, the emblem of hope, so should
those who cultivate it ever "hope for
the best !" — Editor.

RANDOM NOTES ON GEAPE MATTERS.

'OR AVIIAT DO WE GROW THE GRAPE f

Why, of course, for the money to
»e gained thereby. That, and that
,lone, is the leading point inductive
if application towards culture of the
;rape outside of the amateur's gar-
len. From what C. W. Idell (see
i'eb. number) writes, when his com-
aissions are taken out, I doubt if any
aan can possibly see a profit, calcu-
ating two tons to the acre, if we
;row grapes to supply the wholesale
larket of such cities as New York.
Lnd is not New York the point from
rhich most dealers are prone to esti-
mate the value of whatever may
omc to their own market. Unfor-
unately it is, and being so, the pro-
ucer is often injured and the market
irice regulated without regard to ac-

tuality. It is, .therefore, that I ask,
For what do we grow grapes ? be-
cause, if we are to be thummed any
longer by the huckster taking advan-
tage of us and our necessities — taking
our grapes and soiling them at a high
retail rate and counting to us at only
a nominal wholesale price, it is time
wo planted onh^ of such sorts as are
valuable for wine rather than for table
use. The grape when made into
wine, will keep for years^ and for a
certain length of time will gain in
value more than the interest of ten
per cent, on the mone^'. The grape,
if of a qualit}^ to make good wine —
ranging its must say at 80"^ of Oes-
chle's scale saccharometer — it is worth,
when pressed, at least eighty cents a
gallon from the press, which is not
less than seven cents a pound for the

144

The Grape Cultiwist.

fruit, and a surety, free from all ex-
press charges, seftoiul-liand comiiiis-
siou men, and bargaining hucksters,
whose return Idlls al\va3'S have so
many drawbacks, tiiat the grower has
little for his labor. It is a point,
thei-efbro, to him wlio is fust planting
to think twice ere he selects his vari-
ety, as to what and how and where-
fore the money is to be obtained from
his outlay of labor, time and hrains.
[We agree with our correspondent
in the main, though we may differ in
some of the minor points. We think
every grape grower, when he jilants
his vineyard, should seriously con-
sider the qualities lor wine of the
varieties he plants, so that should the
market fail him, he can make them
into wine. With a judicious selection,
and this object in view, grape growing
■can not be overdone. Ever^- grape
grower should at once, from the start,
have this in view as a last resort,
even if he should prefer, in good sale
seasons, to market his grapes. Wme
growing is not so profitable or easy
as our correspondent thinks. Tlie
wine maker needs cellar room, casks,
press, etc., all of which, however
simple, require some means; he must
wait longer for his returns^ and if he
counts interest, loss by racking and
evaporation, etc., he will find that he
will do better to sell his wine at
gevent^'-five cents, throe months after
making, than at a dollar a gallon
when it is fifteen months old. More-
over, he wants his cellar room, casks,
etc., again, and unless he has plent}'
of capital at his disposal, ho cannot
afford to Avait, cspociall}' if the mar-
ket is declining constantly, as it has
been the last three years. We have

a remedy for this in centralization or
concentration of grape intei'ests,
which we have so long and so often
advocated, and which we have put
into ])ractice here.

These thoughts are principally
thrown out for the consideration of
our readers. It is an important sub-
ject, and we should like to hear the
views of others about it, >Send them
in friends, and let us discuss the mat-
ter thoroughly. — Ed.]

Lookixo-Glass Vixeyakds, )
MAscorTAii 1'. O., III., Feb. 22, lS7(i. \

Geo. Husmann, Esq., Bluffton, Mo.:

Dear Sir: I feel that I owe you
an acknowledgment and my thanks
for the good humor and friendly
spirit in which you answer m}' rather
rough vindication of Illinois as a wine
producing State and of its wines. I
suppose its soil in different localities
varies as much in its natural compo-
sition and in the elements of fertility
as that of Missouri, and even in our
prairies these variations are not less
remarkable than in hills and wood-
land, and I can see no good reason
why not, in our pi-airies, locations
might be found as much adapted to
the cultivation of the grape and pro-
duction of win 3, as in hills and wood-
land. I agi'ee with you, that on good
farming land — on land on which the
cereals prosper — vines should not be
planted, because they succeed equally
well, and even better, on land more or
less unfit for other agricultural pur-
poses. In this respect I have com-
mitted a mistake in selecting the site
of ni}' vineyard. The gentle slope
on which ni}' vines grow, can be cul-
tivated with the plow as easily as any

Random Notes on Grape Matters.

145

other farming land, and its soil is of
great fortilit}'. Before the vineyard
was planted, twenty-seven bushels of
wheat and one hundred bushels of
corn per acre were raised on it with-
out extra care or labor, yet, in select-
ing it for a vineyard, I have not act-
ed thoughtlessly or inconsiderately.
The land was not prairie, but wood-
land, although it joined the former
within a hundred steps, more or less.
The tree toj^s and bushes were covered
Avith wild grapevines of the a)stivalis
and eordifolia families, so that as late
as 1865, on a comparatively small
tract of the land, which had escaped
cultivation, I gathered wild grapes
enough to make 400 gallons of wine.
"Was it not a near and natural conclu-
sion that the cultivated varieties of
grape vines would succeed here like-
wise ? As far back as 1850, when the
location was made, I had not the ad-
vantages now enjoj'ed hj the begin-
ner; I had not as a guide the dearly
bought experiences of others, but had
to gi'ope my own way. The soil of
my vineyard is a deep rich mould, the
subsoil heavy, tenacious clay, nearly
impervious to water. To the latter,
principally, do I attribute the many
failures which in late years I have ex-
perienced in the productiveness of my
vines, especially my Catawbas. But
I cannot agree with j'ou if you main-
tain that a better article of wine can
be grown on decomposed limestone
than on clay. I ha\e no authority on
hand to refer to excejitmy own mem-
ory (and that is treacherous and may
possibly deceive me), for the classifi-
cation of wines according to the soil
on which they grow, but according to
my recollection it is about as follows :

1. Of highest excellence are the
wines grown on volcanic formations.

2. On basalt.

3. On slate.

4. On calcareous soil.

5. On sand.

In the middle, between these, are
the wines grown on clay; they are
remarkable for strength and body,
(schwere schmalzige iveine,) but rather
coarse, and requiring age to attain
perfection.

I may be mistaken as to the classi-
fication. You and Mr. Frings ought
to be familiar with the subject, and
ought to set mo right in the Grape

CULTURIST.

Yours very trul}',

ThEOD. ENf4ELMANX.

[We copy this very interesting let-
ter, which had been intended as pri-
vate, with permission of the writer,
because it may serve to elucidate
many interesting points. We do not
believe that the soil of prairies is as
well adapted to the culture of grapes
as woodlands, because we think in
woodlands the decaying leaves and
wood accumulated there furnish a
more congenial food for the grape-
vines than can bo found in jn-airies.
Wo think, also, that good farming
land is none too good for the Avine if
not underlaid with stiff, tenacious day.
There, we think, is the principal cause
of the trouble with the wines of our
correspondent. Their /eeif are wet, as
the common phrase goes.

As to the classification of wines
grown on the different soils, we are
not prepared to speak positively. We
think that in this respect we may find
quite different results with our

146

The Grape Culturist.

American wines than with the Euro-
pean, and think the rule will be found
generally true,

" that wherever a va-

riety of grapes flourishes best aud re-
mains most healthy, there Avill it pro-
duce the best wine." — Ed.

AEKANSAS GOSSIP.

Friend IIusmann :

Mourn with us. On the eve of Eas.
ter day our little vineyards and the
garden trellises of our amateurs were
a goodl}' sight. The canes had put
forth plentifully of young shoots,
loaded with flower bunches. The win-
ter had been mild; the wood-growth
of last year clear and healthy. The
buds had opened evenly, and the young
shoots had, many of them, been thin-
ned and pinched. All was lovely; and
this year, we fondly thought, was to
be demonstrated to the unbelieving of
onr land, that grape-growing is a suc-
cess. All da}' long a murk}' upper
current of clouds had passed over us
from the north, and at sunset an omi-
nous streak of light appeared in the
northwest. A bitter frost was the
most we apprehended, and prepara-
tions were made accordingly. Tender
garden plants were covered, and sheets
thrown over the choicest vines. Be-
fore daylight there was a crust of fro-
zen ground, and many of us were out
with our watering pots to save the
gardens. The sun ai'oso on a glitter-
ing scene of icicles, the result of our
sprinkling. It had been a regular
winter freeze. The thermometer stood
at 28 deg., and almost every living
vegetable thing was dead! dead! dead!
The profane cursed, and the humbler
of our enthusiasts felt disposed to cry.
It certainly was an awful scene of
blasted hopes and just expectations.

Of course, in the infancy of grape-
growing amongst us, the actual pecu-
niary loss was small. It is the moral
damage that is most to be regretted.
Our people were just waking up to the
business of grape-growing, and begin-
ning experiments. With many of
them this was their first year of ex-
pected results in the way of fruit and
Avine. The danger is that they Avill
become discouraged, and not only de-
cline further planting, but neglect fur-
ther attention to the vines they have.
It is hard to get them all to reflect
that this is a pure accident, such as
may not happen again in a quarter of
a century. Indeed it rarely does. I
have tables of the temperature at this
place of each day since 1840, with few
omissions. Reviewing that, I find
these April spells to have occurred
only four times in all that period. All
the other years were such as to have
produced a fair croj) of grapes. There
is no country in luirope that will show
a better record.

In this case, even, the loss will not
be total, although it seems a miracle
that any escaped. Taylor and Clin-
ton were further advanced, and are
entirely destroyed. Concord, Cataw-
ba, and others of the labrusca family,
had all the first shoots killed, but a
few later buds have since put forth
about the lower j^arts of the canes, and
will give us 20 per cent., perhaps, of a
crop. The canes themselves in their

Arkansas Gossip.

147

main length, however, remain bare
and brown, and do not put forth any-
more. Norton's Virginia and Herbe-
niont vines are not materiall}' injured.
The latter, strange to sa}-, withstands
winter cold, and escapes the frosts of
spring better than an}' other variety,
notwithstanding its character for ten-
derness farther north. Were it not
for the mildew to which it is very lia-
ble in summer, it would be first upon
our list. The Delaware stood the test
better than most of the others, and
shows some fruit remaining, although
the tender vines of two summers'
growth seem killed to the ground.
The Goethe, too, exhibits powers of
endurance above the average. On
the whole, however, your advice to
our people is confirmed. For a cer-
tain wine crop we must look to Nor-
ton's Virginia and Cynthiana, and
grapes of that class. For table grapes,
we will, I hope, hang on longer yet to
the old Catawba, and trust that and
the Goethe principally. I must con-
tend that, taking it all in all, I have
never seen a better grape than the
Catawba. Last season I had them
thi-ee-fourths of an inch in diameter,
and of most luscious flavor. True,
they rot; but grapes, like ourselves, all
have their failings. Perhaps our longer
seasons ripen them better. I have
never eaten the Catawba in Missouri,
but I have in Ohio, and I am sure they
are superior there.

I remember, when a young vine-
grower, that Mr. Longworth one day
in a conversation pooh I poohed ! the
idea that my vines in Tennessee would
be hurt by frost. He said that they
always put out from dormant buds
new fruit-bearino- shoots. I have since

that had much experience in frosts,
and find the vines very capricious, ap-
parentl}', in that respect. One year I
had a most excellent crop from the
secondary shoots after the first were
killed. This was in Tennessee in 1858.
At other times the canes have failed
to put forth at all. It depends upon
the severity of the frost. The crop
is not necessarily lost when the first
shoots are killed back to the cane.
When that is simply the result of frost,
properly speaking, produced by radia-
tion from the earth, the dormant buds
take the place of the others. After
an actual freeze, such as we had on
the morning of the 17th April, dor-
mant buds and all are killed together.
These latter spells are produced by
cold settling down on us from above,
which seems to permeate everj'thing,
and against Avhich no covering is any
protection, short of a covering of
earth. Just now there is not one
dormant bud in a thousand putting
forth in the place of the dead shoots.
What fruit we have will be from the
later primary buds which had not
burst.

I think it the curse of our climate
(although not frequent) that our win-
ters and early springs are so warm,
vegetation gets such growth, that
when killed by these abnormal and
extraordinary' April freezings, the
shock is too great for recuperation.
With you the vines are less advanced,
I suppose, and rally more easily.
However, as I said, we ai-e but rarely
exposed to it. Let us hope we will
not suffer again in the next decade,
when grape-growing will be too well
established to suffer from it very ma-
terially.

148

The Grwpe Culturist.

The Scuppernong was unhurt, which
will be a great triumph for those who
contend that it is at all Avorth cultivat-
ing for wine. It is a sluggish plant in
spring, and requires a long season, but
seems hardy against cold. I scarcely
know what to say of this nondescript,
which is called a grape. It is a coarse,
tough skinned berry with a sweetish,
murky flavor. The vine takes care of
itself. • Does not require, and will not
suffer pruning ; bears abundantly, and
has no diseases. With sugar it makes
a very wholesome and palatable dry
wine, which certainly would be a great
blessing to our people to have in abun-
dance ; and when " tomahawked"
with apple brandy (shall I confess it)
is glorious to take. But that is the
taste which runs on into brandy cob-
blers and juleps, and on the whole not
to be encouraged, JI scarcely think
it a grape, but still a most useful fruit
sui generis, and I hope it will be culti-
vated extensively by those who have
no inclination for the more trouble-
some, and I must say, the more exqui-

site, ^'bunch grapes," as it is the habit
of its friends to call the Herbemont,
and the Delaware, and the Catawba,
and others. Each to his tastes, but
if you of Missouri incline to move
away because you cannot grow the
Scuppernong, it would be well to con-
sider the matter carefully first.
Eespectfully,

Jno. E. Eakin.

Washington, Auk,, May 1st, 1870.

[We certainly feel deeply for your
misfortunes, but hope that they will
not prove as heavy as they appeared
at first sight, although 3'our vines were
no doubt injured worse than ours, as
they were so much further advanced.
We hope the dormant buds are not all
killed, and that you will yet have a
partial crop.

Friend Carlton, the zealous defen-
der of the Scuppernong, has sent us
another article in defense of his favor-
ite, which will appear as soon as we
have space. At present, we are con-
tent here, although we cannot grow
it. — Editor.]

THE SALEM GEAPE.

This has been disseminated as No.
22, and also No. 53, and is claimed to
be the best of the many of Eoger's
hybrids. It is, without a doubt, very
fine in quality, and said to succeed
finely at the East. Here^ it is rather
a slow grower, and somewhat subject
to both mildew and rot. We have as
yet rarely seen a perfect bunch of it
here, and think that even at the East
bunches like the engraving published
by its present disseminator, Mr. Bab-

cock, will be rarely met with. We
would advise its trial, but not its ex-
tensive cultivation until it has been
tried.

Bunch large, shouldered, rather
loose; berry large, round, brownish-
red ; flesh rather meaty than pulpy,
juicy, sweet and delicious, Avith a fine
aroma, fine for the table, and will, no
doubt, make a fine Avine, if enough of
it can be obtained.

IHE SA-LEM: GrRAPE

150

The Grape Culturist.

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY GEAPE
GROWEES' ASSOCIATION.

( Continued.)

REPORT ON RED WINES OF 1869.

The committee to which w^as refer-
red the Eed Wines of last years' vin-
tage, respectfully rejDort having ex-
amined the same with the exception
of a few bottles which were broken,
and found most of the samples of very
good character. It is proper to state
that two members of the committee
were not familiar with the use of the
scale of figures in the way usually
practiced by this society in grading
wines, and therefore all the figures in
this report range a little lower than
they would otherwise have done.

One sample only of Hartford Pro-
lific w^as before us, made by the Cliff
Cave Wine Company, and was as good
probably as that variety could be
made, gi-aded at 78^. One sample of
Eentz, from the same, was graded at
80, and as compared with other varie-
ties of the class should bear a higher
figure. It seems to have sufficient
body, a pleasant aroma, and may yet
compote successfully wdth the Ives for
the palm.

Clinton — Two samples, excellent for
that variety. No. 2, graded as 7*J,
made at Golden Bluff Vineyard.

No. 4, graded 79;!, made by E. E.
Mason, Webster Grove, Mo.

Mixed Wine— No. 2 (Norton and
Clinton), graded 80, made by A. En-
gelman, Shiloh, Ills.

No. 3 (Norton, Cynthiana and Iler-
bemont), graded 71t, made by E. A.
Eiehl, Alton, Ills.

Wilder, by E. A. Eiohl, graded at
63 J. Its peculiar aroma is not ad-
mired, but it was doubtless made in
too small quantity to show its capa-
bility.

Merrimack, same maker, graded at
70.

Ives, made by the Bluffton Wine
Company, graded at 74.

Norton's Virginia, No. 1, made by
Bluffton Wine Company, grade 76t.

No. 6, by E. E. Mason, sweet, grade
80.

No. 7, by Dr. Clagett, grade 60.

No. 9, b}^ A. Burtin, Nauvoo, Ills.,
grade 65.

No. 10, by G. C. Eisenmej-er, Mas-
coutah, grade 87f.

One other sample, number lost, be-
lieved to be from Dr. Clagett, grade
b5.

Concord, No. 13, by E. A. Thomp-
son, Cincinnati, Ohio, grade 661.

No. 10, Golden Bluff Vineyard, grade
80.

No. 8, E. A. Eiehl, Alton, grade 60.

No. 5, W. Krausnick, grade 61t.

No. 14, Bluffton Wine Company,
grade 50.

No. 12, Louis W^inter, grade 63 J.

No. 6, Charles Brachcs, grade T6i.

No. 7, A. Engelman, grade 7lf.

No. 3, J. J. Squire, De Soto, Mo.,
grade 77 i).

No. 9, F. Will, Hopewell Furnace,
Mo., grade 81 g.

No. 10, Wm. Stark, Louisiana, Mo.,
not clear.

L. D. Morse, Chairman.

Amnial Meeting of the Mississipjjl Valley Grape Growers' Association. 151

THE PREMIUM.

The Committee on Concord Winos
f 1869, which were entered for the
remium of f25, offered by Medsrs.
mdlow, Saylor & Co., awarded the
remium to Dr. H. Clagett, of Gray's
ummit, Mo. The wine would be
lassed as white, a rather golden
rownish color^ very smooth, agree-
blc in flavor, and remarkably well
nished for new wine. It was, in fact,
Imost too good to admit the belief
hat it was purely Concord. Dr.
Jlagett states that it is absolutely
uro juice.

There were nine samples in com-
etition, and all excellent wine. That
f Messrs. A. and F. Starr, of Alton,
11., was also a white wine and very
early equal to the premium wine.
Lfter deciding the premium the sam-
les wore graded as follows :

No. 1, 8. H. Long, Alton, Ills.,
;rade SO.

No. .% Julius Mallinckrodt, Augusta,
lo., grade 75.

No. 3, Dr. H. Clagett, Gray's Sum-
ait, ]Mo., grade 921.

No. 4, Cliff Cuve Wine Company,
io., grade 80.

No. 5, Cliff Cave Wine Compan}',
io., grade 75.

No. 6, Augusta Wine Company,
»Io., grade 85.

No. 7, Bluffton Wine Companj-,
klo., grade 85.

No. 8, A. and F. Starr, Alton, Ills.,
jrade 90.

No. 9, C. Paffrath, St. Louis county^
yio., grade 85.

lEPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NEW AVHITE
WINES.

Your committee to whom the sam-

ples of new white wine were referred
for examination, ask leave to report.
There were presented as follows :

Catawba No. 6, Golden Bluff Vine-
yard, grade 82.

Catawba No. 8, Julius Mallinckrodt,
Augusta, grade 78.

Catawba No. 9, Julius Mallinckrodt,
Augusta, grade 77.

Mixed Catawba and Concord^ Louis
Winter, grade 75.

Mixed Goethe and Taylor, C.
Braches, gi-ade 65.

Hartford, Cliff Cave Wine Company,
and Bluffton Wine Company, both
graded 65.

Goethe, E. A. Eiehl, Alton, grade
62.

lona. Dr. H. Clagett, grade 75.

Cunningham, A. Engelman, grade
80.

Herbemont, Louis Winter, grade 87.

Delaware, Golden Bluff Vineyard^
Warsaw, Ills., grade 83.

Delaware, E. A. Thompson, Cin-
cinnati, O., grade 80.

Taylor, A. Engelman, Shiloh, Ills.,
grade 80.

This last was not as good as we
generally lind from this grape. Your
committee also note in both samples
of Goethe, whether pure or mixed, a
strong foxy flavor, which must detract
from the value of this variety, unless
it disappears with age.

Respectfully submitted,

J. M. Pearson, ")

E. S. Hull, v Committee.

Geo. C. Eisenmeyer, )

The reports of the other committees
have not come to hand. We have
some notes of their grading, w^hich
wo give as follows :

152

The Grape Gulturist.

CATAWBA.

1868, b}^ E. Baxter, Nauvoo, Ills.,
grade 83i

1866, by A. Engelman, Shiloh, Ills.,
grade 88.

1867, by A. Engelman, Shiloh, Ills.,
grade 84.

1868, by A. Engelman, Shiloh, Ills.,
grade 74.

1868, by Golden Bluff Vineyard,
Warsaw, Ills., grade 73J,

1868, by Louis Winter, grade 73^.

1868, A. Burtin, Nauvoo, Ills., grade
75.

Cunningham, 1868, A. Engelman,
grade 86.

Norton, 1868, E. R. Mason, grade
861.

Norton, 1868, E. R. Mason, grade
861.

Norton, 1867, A. Burtin, grade 661.

Clinton, 1868, E. Baxter, Nauvoo,
Ills., grade 68^.

DUTY ox IMPORTED WINES.

X>r. L. Murse, President of the Mississippi
Valley Gra'pe Growers'' Association :

Your committee, to Avhom was re-
ferred the subject of import duties on
foreign wines, beg leave to submit the
following brief report, and to recom-
mend that copies thereof be sent to
the members of Congress representing
the districts embraced b}^ this Asso-
ciation :

Since the close of the late war, the
culture of the grape in this region has
extended far more rapidly than it had
ever done before. The ratio of vine
planting annually increased so long as
the price of gold continued to be high.
Under the operation of the ■practically
higher duties which the cost of gold
afforded, the wine interest of the Mis-

sissippi "Valley was being rapidly de-
veloped, and the total consumption of
wnne greatly augmented.

The indirect reduction of duties
caused by the decline in gold, has so
far reduced the cost of foreign wines
as to discourage the further planting
of vineyards by the producers of
American wines; and, as a conse-
quence, the falling off in this year's
planting is fifty to seventy-five per
cent, below the average of the last
feAV years.

The wine growers, as a class, cheer-
fully contribute to the revenues of the
government; and while they are com-
pelled to pay a much higher rate for
labor (an important item in the cost
of producing wines) than is paid by
their European competitors; and while
they pay indirect taxes on articles of
consumption, such as clothing and
othei' dry goods, groceries, imple-
ments, etc., etc., they ask only for
such a distribution of the burdens of
taxation, as shall give them a fair op-
portunity to compete with the pro-
ducers of foreign wines.

Hoi)ing and believing that our ex-
cellent paper currencj' will soon ap-
proximate ver}' closel\' to gold in
price, and thus still further virtually
reduce all import duties, jovly com-
mittee are of opinion that to maintain
the former rates of taxati(^n, under
Avhich the grape interest was so flour-
ishing, a re-adjustment of imposts on
wines has now become necessar}-.

In conclusion, your committee recom-
mend to this association the indorse-
ment of the pro})Osition — which they
have been informed is now before the
Congressional committee of ways and
means — to impose a specific duty of

Summer Fruning of the Vine — No. 3.

153

fifty cents ]Hr <ji;;ill()n on impoi'tod
wines of all tjraiics, regarding this
jiicrcasc as only sufllcient to restore
the duties on wines to what they were
under the higher prices of gold, and
believing that such a tax would yield
a greater amount of revenue to the
government, ana, at the same time,
iiftord incidental encouragement to an

important branch of American indus-
try.

Apuil 7, 1870.

[We believe Congress has since
raised the dut}-, irrespoc^tive of qual-
ity, to 50 cents per gallon, whicli will
be amp]}" sufficient for protection,
AVe have not the space to give all the
statistics in this number, some of
w'hich are ver}- interesting.]

SUMMER PRUNING OF THE VINE— NO. 3.

After the second pinching of the
fruit-bearing branches, as described in
our former articles, the laterals will
generally start once more, and we
pinch the young growth again to one
leaf, thus giving each lateral two well
•developed leaves. The whole course
should be completed about the middle
•of June here, and whatever grows
afterwards may be left, unless some of
the laterals should still become too
long and hang over into the row, when
they may be taken off' or shortened in.

In closing, let us glance once more
at the objects we have in view, and
whether they are really reached by the
l^ractice as followed by us.

1. One of its principal objects is to
keep the vine within proper bounds, so
that it is at all times under the control
of the vintner, without weakening its
■constitution by robbing it of a great
amount of foliage. This we trust our
readers will find is fully reached by
•early and thorough pinching, as the
fruit-bearing branches become stock}-,
better able to bear up their fruits,
and the tendrils can not intertwine
•everything.

2. Judicious thinning of the fruit. —
This is done most thoroughly, and at

a time wdien no vigor has been ex-
pended in its development.

3. Developing strong, healthy foliage.
— This object we gain by forcing the
growth of the laterals, and thus having
two young healthy leaves opposite each
bunch, which will shade the fruit and
serve as conductors of sap to the fruit.

4. Groioing vigorous canes for next
year's fruiting. — We obtain just as
many as we want, and 7io tnore, there-
by making them stronger ; and as
every part of the vine is thus accessi-
ble to light and air, the wood will
ripen better and more uniform.

5. Destruction of noxious insects. —
As the vintner has to look over each
shoot of the vine, this is done more
thoroughly and S3'stematically than by
any other process.

There now you have our method,
kind readers of the Culturist. If
you can suggest improvements, please
let us have them, for we hope to learn
a good deal ourselves in our inter-
course with you, and hope you will
each contribute j'our mite of knowl-
edge to the common fund, with that
true liberality which we can not help
but think should guide every one who
follows our noble profession.

154

The Gra'pe Culturist.

WINE RACKING.

[Essaj- read bJ-fore the Nauvoo Wine (j

It has often been asked, " when is
the proi)er time to rack our wines?" I
now propose to answer the question.
Generally speaking, there is no very
positive rule as to the time most
favorable for racking. Some rack
early, even when their wine is not
clear ; others rack late. It may be
said that it is fancy which answers for
a rule ; yet there happens circum-
stances that deserve to be taken into
consideration, for wine does not possess
each year the same constitution. This
diversity may necessitate modifications
in the rackings, and vary their time.

What is that which through the
operation of racking we strive to take
out of the wine ? The lees, that is to
say, a mixture of tartar, vegetable
fibers, much comminuted, of ferment,
decomposed during the fermentation,
of ferment still undecomposed, always
in quantity in wine of bad years, and
in those of coarse grapes, coloring
matter, extracts, etc. ; of all these
substances there is none that can in
any way contribute to the preservation
of a wine, whilst there ai-e some, the
pure, undecomposed ferment, especiall}',
whose action, when under favorable
circumstances, is eminently able to
hurt it.

Contrar}^ to the opinion of a tew
popular vintners, I hold that the dis-
turbance of wine is not alone due to
the effects of temperature : Wine feels
all the motions of the vine ; it is a fact
easily witnessed. Who that has not
seen his wine remain quiet in June
when the mercury stood at the highest,
while in the latter part of Jul}^ and in

rowers' Club by E. Baxtei", President.]

August, the heat instead of increasing,,
often lowers quite sensibly, and wine,
on the contrary, becomes deeply agi-
tated I It is a fact which I have, time
and again, observed when the seed in
the berry is al)out being perfected. It
is on these principles, and in regard to
the influence the motions of the vine
possess upon wine ; it is also from the
qualit3', better or worse, of this liquid ;
or, if preferable, from the proportion,
more or less abundant, of its ferment,^
that we should judge of the opportu-
nity, and of the most favorable time
for racking.

DECEMBER RA.CKING.

When wine is surcharged with fer-
menting matter, lees, it is proper to
rack it towards the end of December.
The cold weather usual at that time, is
a very favorable condition for this
operation.

The importance of this racking rests
in the fact that it clears wine from its
coarse lees ; that it prepares the rack-
ing for March, and causes it to be
always more perfect ; j-et it should
never take its place. This December
racking may particularly be useful to
wines coming from rich soils, to infe-
rior wines, or to those that are made
from unripe grapes, and which contain
a large proportion of acids and fer-
ment. It is a well demonstrated fact
that the less sugar a wine has the more
acids and ferments it contains.

MARCH RACKING.

No racking, in my opinion, is so
important and deserving of careful
attention as the March racking. This

Wine Racking.

155

operation should be done especially
during dry winds ; North, north-west
possess the great merit of liberating
the wine from its sediments.

When it is done carefull3', leaving no
lees to disturb the wine, it allows this
liquid to bear with impunity the warm
weather, and the many phases of agi-
tation which it has to undergo from
the swelling of the buds to the ma-
turity of the grapes and to success-
fulh' come out from these numerous
trials.

It is necessary' then to consider this
racking as absolutely indispensable ;
it can not too strongly be urged upon
all vintneis who de>ire to possess wines
that will keep ; this racking, well done,
can, in a pinch, enable us to dispense
with all others. The neglect of this
important cperation is always to be
much regretted, as it often gives rise
to serious disorders ; it is that which
particular}' causes wine to sour.

RACKING INFERIOR WJNES.

It should never be forgotten that
such wines are, of all wines, those that
most need racking. Why do we rack
wine ? Is it not to prevent it from be-
coming agitated, from souring? Then
it is really the best way to guard
against so serious a disorder ; and
under no pretext, should any one dis-
pense with this important operation at
the times I have specified as the most
suitable. The constitution of such
wines is so weak and so destitute of
the preserving elements, that they
would certainly turn, during hot
weather and thunder storms, if they
were not freed from the sediment they
always produce in quantity. Two
rackings cannot certainly be too much

to obtain this desired result. This is
why I do insist upon it ; there is no
other wine that claims it so eai'nestly.
Some vintners may believe that I
exaggerate. " We save our wines
with but one racking, why should ^ve
practice two ?" Certainly one rack-
ing in March, well done, may prevent
the wine from spoiling, but I wish
more, I wnsh to make it better; to
endow it with stronger kecj^ing qual-
ities; and as wo are handling a wine
loaded with ferment, it can not be
doubted but that two rackings the
first 3'ear will more effectuall}" accom-
plish this purpose ; but, as I have said
it before, to attain the desired result^
the rackings must be made in clear,
dry weather, and as much as possible
with a north wnnd. It may be asked,
" why should wine be racked in clear^
dry weather, and with a north wind?"
The difference between the north and
the south w^ind might, on first impres-
sion, appear doubtful. South winds
may be sufficiently cold and dry not
to differ much from those of the north^
which at times are just as damp and
warm, but since the discovery of Ozone
we can understand the difference. It
is not in the heat, nor in the degree
of dampness; it is, most likely, in the
presence of ozone carried along with
south winds from regions where elec-
tricity is ever producing it. Ozone
is a particular kind of oxygen, discov-
ered by VanMarum — quite active, and
very damaging to animal and vegeta-
ble liquids. It can sour wines, soups,
fruits, etc. This is wh}' vintners with
practical experience have long advised
to choose a particular state of the
atmosphere. The intention is to pre-
vent, as far as possible, the direful

156

The Grctpe CuUuriH.

effects of this air. It happens in this
way : The weather being clear, there
is a perceptible evaporation on the
surface of the wine racked, and this
evaporation allows no real contact
between the air and the wine. In
cold weather the evaporation is not
80 strong and the consequent loss of
wine is diminished ; in cloudy, damp,
rainy weather there would hardly be
any evaporation, and the air coming
in close contact with the wine might
(letevmine a dan i;\'r(M7s alteration.

RACKING THE WINE OF GOOD YEARS.

The wines of such j-ears, and more
especially those of choice vines — and
by choice, I mean such as Elsiiigburg,
Delaware, lona, Cj'nthiana, Norton,
etc., in contradistinction with the
coarser varieties, such as Isabella,
Concord, Ives, Martha — contain much
sugar. They must consequently con-
tain a lesser quantity of lees. I feel
disposed, on that account, to modify
my advice in regard to these wines.
Their constitution does not require
two rackings the first year, like those
I have mentioned before, and except
in particular circumstances the March
racking will be sufficient, provided it
completely frees them from their de-
posit.

In the following rules are condensed
the necessary conditions which alone
can ensure a successful racking:

1. All vessels, pails, buckets, through
which the racking is done, must be
clean and sweet. The energy with
which tartaric acid acts on motals
should forbid the use of anything but
wood.

2. It must be done in clear, drj-
weather, and, as fiir as possible, dur-

ing a north wind, as it is then only
that the deposit of the lees can be
complete.

3. Avoid this operation in damp,
rainj' weather, and while strong south
winds prevail.

4. Never rack during a thunder
storm ; at such time those parts of the
lees that are lightest rise through the
wine, and cause a fermenting action
alwa^-s to be feared.

5. NcM'or rack a turbid wine, 5'ou
only ])io,iare yoursCif the trouble of
another i-acking; the sediment, in
this condition, being 3'et mixed with
the wine.

6. Nor should it be done at those
times when the vine is in motion, when
the buds are pushing out, when the
vine is in bloom, and still less when
the seed is hardening.

7. Never allow the wine to remain
long exposed in contact with the air.

8. Do not let it fall from high in
3'our bucket, as this is the surest way
to fatigue a wine and to lose one of
the preserving elements, the carbonic
acid.

9. Finall}', always use the most care-
ful attention in freeing your wine from
the smallest particles of its deposit.

Without a strict adherence to these
conditions, racking is always imper-
fect, and docs not realize the improve-
ment one has a right to expect when
the work has been well done.

[We publish the above essay, as it
has given rise to considerable discus-
sion through the press, and as it con-
tains some good advice, in our opin-
ion, and some with which we can not
agree. We do not think even two
rackings sufficient. We think that
frequent rackings of the wine are es-

Sparkling Wines.

157

sential to its ripening process, and
with some wines it may be necessary
to rack them oftenor. His advice in
rule 5 we think will not hold good, as
nothing will clarify a turbid wine
sooner than racking it, and bringing
it in contact Avith the air. For the
same reason, we can not agree with
rules 6 and 7. We generally use the
rose of a watering pot in racking, if

we have a wine which is particularly
obstinate. Xor can we agi'ee with
him when ho says that Nortons, Cyn-
thiana,Delaware, etc., contain less lees.
We know that they contain more, and
therefore need frequent rackings. But
we hope that the D'Heureuse air treat-
ment will obviate much of the trouble,
and give us thoroughly fined wines
within six months. — Editor.]

SPAEKLING WINES.

BY ISlDOIl liUSII, ST. LOUIS, JIISSOLRI .

The carbonic gas which is com-
pressed hetween the wine and the cork
produces, by its expansion, (as soon as
you cut the wire which ties the cork)
that ^' pop " so favorably known ; and
the pearls thrown to the surface, the
pleasant, prickling taste is nothing-
else but the effect of the carbonic acid
which was absorbed by the wine, and
now, ascending, parts from it, to be
absorbed b}- the atmosphere. The
slower this separation takes place,
and the better the taste and flavor of
the wine, even alter such separation,
the better is its quality.

Of late, spai'kling Avines are also
made in France and German}^ as well
as in the United States, by a much
shorter process; artificial!}' impreg-
nating the wine with carbonic acid,
in the same manner as our imitation
mineral watei's are made. These wines
are also very pleasant and sparkling ;
they ai'e moreover not merely a harm-
less but quite a healthy beverage, if
properly made. They can not com-
pare, however, with real sparkling
wines in which the carbonic acid has

{Concluded.')

naturally produced itself during fer-
mentation.

Hundred thousands of cases of
sparkling wine thus manufactured
have been made and sold in New York
City, with labels imitating Heid-
sieck's, Mumm's and other favorite
French brands. And we owe it to the
stringent regulations of the Internal
Revenue system, which imposes the
heavy tax of fifty cents gold on each
and every bottle of '' Champagne,"
whether imported or not, and only
so labeled; while the American wine,
whether sparkling or not, is free, that
this fraud has ceased.

Now, this class of champagnes is
sold as '* California Sparkling," being
generally manufactured of California
wines which are cheaper and more
alcoholic, and therefore specially
adapted. And except the sparkling
wines of Mr. Landsberger at San
Francisco, all our present '^Califor-
nia Sparkling Wines" are made by
this new quick method.

But at the same time American en-
terprise has succeeded also in produ-

158

The Grape Culturut.

cing real Champagne, that is, spark-
ling wines made by the old French
method. French and German immi-
grants, skilled in its manufacture,
were engaged, and our American
Catawbas, etc., changed into spark-
ling wines of high and deserved popu-
larity. Prominent among the firms
making this class of genuine spark-
ling wines in the United States, are
Boyen & Sons, Work & Co., and
Botteler at Cincinnati (the Long-
worth Wine-House and its famous
"Golden "Wedding" have ceased to
exist); the <^ American Wine Com-
pan}"" at St. Louis, Landsbergor in
California, and two or three compa-
nies at Hammondsport, New York,
among which that of the Pleasant
Valley Wine Company is pronounced
by impartial judges and connois-
seurs as fully equal to the best im-
ported.

It would be a mistake, however, to
believe that the import of foreign
Champagnes has thereby decreased.
The consumption of this favorite
drink with the rich and luxurious
American people has so much in-
creased, that notwithstanding the an-
nual increase of our own production
its importation has also increased, as

will be seen from the following state-
ment:

IMPORTATION OF CHAMl'AGXE FROM FRAXCE TO THE
rOKT OF NEW YORK FROM 1861 TO 1869.

Years. Doz. bottles. Years. Doz.bot.

1861 37,720 1866 119,958

1862 80,808 1867 87,500

1863 103 487 1868 92,948

1864 101^565 18G9 126,000

1865 51,636

It may be hoped, however, that
with the constant improvement of
our home production in this line, our
native sparkling will gradually take
the place of the foreign Champagne,
and millions of treasure be kept at
home.

[We had the pleasure of tasting sam-
ples of sparkling wines "Carte Blanche"
and '• Paris Exposition," made by the
Pleasant Valley Wine Co., of which
Messrs. Isidor Bush k, Co. are sole
Agents for Missouri, and think that
they deserve fully the high praise given
them by connoisseurs of the article.
Our own preference is for still wines,
but to thosj who fancy the sparkling —
and they are very numerous we well
know — we think these native wines can
be more safely recommended, than nine-
tenths of the imported, and besides,
they are much cheaper. — Editor.]

SEEDLINGS OF JAMES H. EICKETTS.

RARITAN.

Delaware crossed with Concord.
Plant moderatelj' vigorous ; hardy,
short-jointed ; bunch medium, shoul-
dered; berry medium, round, black,
but not as dark as Concord ; leaves of
medium size, thick, lobed, veined or
corrugated; flesh juicy and vinous;
ripens about the time of Delaware,

and commences to shrivel as soon as
fully ripe.

SECRETARY.

Clinton and Muscat Hamburgh.
Vine vigorous, hardy; bunch large,
shouldered ; berry large, round, very
black ; flesh juicy, tender, meaty^
slightly vinous; foliage like Clinton,
but thicker, and about the same size.
A very pi'oraising table grape.

The Importance of Proper Soils for Certain Varieties of Grapes. 159

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER SOILS FOR CERTAIN VARIP:TIES

OF GRAPES.

Friend Husmann :

Some time ago you advised a friend
to read the Grape Cultuuist instead
of your boolc, wliich you considered
out of date, or rather say antiquated.
At that time the idea struck me as
something singular tliat a book of so
recent a date as yours should at so
early a day become to a certain extent
worthless, 3'et such is getting to be my
own experience, that doctrines, notions
or opinions that I held and advocated
a 3'ear or more ago, I now entirely
repudiate. Such is the fact with
American grape culture, and ever will
be, at least for many years to come.

For instance, we all held out the
idea that the Concord was the grape
for the million, and the most suitable
for general, or say universal cultivation ;
the latter 1 still admit, but not the
former position. As a wine grape, the
Ives will certainly supercede the Con-
cord, and if the Goethe, Lindley, and a
few others, are only one-half as good
as is claimed for them, they certainly
will supercede both the Concord and
the Ives, because it is a white wine
that we want to supply the present
demand. Allow me here to remark
that I have none of the above named
varieties to sell, but am engaged in
planting them for trial.

At our lust annual meeting I spoke
of the Herbemont as a valuable wine
grape, which certainly it is. Its excel-
lence as a fine and prolific wine grape is
certainly beyond all controversy^ but it
is a wide and open question, where shall
we plant it? Certainly not on level

land, not on clayey hillsides without
an admixture of lime in the soil, not
on overly rich land anywhere, and not
much north of the latitude of St.
Louis. My very promising half acre of
Herbemont vineyard seven to eight
years old has not only not brought me
a bunch of grapes last season, but has-
not a cane of good ripe bearing wood^^
and I am now engaged in planting the
same ground with Goethe. Now,
while my Herbemont vineyard is an
entire faiUue, many others are entirely
successfu', and none perhaps more so
than our friend Dr. Dewey, from
Keytesville, Mo.

It is evident that the most success-
ful part of grape culture is not alone
in the knowledge of how to prune and!
trim the vine, but also the selection of
suitable locations, formations and natu-
ral compositions of mother earth before
we commence setting out vineyards.

What I have said of the Herbemont
is equally applicable to Delaware and
Maxatawney ; and so nice is this dis-
tinction, that these varieties that are a
failure with me, are proving to be very
valuable with some of my neighbors
and friends in other parts of the
county. The difficulty is easily ex-
plained when properly investigated.
There is no lime in my clayey soil,
while those of my successful neighbors
own land which is strongly impreg-
nated with lime, and perhaps other
valuable ingredients, which so essen-
tially contribute to perfect certain
peculiar grapes, and which gives a cer-
tain fine and highly appreciated aroma

160

The Grape Culturist.

or bouquet to the wine. This thing is
well understood in Europe, and we
have to learn it practically here, too.
I hope to see this position fully venti-
lated through the columns of 3'our
valuable paper. Let men of learning
and expei'ience si)eak out on this im-
portant subject, so that every new
beginner can have the full benefit of
other men's failures and misfortunes.

It is my opinion that the time is not
very far off when most of oiu" valuable
wines will be named by the particular
hill or hills and other peculiarities con-
nected with it. For instance^ I have
made some wine this year from Nor-
ton's Mrginia grapes, Avhich were

grown on one of the sandstone liills in
Jackson Co., Ills. Said wine is so
unlike any other Norton's that not one
man in ten will believe it to be Nor-
ton at all. There is likewise as great
differences in Concord, arising from
the different composition of the soil
and other influences.

G. C. ElSEN MAYER.

[We need not saj- that we fully en-
dorse the above, as we have long ago
contended that no universal grape for
this country could be found. We hope
others will give us their observations
on varieties, and their adaptation to
soil and location.— Ed.]

D'HEUHEUSE PATENT AIR TREATMENT.

Friend Hlsmann :

T waited several months, hoping
some of your »vine contributors Avould
respond to your request for results of
experiments in wine making by this
new process. As none of the frater-
nity have reported, I propose to give
my experiment on new Sruppernong
ivine last November. To arrive at a
clear and concise understanding of
the results, I deem it necessary to
give the character of the Scupper-
nong must. It is deficient in both
sugar and acid, the former rates about
70* on the scale, the latter about four
mills. The fermentation is extremely
sluggish and has a natural tendonc}^
to effervesce for a ^ear or more, and
when kept from the air remains sweet,
and with me has never made a dry
wine.

On the 27th of October last I re-
ceived from Mr. D'Houreuse an appa-

ratus of the capacity for working 100
gallon casks, for which I paiJ 825.
On the 2Sth, elevated the casks into
the fermenting room and raised the
temperature to 80'^ F. The wine was
at the time one month old and very
sweet. The first application was vig-
orouslj' applied ten minutes, and re-
sulted in heavy foaming, followed by
regular vinous fermentation; air was
regularly and nioderateh' impelled
five minutes ever3' eight hours, the
room kept at a regular temperature
of 80^ F. At the close of the fifth
day the sugar was perfecth' attenu-
ated and a perfect dry wine obtained.
The wine was drawn from the lees in
three days afterwards into sweet casks,
and in five days more was drawn per-
fectly clear and fino, and bottleil for
exhibition at the State Fair, where it
obtained a diploma. I would state
that no fining materials were used.

TJte Ray it an and Its Wine.

161

and that the amount of lees was much
larger than I had ever before obtained
from the first working of any variety
of wine. Tnis experiment can not be
considered a full test of the merits
of this process.

I propose this season to apply the
air treatment to all kinds of grape
and fruit juices ; also to the manufac-
ture of syrups and fruit brandies, and
in due time will a-eport results to the
Grape Culturist. Hoping others in-
terested will give their experience
and by comparison arrive at definite
conclusions for the satisfaction of all
parties, I remain, etc.,

A. C. Cook.

CoxiNGTox, (iA., March 28tli, 1870.

[We are very glad to hear that air
treatment has resulted so favorably
with you, and shall try it ourselves
on a large scale next fall, as we do
]iot doubt its applicability, .'^nd believe
that it will help to obviate one of the
great drawbacks to American wine
making, which is the excess of gluten
in their must, which can alone be re-
moved by rapid and thorough fermen-
tation.— Editor.]

BowUN-G Green, Ky., May 5tli, 1870.

Editor Grape Culturist :

Dear Sir: The fore part of Sep-
tember, with Mr. D'Heureuse's kind
permission, 1 tried his '^ air treat-
ment" on 43 gallons and 10 gallons
sugared must, mostly Concord. I
borrowed a gas-fitter's pump, added
to the India rubber tube a pipe about
eight inches long made of perforated
tin. The must was pumped every
day for a week. Thermometer 75 to
80'' F., when it became clear. My
partner in the vineyard, a French-
man, says that he does not want any
better wine.

I therefore sa}' that Mr. D'Heureuse's
''air treatment " is a perfect success,
and he should have the thanks and
patronage of the whole grape world;
for ff good wine can be made Avith so
little care in bax-rel and keg, certainly
in larger quantities the Avine must be
much better. Yours trul}',

Jos, I. YOUNGLOVE.

[Thanks for your communication.
We want such facts from all, and
about every thing connected Avith
grape groAving and wine making. —
Editor. ]

THE RAEITAN AND ITS WIXE.

Mr. .lames II. Ilicketts, of New-
liurgh, X. Y., had the kin<lness to
send us a small vial each, of Avine made
from his seedlings, the IJaritan, pure
juice, and Delaware and Raritan, pure
uice, mixed in equal proportions. Al-
though the Avine Avas not yet ripe,
being somewhat sweet, yet it was of
brilliant straAv color, and the Raritan
especially- of A-ery fine flavor, Avhich
must be peculiar to the grape. It
promises, if healthy and hardy, to be
a A'aluable addition to our list of Avino

grapes, as the wine resembles first-
class Madeira, a class of AA-ines of Avhich
Ave have as yet few representatives,
the only ones at all approaching it, to
our knoAvledge, are the Hermann, and
perhaps the Rulander. He had also
the kindness to send us scions, and Ave
shall soon tr}- it on Missouri soil. The
description of these seedlings (p. 158)
is from the pen of Mr. Charles DoAvn-
ing, the distinguished pomologist,
kindly furnished at our request.

Editor.

162

The Grape Culturist.

IMPEOYEMENT OF WINES BY ELECTRICITY

This accidental discovery is a good
deal discussed now in Eiii'opean pa-
pers. Its advocates claim for it, that
new wine can be so suddenly ripened
by it, as to remain perfectly clear and
still, and equal to a wine a year old.
Thus new wine can bo made ready for
sale at once; the work of a whole
years attendance, and the unavoida-
ble waste attendant upon racking is
saved, etc.

It has been calculated that it would
save to Franco alone, the annual crop
of which is 60,000,000 to 70,000,000 of
hectolitres, of w^hich the loss by evap-

oration, etc., is estimated at about 10
francs per hectolitre, the enormous
loss of 600,000,000 to 700,000,000
francs annually. It is also contended
that the wine has a finer taste, and
keeps better than that treated in the
usual manner.

Its opponents contend, that the
wine treated thus, is much inferior in
qualitj", and that the process is diffi-
cult of application.

We do not know anything practi-
cally about the process, but would
like to have the subject discussed in
our pages. Editor.

THE CO:a^^ING MAN WILL DPJNK WINE ; OR, COMMON SENSE vs.

PROHIBITIYE LAWS.

Our country being without a doubt
a free countr}-, it should not be sur-
prising that in it the most absurd
ideaS; the wildest theories, find suf-
ficient encouragement to expand and
grow, until the good common sense
of the people allows them to die a
natural death. To this unlimited
freedom of action must be attributed
the plainly demonstrable fact that of
all countries on the face of this small
sublunar revolving base-ball, ours
stands pre-eminentl}' at the head of
those most earnestlj', perversely and
gloriously humbugged.

The fantastical idea of total absti-
nence, whilst one of the most absurd,
has also proven one of the longest
lived of our many queer notions to
improve mankind, and it is to this
day one of the most difficult to got
rid of It seems as if the o;reater the

humbug, the more stubborn the love
for it, yet I was little prepared to
hear that the grape men of Ohio had
caught the infection and succumbed
to the direful effects of this fitful epi-
demic. I have not seen, but have
heard of their wall — requiescat in pace!
— and of your strictures thereon,
with the generous offer of the col-
umns of the (iRAPE Culturist for a
quiet and decorous discussion of the
subject, and great were my rejoicings !
In the simplicity of my heart I took
it for granted that the many friends
of libert}" and freedom, the champions
of the natural rights of man, would
at once respond to your courteous
invitation, and 1 waited patiently for
the irrefutable effusions of some of
the ponderous minds whom a kind
Providence permits to linger in our
midst, for the common good, on both

The Coming Man Will Brink Wine, etc.

163

sides of the question. My fond hopes
have not been realized ; once more
nm I sadly disappointed. But if
great talents cannot be moved into
action, why should not an infinitesi-
mal take their place ? I have heard
that it is never too late to do or to
say an amusing thing, and your intel-
ligent readers may be satisfied with
one of my raphsodies. Moreover,
though we ma}^ diff"er widely on some
questions, when I find you peeping
through the same glasses that I use, I
•cannot resist the temptation of pat-
ting 3'ou gently upon the shoulder
with an " all right, my friend, go
iihead and fear no danger I"

It is now many years since the love
of truth, mingled with the disgust
raised by so many modern critics and
fanatical reformers, coupled with the
obstinate conservatism of old fogies,
inspired me with the idea of studying
all that deserved the most to be ob-
served in the general frame of the
world — a frame sorely disfigured, I
xissure you — noting especially among
the facts the results of laws passed to
guarantee, regulate, restrict, or even
■den3", the natural liberties of man-
kind, and, had I the talent, the result
■of my observations, together with my
personal conclusions, might form an
amusing if not an instructive book.
It would be no very diflicult task to
show that men, notwithstanding their
hypocrisies and contrary appearances,
have alwa^-s, in reality, agreed on one
point : To set the light under the
bushel.

Once in my life, long ago, quite
tired of seeing it there without any
serious attempt being made to upset
the bushel, a touch of vanity — for,

like man}' others, I am human — made
me believe that I could undertake the
feat ; like so many who went before,
and failed, I thought I could establish,
if not a new nation, at least a new
society, where men, with all freedom
possible, could be at the same time
the very pinks of perfection. Broth-
ers of Icaria, do you remember?

But to possess any hopes of success,
m}^ project and scheme would have
required to wear the mj'sterious cloak
of a secret society — a Free Masonry,
an Odd Fellowship, or the Good Tem-
plars, etc.; something, in two words,
on a Know Nothing plan. Such an
organization, to insure success against
the common enemy, would have im-
peratively demanded of its members
SILENCE the most absolute. This ne-
cessity' was the cause that made me
abandon the scheme. Silence, and
least of all, secresy, are things impos-
sible amongst men : one can meet, any
day he chooses to walk out, numbers
of Morgans and Ilichardsons who will
ask nothing better than to perjure
themselves.

The question of temperance could
not escape my notice, and has been
viewed by me from all sides. The
position you have taken upon it can-
not but meet with my earnest appro-
bation. It is true that nothing else
could be expected from a faithful vint-
ner, mindful of the worth}' reputation
of his ancestor, the good Noah. To
help a good cause, to mitigate, if pos-
sible, the baneful results likely to fol-
low the piinic war— I should have said
puny — which our modern lonadabs
appear eager to wage, until the end
of time, against one of the most neces-
sary natural liberties of mankind, I

164

The Grape Culiurisf,

will for once lay aside my usual re-
serve, and tiy, by a few bold dashes
with my steel pen, to dig a few holes
in the bushel. It may be that through
them will pass some of the light hid-
den by the young Maehiavols, who
are ever at work to bring our liberties
under the yoke of — sometimes well
meaning men, I admit, but too often
short sighted, crazy fanatics, for such
have been, and are to this day — those
classes of politico -religionists, who
have deemed it a merit to deny to
themselves, and enforce it by laws

upon others, eveiy pleasure of sonse,.
however innocent and delicate ; thus
it is that the worthy but mistaken
tee-totallers refuse to partake of the
juices of the apple, the grape, the
pear, the sugar cane^ etc. — and it
would be exceedingly remarkable, if
with their one-sided view, they could
perceive that their standpoint is po"
litically, morally and religiously false,
as I shall prove hereafter.

Dr. Ampelos.

Golden Hills Vineyaud, )
Nauvoo, Ills. i

From Zyniotechuic News.

CANE AND STARCH SUGAR, AND THEIR USES IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF WINE AND BEER.

Among the various kinds of sugar
furnished us by the vegetable kingdom,
there are two of chief importance, viz :

1. Common or Cane Sugar, occurring
in the juice of the sugar cane, in that
of several species of maple, in beets,
parsnips, &c.

2. Grape Sugar (^'Gbjcose") in the
juice of fruit, especially of grapes, in
hone}', &c.

It ma}' safely be assumed that both
kinds of sugar are formed from the
starch contained in the tissues ; cane
sugar being formed first ; and then grape
sugar, if acids be present. Acidulous
fruits contain only grape sugar, where-
as cane sugar occur in those which are
free from the stronger acids.

The chemist Kirchhoff was the first
to show (1811) that by treating starch
with dilute sulphuric acid, a sugar could
be artificially produced, which posses-
ses all the chemical properties of grape
sugar. Bracconet (1819) produced the
same substance by a similar treatment

of sawdust, rags, paper and analagous
organic matter ; and still later, Paj'en
and Persoz effected the same transfor-
mation by action of diastase upon
starch, (diastase, or rather the active
substance recentl}' isolated b}- Dubrun-
faut, and named Maltine, is an ingredi-
ent of all sprouted grain, and is espe-
cially abundant in barley after germina-
tion.

At a suitable temperature and in the
presence of water, the chemical agents
just mentioned transform starch suc-
cessively into dextrine, gum, and final-
ly into sugar. This sugar is called
starch sugar, dextrine sugar, and also,
improperly, grape sugar, for the reason
that, as above mentioned, its chemical
composition is the same as that of grape
sugar.

Starch sugar differs from cane sugar
in several respects. It is less easily
soluble in water, possesses a less sweet
and somewhat floury taste, and twice
and a half as much as starch sugar is

Reporters' Freaks — Cariosities and Gleanings of Grape Literature. 165

required to produce the same sweeten-
ing effects as cane sugar.

There is much less difference, how-
ever, in the amount of alcohol, result-
ing from the fermentation of these
sugars. In practice it is safe to assume
that five pounds of well-made starch
sugar produce, when fermented, the
same quantity of alco'iol as four pounds
of cane sugar. When, however, the

conversion of the stai-ch into sugar has
remained imperfect, the yield of alco-
hol is diminished in proportion to the
amount of nonfermentable admixtures.
Hence it is of the highest importance
to use the product of such manufactor-
ies onlj^, as can be relied on for a pure
article.

(21* /;(= coiitimuil.)

EEPORTERS' FEEAK8.

It is remarkable what strange
things reporters sometimes niakc peo-
ple say at public meetings. Thus, in
the transactions of the Mississippi
Vallej' Grape Growers' Association
they let us suy of the Telegraph that
wo "had found it profitable, as the
demand for xchite wine is increasing,"
and further, •' that it is of very supe-
rior quality, making the best of wine."
What A\'^ really said was, " If it were
desirable to increase the number of

red wine grapes when the demand for
white wine was so much greater, the
Telegraph should be added to that
number; that it ripened at the same
time with Hartford and Ives', and
was a much better grape in quality,
and that we thought it would make
(jood wine ; had tried a sample which
was very good, and thought the grape
very promising." Our readers will
see that there is a sliijld difference.

Ed.

CURIOSITIES AND GLEANINGS OF GRAPE LITERATURE.

ALTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY —
GRAPES.

The question of "What grapes shall
Ave plant" w^as again discussed.

Mr. A. Starr said: Of the newer
varieties I would recommend Ives
and Goethe ; the latter will keep well.

Pearson — Tho Eumelan is univer-
sally spoken well of; but, of coiirse,
there is very little actual experience
with the fruit.

Kingsbury — Only two grapes on
the list that can be planted with cer-

tainty of success, viz : Concord and
Ives. Goethe and Wilder are still on
trial, and will, I think, be found want-
ing in an essential point, viz : health-
fulness of foliage.

Hall^Thought Goethe stood the
test well last year, and would recom-
mend it; the unhealth}' foliage w^as
more in appearance than reality in
this variety-
Hyde — Recommend Ives and Con-
cord, and would try Goethe and Wil-
der.

Hilliard — I am in favor of the

166

llie Grape Vultuiist.

Goethe ; we want a late grape, not an
early one. I look for the time when
grapes will be kept all winter, as our
apples.

A. Starr — I consider the grape the
most sure and profitable of an}' fruit
[ raise; can make money raising Con-
cord at five cents per pound.

Kingsbury — I grow no fruit that
pays so well; after adding up all ex-
penses, freight, commission, etc., they
cost me four cents per pound in Chi-
cago. I can raise two tons of Con-
cords per acre. ^Co/man'.s Riir. World.

[Our friends at Alton have a ver}'
flourishing Horticultural Society, in-
deed, one of the liveliest in the couii-
tr}-; and it gives us a good deal of
pleasure to look over the sayings and
doings of the genial lovers of horti-
culture there assembled. But some-
times they get an idea, as the saying
is '^on the brain," and in their zealous
chase after it, run it, as the hacknej-ed
old phrase goes, ^"^into the ground."

Thus, we remember the time well,
several years since, when thej- had
quite a hot argument about the ques-
tion, occasioned by an assertion of
ours, ^^whethor the vino had secondar^^
buds," or in other words, ''whether
the eyes, on the vine were triple or
single," some strongly contesting,
"that there was no such thing as a
secondary bud." We hope they have
discovered them by this time, and that
oven the most unbelieving have been
convinced of their existence by the
frost of the 17th of April.

Another time thc}^ had ''birds ori
the brain," and a resolution was pass-
ed to exterminate the whole feathered
tribe, as they were convinced that
they did much more harm than good.

In consequence of this, we surmise
they now have "insects on the brain"
for when the birds went "by the
board," the insects clambered up on
the other side, and have increased
alarmingl}'.

Tlieir last idea seems to be entire
healthiulness of fruit and foliage in
the vine, and friend ivingsbur}^ goes
so far as to say that only two varie-
ties can be depended upon, the Ives
and Concords. Groethe and Wilder
will, he thinks, be found wanting in
an essential point, viz: "healthfulness
of foliage."

Now we know that among sOme
70 varieties which avc observed close-
ly last summer, there was none which
held its foliage better, and was more
healthy than the Goethe. We think
our friends mistake the speckled ap-
pearance of the leaf^ which is char-
acteristic of the vine, for signs of
mildew, and would advise them to
look twice before they run that idea
"into the ground." We hope it wull
not take them as long to determine
this as the bud question did, and that
the Goethe will be placed by them
where it belongs, among the healthy
varieties. It can no more help this
speckled appearance than our friends
can help that they are white, or their
fellow citizens "ob color" that they
ai'e black, and disease has nothing to
do with it.

We would also like to know from
them why the ^lartha, Maxatawny,
Telegraph, Norton's, Cynthiana, Her-
mann and Hartford cannot be depen-
ded upon, and hope they will enlighten
us upon the subject, as we have not,
so far, been able to discover any un-
healthijiess in them. — Ed.]

American Vintners' Song — Underd raining Vineyards.

167

AMERICAN VINTNERS' SONG.

I;V FUEUEHK K Jd'EN'tU.

[Translated from the (icrman by Mrs. Wistar ]

riant the vine! plant the vine! — | Gather in! gather in!

Ltt oiu- harvest now begin;
j Now, the purple Juice, dark, glowinj
I Full and free, in streams is flowing.
I Young and old, come, gather in.

Gen'rous font of ruby wine :
In the sunlight wildly playing,
Richly all your toil repaying.

AVill the smihng clusters shine.

Eve and dawn! eve and dawn

Still must find us working on —
Digging, pruning, cutting, binding.
Round their props the temlrils winding —

Sweet the mete of labor done.

Sun and air! sun and air!

Leafy green and odors fair:
Then the berries — luscious treasure —
Fill the inmost soul with pleasure —

Leaves and fruit, and blossoms fair.

Then, at last! then, at last,

Left below, our labors past,
Let us. o'er the mountains straying,
Where the Air's mild breath is playing,'

Down the vale our glances cast.

Hear it foam! hear it foam!
Surging in its narrow home.

Let it seethe and bubble rightly.

Till it sparkles clear and brightly.
Here, within its narrow home.

Now, come on! now, come on!

For our hardest task is done;
Now we pour the vines rich treasure-
Gods might envy us the pleasure —

Clink your glasses, every one.

Freedom's land! chosen land!
Where anew my home 1 planned ;

Lol I drink to thee, brave nation!

Comrades, join in this oblation —
Hail our chosen fatherland !

UXDERDRAINING VINEYARDS.

I do not doubt but thtit the tena-
cious cLay subsoil of my viuo3-ai-d, and
in consequence thereof, the Avet feet
of m}' vines are the cause of the many
failures, Avhich I have experienced,
and I am seriously thinking of tile-
draining my vineyard, but this is an
expensive experiment with but little
guarantee that it will effect a cure.

Do 3'ou know of any vineyard, that
has been materially benefitted by un-
derdraining with tiles ? Do not pres-
ent experiences tend to show that the
benefits derived from it are not in
proportion to the expenses 5* AVhat I
have read on this subject has been
very contradictory, and has failed to
inspire me with confidence ; of late,
it has not been agitated much, but
appears to sleep; if the Grape Cultur-
IST would revive it, and induce corres-

pondents to give their experience in
the matter, it would be interesting to
many of its readers. Yours very truly,
Theod. Engelmann.
[We have had no experience our-
selves with underdraining vineyards,
as our locations have been such as did
not materially need it. We know that
''wet feet" for vines are about as un-
health}' as for human beings, and have
no doubt that some locations would
be much benefitted by underdraining.
We would like to see that matter
thoroughl}" discussed in our columns,
giving probable cost per acre, advan-
tages to be gained, etc. Cannot some
of our readers, who have had practi-
cal experience, give more light on the
subject, than we at present seem to
have. It would certainly be of bene-
fit to many. — Editor.]

168

The Grape Uulturist.

EDITOE'S LETTER BOX.

El Dorado, March loth, 1870.

Geo. Hcsjiann, Esq., Editor of Grape
Culturist, St. Louis, Mo :

Bear Sir: — I enclose you one more
article lor in}- favorite ; shall trouble
you no more unless it be to give 3'ou
some account of my success or failure,
which I suppose you would like to know.

I read the Grape Culturist with
great interest and wish it success. But
think as hinted in the article, that it
should embrace our whole country, and
give all kinds of grapes a fair and
thorough trial and then condemn.

I enclosed 3'ou §2.00 for the Grape
Cui/ruRiST some three weeks back, and
stated I wanted two laborers, for which
I would give $200 per year eacli and
rations, wanted one of them to have a
family, and would furnish house and
garden, I prefer those haying some
knowledge of J^'arming, as they might
make support when not at work in the
vineyard. Should they wish to go into
partnership as proposed, all right, if
not, I pay them an}' how.

Very respectfully, J. H. Carletox.

[We will publish 3'our article as soon
as we can find room for it, but /nust
request you, for the sake of our readers,
to be less prosy, and more to the point.
You seem to think we have a personal
animosity against the Scuppernong,
when we have not, but from the testi-
mony we have been able to gather, we
have been forced to the conclusion, that
it is only the best now, because no better
has been sufficiently tried. We desire
improvement, North and South, every-
where in the countiy, and this end
cannot be gained by l)elieving that we
already have the best we can get. If
you or any one else, can send us a sam-
ple of Scuppernong wine, made without
the addition of spirits, stating at the
same time how it was made, we would

much like to taste it, and can assure
you, that we will give an unbiassed
opinion of its (jualit}'.

We have no men at command, sucli
as you desire, but perhaps if you, and
others irt the same predicament, would
advertise your "wants" in the Grape
Culturist, suitable men might see it,
and avail themselves of the opportunity
thus offered. We receive many such
applications, from all parts of the coun-
try, and man}' of the writers seem to
think it our duty to search tiie country
for grape growers to suit them. We
are always willing to oblige, as far as
we are able, but ours is such a busy life,
that we can neither find the time, nor
can we afford it, to attend to all their
wants gratis, postage, paper and time
included.

If you favor us with any more com-
munications, we would also request,
that you mind 30ur p's and (I's some-
what ; it is not very pleasant to be com-
pelled to make a dot over every i, and
to add a comma to every period, in a
communication of six or eight pages,
to make it legible or intelligible to our
readers. — Editor.]

[We have several inquiries from
correspondents about prices of wines;
and, as tbey all touch on the same
question, we will answer them to-
gether.

The price of wine is dependent upon
a good man}' points. Among those,
we will name, first of all, quality,
good color, brilliancy, perfectly mar-
ketable condition, the market in which
it is offered, the variety of grapes
from which it was made, and the
quantity sold. All these points have

Editors' Letter Bo.v.

169

more or less to do with the price ob-
tained.

If a vintner can dispose of his en-
tire crop fur cash, as soon as the wine
has become perfoctl}' clear, thereby
maliing room for his next crop, he
had better do so, even at very mod-
erate figures. lie will find it the
most paying way to dispose of it,
even at one-third less than he would
obtain for smaller quantities. A num-
ber of such sales have been made
around Hermann this season, whore
vintners sold their whole crop, and
the average prices for good Avines, as
near as we can obtain them, have been
about as follows : Concord, 85 to 95
cents; Catawba, about $1 to $1.10;
Norton's Virginia, §1.50 to $2 per
gallon. Wo have latol}^ seen it stated
that thousands of gallons oi' good Con-
cord wine were waiting for a buyer
in this State, at 65 cents per gallon,
but can hardly believe that the wine
is ver}' good ; the producer may think it
so, for every father loves his own child-
ren, and we have seldom seen a wine-
grower, who had not a high opinion of
his own wine, but the buyer ma}^ think
differently, as he is more apt to be im-
partial. We think that the general
duty of 50 cts. per gallon on imported
wines will have a tendency to enliven
the demand, and increase the price of
our native wines, and if all will try and
make their next crop as good as possi-
ble, the}' will have no trouble in dispos-
ing of it. We will try and do our
share in teaching them how to do this
in our next three numbers, and are
happy to inform them, that we find no
difficulty in disposing of our wines
made here, at remunerative figures. We
are selling our Concord at $1 to §1.10,

Norton's $2, Clinton at $1.50 per gal.,
in quantities of not less than one barrel.

White and light colored wines seem
to be in much greater demand, than
dark red, much of the Concord made
is now white or light colored, and al-
thougli to our taste it is not equal to
the best red Concord, yet it seems to
be in greater demand, and sells better
than the latter. Yet the Concord is not
a proper white wine grape and we must
try and cultivate more of varieties,
which in themselves possess no color-
ing matter. Such we have in the Mar-
tha, Coethe and Maxatawny, and as
they seem to be adapted to most loca-
tions, we would advise more extensive
planting of them.

To those who ma}' wish to dispose of
their wines, we would advise to follow
the annexed rules.

Always try to get the buyer to test
the wine in the cellar, from the casks,
instead of offering samples abroad.
The change of temperature, motion, etc.
makes even the best samples taste flat.

If this cannot be done, see that the
samples, when sent, have had a rest of
a day or two in a cool cellar, before
they are tried.

Never offer your wine for sale, unless
perfectly bright, clear and still. No
wine, however good intrinsically^ can
be properl}' tested, nor justice done to
it, as long as any lees are suspended
in it, or fermentation, however slight,
is still going on.

Do not carry or send your samples
in medicine vials, or brandy bottles,
but in handsome wine bottles, and well
corked with new corks of the best ma-
terial. Appearances sometimes have
a great influence, and but few are above
them in the daily trade of life. — Ed.]

170 Grape Guitarist Admrtising Sheet.

Clmlb 3^al$.j$*

By special agreement with tlie publishers, we are enabled to club the Grape
CuLTUKiST with the following journals, at the annexed rates:

Grape Culturist and Journal of Agriculture. . $3 00

" " American Entomologist and Botanist 3 00

" " Colman's Rural "World 3 00

" " Horticulturist 3 50

" " Zymotechnic News (English and German) 2 25

To those sending us the names and post office address of six subscribers, we
we will furnish the sixth co\)y free.

Vol. I. will still be furdished at the reduced rate of $1, complete. To those
who desire it bound, we will furnish it bound in muslin, with index and title page,
at $2.25, post paid; or they can be supplied with the cover at $1.00 each.

Cash Advertising Terms for 1870.

TWENTY CENTS PER LINE, AGATE TYPE, EACH INSERTION.

Cover Pages Twenty-Five Cents per Line.
BUSINESS CARDS, FIVE TO SIX LINES EACH, $15 PER ANNUM.

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUITS.

[Nursery Established in 1857.]

A splendid stock of Vines and Plants are ofiered the coming Fall and Spring,
including nearly every variety known to be of value. The popular and white Grape

MARTHA, OR {WHITE CONCORD,)

In large or small quantities. Also, Arnold's new Hybrids, Eumelan, Walter, Wee-
hawken, Christine, Hine, and all valuable numbers of Rogers' Hybrids; also,
Delaware, lona, Israella, Concord, Harlford, Ives, Norton's Virginia, etc., etc., in
all about one hundred distinct varieties.

Kittatinny Blackberries and Clarke Raspberries in large quantities, Jiicunda
and Charles Downing Strawberries, Downing's Seedling Gooseberries, Cherry,
Versailles, White Grape, and Black Naples Currants, etc., etc.
Send stamps for Illustrated Catalogue and Price Lists to
apr69-tf GEO. W. CAMPBELlj, Delaware, Ohio.

PATENTED AUG. Gth, 1SG7, AND AUG. 3d 1SG9.

For FERMENTATION and GERMINATION, and for PRESERVING, PURIFYING
and IMPROVING of Organic Substances.

Exceedingly usefulin Malting, Brewing, Distilling, Baking, Manufacture of Wine, Cider,
Fruit AVines, Fruit Brandies, Vinegar, etc. ; in Sugar Works, Oil Works, Manufacture of Ex-
tracts, Preserves; in Storehouses, Transportation of Grain. Produce, Fruit; Purification ol
Water, etc. , etc.

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P. 0. Box 6844. R. D'HEUREUSE, New York.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

For all Branches of Pernientic Arts— Manufacturing of
Wine, Beer, Spirits, Vinegar and Yeast.

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ufacturers, ought to subscribe for a copy of the ' ' ZYMOTECHNIC NE\\^S ' ' in order to rest assured that
nothing new in the technical appliances of their pursuit will escape their notice. If but once in a while
a single item of interest and value to themselves has been made available, the small expense of $1 a year
will have possibly Ijeen repaid a hundred-fold in a short time.

All letters anil remittances are to be dii'ected to the undersigned.

N. B. Correspondence conducted in English, French and German.

CHAS. H. FRINGS, Editor,

P. O. Box 2,742. 202 South Fourtli Street.

St Loris, Mo., December, ISGO. jan7«-tf

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRLIT,

"Warranted Genuine and of Superior Quality, in Large Quantities, at

Reduced Rates.

CONCORD per 10,000 $2.50.00 MARTHA, extra strong per 100 $ 75.00

" per .'>,00l) 1-2.'). 00 CY'MTHIANA, " per 100 lUO.OO

" per 1,000 S.'J.OO IVES, " per 1,000 50.00

HARTFORD PROL per 1,0:K) 4.1.00 " per 100 6.00

" " per 100 COO RULANDER, " per 100 30.00

For prices of all other Varietie.^', we refer to our PRICE LIST (gratis), and to our new ILLUS-
TRATED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE, containing valuable information on grapes and grape
culture, which will be muiled, free (jf postage, to any address, on receipt of 25 cent*.

A GERMAN EDITION of same, by Fr. Mueiich, pifce 25 cents (less than cost), has just been
published Please address"

janc9-tf ISIDOR BUSH & SON, Bushberg, Jefferson Co., Mo.

^ lE^j&k. JE^ ^ ^'0^^0> ^G^ 30^ l~

Immense Stock, especially of

Concord, Ives, Delaware, Hartford, lona, Catawba, Isabella,
Clinton, Rogers' Nos. 4, 15 and 19, etc.

Cat from Bearing Vines before hard freezing, and stored in frost-proof Cellars.

Very Low for Cash. Price List Gratis.

ALSO, LEADING VAEIETIES OF GEAPE EOOT IN STOEE.
Can ship South safely at any time.

feb69-tf M, H, LEWIS, Sandusky, Ohio,

Grape CuLturist Advertising Sheet.

niissoum ^^^Tines and Plants.

THE BLUFFTON WINE COMPANY

n^J"OW otters to the trade, and to the public <^eiierally, it.-; fiist crop of wines, ffrown at
JAf Blulfton, comprising, of red wines, ("oneord, Norton's Virginia. Ives, and Clinton;
of white win(\s. Concord, Catawba, Hartford. Delaware, and IIerl}emont.

Our wines are of excellent quaHty, and \ve are sure that they will give general satis-
faction to consumers. Our motto is," "Low prices, good fpiality. and quick sales;" and
Wholesale Dealers in wines will lind it in their interest to apply to us. Price lists sent on
application.

AVe also call the attention of Grape Growers to our large and complete stock of plants
of all the leading varieties. We shall make it our aim. in our f;ill trade, to supply our
customers with tlie best of plants, and at as low rates as any reliable firm.

Descriptive Catalogues sent, on appH<-ation to

vw M. WESSELHOFT, Secretary,

BLUFFTOTg", MO.

I^XJBLISHED ^N3D FOR S^LE

BY

CONRAD TV^TTTER,

ST. LOUIS, MO.

MuENCir, FiiKDEiMCK, Scliool fov American Grape Culture. Brief but thorough

guide to the laying out of vineyards, tlie treatment of vines and the production

of wine in North America.
MuENCii, F., Amerikanisclie Weinbauschule unci Weinbereituyigslehre, etc.

Either one of these books will be mailed free of postage on receipt of one dollar.
HusMANN, George, The Cultivation of the Native Grape and Jfanufacture of

American Wines.

On the receipt of $1 50 this book will be mailed to any address.
Schmidt, J. A., The Diseases of Wine, how to pi-event and liow to cure them,

according to the doctrines of M. Pasteur.

This book will be sent, free of postage, on receipt of $2.

C. WITTER keeps a large aisortment of books treating on the Culture of
Grapes and Manufacture of Wines.

Catalogues sent on application. Please address letters,

CONRAD WITTER,

jan69-tf 122 S. E. comer Walnut and Second Sis., St. Louis

Grape Vines, Striiwl)erry Plants, Raspberry, Blackberry & Gooseberry.

Also, a few Peach and Cherry Trees, the finest growths. Particular attention
will be paid to small orders of plants to be sent by mail. For sale by

SAMUJEl, ITIILIiER, Blufitoii, Mo.

GREENHOUSE AND BEDDING PLANTS.

Our now IllustniteU Catalogue, containing lists of Stove and Ticdding Plants and Flower Seeds,
H'lrdv Hevbaceous Plants, Dahlias, Gladiolus, Lilies, and other Bulbs, is now ready, and will be mailed
toalfannlicants. Postage in-enaid. Address MICHEL BROS. & KERN",

mar70-tf = i i -^qj ig-Qrth Fifth Street, St. Louis, Mo.

«

THE

GRAPE CULTURIST.

Vol. II.

JULY, 1870.

JSTo. 7.

THK IVES

172

The Grape Culturist.

THE IVES GRAPE.

Synonyms. — Ives' Seedling, Ives' Madeira, Kittredge.

This is not a 7iew grape, but as its
merits and demerits have been so often
discussed lately, we think it may be
interesting to our readers to have a
summary of them, and also an illustra-
tion and description. An accidental
seedling of Henr}^ Ives, near Cincin-
nati, Ohio, ver}- likely from seed of
Hartford Prolific, which it ver}- closely
resembles in foliage and fruit. Bunch
full, medium, compact, not generally
shouldered ; berry medium, oval, black,
Bweet and pulpy ; only moderately
juicy ; somewhat i'oxj, but not as much
so as Hartford ; colors about as early
as Hartford, but adlieres firml}'- to the
stem. Vine — a rampant grower ; very
productive after the third year ; but
little subject to disease of any kind ;
one of our most healthy and robust
varieties, and propagates freely from
cuttings in open ground.

As we have fruited the grape for
several years, and made wine from it,
anci as we still think that it has been
excessivel}' praised, although we have
a better opinion noio of its wine-making
qualities than we iiad after tasting onl}'
the samples made in Ohio, we will tr}'
to sum up its good qualities as well as
its faults impartially, and leave our
readers to judge which predominate.

Its merits are : Easy propagation ;
adaptability to almost any soil ; robust
and healthy growth of fruit and foliage ;
productiveness after its third year ;
fair keeping qualities of the fruit,
which may also be used as an early
market grape, as it colors as early as
Hartford. We mav add to this, that

it will, under proper treatment, make
a wine which, in color and body, holds
about the middle between Concord and
Norton, with a more agreeable bouquet
than either of these.

Its faults are : Its too rampant
growth, which makes it difficult' to
manage in the vineyard ; its inferior
quality as a table grape, (much inferior
to the Concord, although it may keep
better) ; its early starting in spring,
which subjects it to late spring frosts,
and the tough thick pulp and skin of
the berry. It is by no means a reaued
grape, but one of the roughest and
wildest of all of our natives. How
Mr. Ives could ever suppose it to be a
seedling of an European grape, we are
unable to comprehend, as' it has
" Labrusca" written on every fibre and
particle of leaf, wood, and fruit. Its
must contains even less sugar than the
Concord, an:l the stories told by our
Cincinnati friends — that it would make
a ver}' heavy wine without addition of
sugar — cannot " go down " with any
one who has had ihe handling of its
must for several years. But, take it
all and all, we think its good qualities
predominate, and that it may safel}- be
recommended for general culture in the
West as a reliable grape, making,
under proper treatment, a red wine of
good quality, which can be produced
cheaply. But we warn our readers
that they cannot make a wliite wine of
it by an}' manipulation, a rather serious
drawback, when the demand for white
wines seem so much more active than
for red, and we do not think that it

Work for the Month.

173

!an compete in quality with Creveling,
Delegraph, and Norton's, much less
vith that best of our native red wines,

the Cynthiaiia, and must, therefore,
only hold second rank as a cheap wine
for the masses.

JULY,

AVORK FOR THE MONTH.

If the vintner has been diligent in
)inching and summer pruning, but
ittle will be left tor him to do in that
•espect, except noAV and then to shorten
n an unruly branch which may hang
oo far into the row. Keep the young
sanes neatly tied to the trellis ; where
L bearing branch becomes too heavy
md threatens to break down, it should
ilso be tied lightly. The 3'oung canes
vill now have reached the top of the
rellis, even where pinched, and they
md their laterals should now be led
dong the upper wire, to form a leafy
janopy above the fruit, which should
DC, if properly trained, mostly on
;he second wire. In all cases tie
oosely ; it will not do to cramp the
'oliage.

Should the weather be dry, plow and
loe frequently, so as to keep the soil
oose and mellow. Never allow the
iveeds to get ahead of you, if you can
lielp it, but keep ahead of them, b}'
frequent hoeing and plowing. But
if the weather should be wet, do not
work the ground under any condi-
tion. It is the worst thing you can
do.

Look after your grape grafts ; many
of them may start onlj' now, and as

long as the scion is fresh and green
there is hope. Take away the suckers
from the roots, taking care not to dis-
turb the scion. Keep your cutting beds
clean and mellow ; this is their princi-
pal growing month, and they will need
good attention.

Look out for the grape vine Fidia
(described in May number, page 153).
An apparatus, somewhat in the shape
of Dr. Hull's Curculio Catcher, will be
found useful in destroying them. It
consists of a piece of canvas stretched
over a light wooden frame, in the shape
of an inverted umbrella. By holding
it under the vine early in the morning
and giving the trellis a slight jar^ they
will tumble down into it, and can then
be easily destroyed when they are yet
in a torpid state.

Summer layering may still be con-
tinued, if the weather is not too dr}^
See June number, about modus oper-
andi.

This will be an excellent time for
digging cellars where needed. As
this is an important subject, we
shall try and give our views about
the best and most economical ar-
rangements of them in a separate
article.

174

The Gra'pe Gulturist.

THE SCUPPEENONG AGAIN.

Editor Grape Culturist :

In your comment (Feb. number) on
my reply, you say "1 gather from
your article that you put 11 pounds
of sugar to the gallon of Scuppernong
must " &c. That is what I said.
"That W pound sugar to the gallon
of water raises it to 50'^ Oechsle's scale,
that the Normal average of Catawba
must is 80° and that if Scuppernong
must averages 80'^, my 1] pound sugar
made a must of 130'^." In this I think
you are very near correct, for it had
great body, and by most palates it was
pronounced sweet.

You very correctly 8a3' that 2
pounds of sugar to the gallon of must
makes a cordial. Last fall I added
various quantities from 2 pounds to
none. That with 2 pounds is liter-
ally a cordial. That Avith none fer-
mented well. Seems now of fair
body. '■^Scents " well, but is too sour
for mine and most other tastes.

Now I do not claim perfection for
the vScuppernong as a wine grape even
here. Nor do I expect nor even wish
to convince you, that it will pay so far
North. But if we have in it a grape
whose must averages 80'^ Oechsle's
scale, the normal average of the
Catawba — and a grape free from dis-
ease, a certain annual crop; one that
requires little labor and skill in cul-
tivation, (by reason of which one hand
can attend to as much as three with
you) and last though not least, an
aroma, the most refined and delicate —
we have cause to be proud of it.

The Byington plan of cultivating
the bunch grape is in part the plan on
which we have always cultivated the

Scuppernong. Thus 30 by 30, or 32
by 32 feet, and cultivating the spaces
in peas, potatoes or cotton until the
vines and scaffolding pretty well cover
the ground. I suggested in the Feb-
ruary number, without having seen
the Byington plan, that we might ob-
tain a large crop much earlier from
the ground, by planting 15 by 15 or
12 by 15 feet, and thinning out as
they spread.

We novices admit you to be a great
teacher in the art, and permit you to
even use the rod in proper cases ; but
we rebels and perhaps friend Engel-
mann, think you a little too dicta-
torial at times — too much of the^'^o
et Dominus !

I am not offended in the least, and
would not offend for any thing, but it
seems to me that yOur attack on the
Scuppernong grape is hardly fair or
candid. You do not pretend to have
ever seen or tested Scuppernong must
in your life. Nor to have tasted the
fruit but once, and that you say you
raised, which must have been at Her-
mann, too far North. Then I regret
that you were very unfortunate your-
self and the grape equally so, that you
got a bug in your mouth with them.
Your style of attack may mislead
grape Culturists of the North, who are
unfortunate in two respects, first in
never having tasted a jserfectly mat-
ured Scuppernong as grown in its na-
tive South; and second, after having
well tilled their mouths with luscious
Easpberries or Strawberries, discover
they have a bug involved also. But
to those who have tasted it in its per-
fection your attack will only produce

The Scvppernong Again.

175

smile at your unfortunate predica-
lent.

I did not pretend to be any thing-
it a mere experimenter in wine mak-
ig, or to have any scientific inforina-
ou about it. I acl^nowledge the j us-
ee of 3'our castigation. But if my
inishraent is merited, what should be
flicted on one who was scientitic,
id all the appliances &c., who after
mg 3-ears of experience should place

> much sugar in his Catawba, exhib-
ed at the Mississippi Yalley Grape
rower's Society, so late as 1.S67, that
was condemned as too sweet, and
1 the ''scientific " application of the
ale discovered 12(3'^ I Pray how
uch did that lack of 1^- pound to the
illon. It seems his second best con-
ined 15" of sugar, as it averaged
)'^. "A little too much of a good thing."
^ebruarj' number Yine Guitarist, 45
id 46.)

1 must dissent from your logic on
ste. You say "the taste for the so-
died sweet wines or cordials is a
itural iransition from the use of ar-
mt spirits." ''That there is more
'dent spirits drank in the North
lan the South." Had you said " the
ste for strong wines is a natural
ansition from the use of ardent
>irits/' I could see the relation. If
le use of ardent spirits engenders
le love for sweet wines, and there is
ore ardent spirits used North than
)uth, the conclusion is inevitable
lat the people of the North have a
'eater love for sweet then sour
ines. (?) When you say that a cul-
vated taste readily accustoms itself

> true wines, I say yes, and so maj- a
iltivated taste readily accustom itself

to the use of sour wines, lager beer,
sour krout or tobacco, but 1 deny that
the love of these is a natural taste.
Nature has made the milk of all the
Mammalia tribes sweet, and the young
of all these tribes love sweet, and
reject sour things, hence I infer that
moderately sweet, such as this milk,
is the only natural taste, and as I
stated in the outset, all others
are creatures of cultivation, and
as much sense in one as the
other.

I said the people of France lux-
uriated in Ghampagne, that is, drank
it as a luxury, not that the people of
France drank Ghampagne altogether.
The lower and poorer class in France
are compelled b}' their poverty, not
their love, to drink not only sour, but
the lowest grades of wine, Gallized,
and Chaptalized at that, as the lower
class in North Garolina (I came from
thei'e) drink persimmon beer, and fur-
ther South sweet potato beer. Gham-
pagne and the other higher grades of
wine are used only by the wealthy,
whether drank in Europe or America.
I flatter myself that I have vindicated
our pet in the eyes of myself at least,
and of my Southern friends, whether
in yours or not. I assure you, this
latter conviction is very much desired.
If you cannot yield in this, concede at
least, that there may be some good
sense among ever}" people, and that
Dame Nature may not be wholly un-
kind to an}' land.

Come South next September, and I
will gather you some Scuppernongs
without a bug, and give you of my
little store of wine, from two ])Ounds
of suo;ar to none.

176

The Grape Culturist.

With the best wishes for the success
of the Grape Culturist, Bluffton,
yourself, and the Scuppernong.
I remain yours,

John H. Carleton.
Eldorado, Ark., March 15, 1870.

[We would not have given room to
the above, which is of almost too
rambling a nature for our pages,
were it not that our friend considers
himself ill treated by us (castigated,
as he elegantly expresses himself)
and seems to think he has been very
severe upon us. We make it a rule
to publish every thing from our cor-
respondents, which is intended as an
attack or censure of our course, al-
though wo do not publish one tenth of
the letters expressing approbation of
it. We wish to give every one a fair
chance in our columns, and give them
leave to use us as unceremoniously as
they desire, whilst we intend to ex-
clude every thing personal against
any of our correspondents. This is our
apology to the majority of our readers
for the admission of the article. And
now a few comments on the article
itself.

Friend Carleton seems to take it for
granted, that the Hcuppernong must
will have a normal weight of SO''.
According to statement of A. C.
Cook, from G-eorgia, ^'it is deficient
both in sugar and acid, as it rates at
about lO'' of the first, 4 per mille of
the latter," just as Ave had supposed.
It seems also to bo sluggish in fer-
mentation. So much for friend Carle-
ton's <' Divine gift."

He thinks the aroma delicate. He
is of course at liberty to do so, and
we do not wish to dictate to him or
any bod}' else, but he must also not

try to dictate to us, and to the thou-
sands of others whose taste and de-
finition of the term may differ from
him. We claim to live in a free coun-
try, and to have a right to our opin-
ion also. We do not dictate to any
one; we have not attacked the Scup-
pernong as far as we know, only we
do not think it perfection, and still ad-
vise our Southern friends to tr}' and
find something better. If friend
Carleton thinks he has reached per-
fection, well and good ; we wish him
joy of his happy illusion. If it does
him good to pity Northern grape
growers, because they have never
tasted his model of perfection, why,
it is a cheap pleasure, which we, for
one, Avould not begrudge him-

We did not intend to " castigate "
him, nor do we knoAV what he means
by his remarks about the exhibition
of Mississippi Valley Grape Grow-
ers' Association, and the Catawba ex-
hibited there. We are not aware that
there w\as any Catawba exhibited
there, which contained free sugar.
But when he goes so far as to hint
that the saccharometer could be ap-
plied to wine already a j-ear old, and
fermented, and confounds Oechsle's
must scale with the imaginary scale of
taste of a wine committee, he shows
that he has not even mastered the
A B C of wine making, and does not
know what he is talking about. For
his edification Ave Avill inform him,
however, Avhat both of these scales
mean, and how they are used. The
saccharometer or must scale is used
to determine the specific graA-ity of
must, and can onlj^ be used correctly
before fermentation of any kind sets
in. The amount of alcohol in fermen-

California Wines.

177

ted wine is determined by the so-
called wine scale, which generall}-
ranges from one to twelve, and can
only be used accurately when all the
sug"ar contained in the must or wine
has been changed into alcohol by fer-
mentation. But it has become .cus-
tomary among wine committees to
judge wine b}" an imaginar}' scale of
one hundred, one hundred being the
best of that variety, oy perfection, and
all which they rate below 50° is ranged
out. This imaginary scale, friend Carle-
ton seems to have confounded with
Oechsle's must scale.

As to the matter of taste, it is an
old adage " De gustibus nou est dis-
putandura," which translated into
plain English means " It is useless to
dispute about taste." Therefore he is
certainly at liberty to prefer sweet,
sti"ong wines, but will he please also
allow us to prefer w^hat we like best ?
We do not envy his taste, and expect

the same charity toward ours. We
have been taught early, that among
every people, whoever fears God, and
does right, is pleasant in His sight.
We think that good sense is about
evenly distributed among the nations
of the Earth, and the only time we
thought it had to a certain extent left
the people of the South, was during
the last civil war. But all that lies
behind us, thank God ; we are fast
friends again Avith the majority' of our
former enemies^ and hope to remain
so. Especially our Southern brethren
have warmly welcomed the Grape Cul-
turist, and we hope to pay them back
in the coin of friendly feeling and
advice, as far as Ave are able.

Thanks for 3-our invitation, friend
Carleton. If we can not avail our-
selves of it at present, we may inflict
a visit upon you some time, and you
may be sure, that we shall try and do
your wines full justice. Editor.]

CALIFOEXIA WIXES.

The San Erancisco Conunercial Her-
ald has the following :

The local trade in our j^ative Wines
has partaken of the general dullness
that has attended all other branches
of business during the last twelve
months. It has, howevei-, been a
growing interest, the improved quality
of many vintner's product?, through
the use of foreign varieties of grapes,
having been most marked, and done
much to overcome the unjust prejudice
which has heretofore obtained among
our own people. The export trade for
the last three months has been unusu-
ally important, greater quantities of

Wines having been shipped by sea
than in the same period before, as has
also been the case by rail overland.
As a rule, shipments have been made
on a legitimate basis of orders, which
have been caused by the increased fa-
vor which sound California Wines
have attained in the Atlantic States.
This increased favor, we feel satisfied,
will be continued when the late ship-
ments are received in the New York
and other markets, the quality of the
Whines shipped being, on the aver-
age, better than any before known.
Among the prominent shippers from
this port we note the following: Lake

178

The Grape Culturist.

Vineyard Wine Company, which has
shipped by sea, via Cape Horn, 11,703
gallons Port ; 615 do. Angelica ; 6,146
do. White Wine; 13,831, do. Claret;
2,869 do. Sherry, and 1,266 do. Brandy;
all which goes to their house [Messrs.
Morrow, Chamberlin & Co], in New
York. The Lake Vineyard WineCom-
pany also report large orders now
on hand, which Avill be shipped
as Boon as circumstances will admit.
Messrs. Keller & Co. have shipped
by sea about 3,000 gallons Sherry,
and also by overland quite a num-
ber of small orders of considerable
aggregate importance. Landsberger
& Co. have shipped via rail, steamer
and sail vessels to the Atlantic States,
during the last months, 388 cases
assorted Wines — 180 gallons Cham-
pagne— 3 barrels Brand}' — 55 pipes
White and Eed Wine, and 46 bar-
rels Wines, assorted. G. Groezinger
has shipped, by steamer and sailing
vessels, since January first, about
15,000 gallons assorted Wines, and
10,000 do. by rail, overland. The
United Anaheim Wine Grower's Asso-

ciation have in the same time, shipped
about 19,000 gallons Wine, mostly
Eed and White ; while Elberhard &
Lachman have shipped considerable
quantities, the aggregate of which is
not known. Considerable quantities
of Wine have been shipped overland
by Wine-growers of the foot-hills of
the interior, via Sacramento and other
points, without coming to this city.
The ship James R. Keeler, now loading
for New York, is reported to have
about 600 tuns Wine already on board,
and additional lots still to be shipped.
We aggregate the total shipments for
the first quarter of the present year
via sea and rail, at not less than 300,000
gallons, and, from present indications,
the shipment for the quarter ending
Jul}' 1st promise to exceed that a-
mount. So far the vintage of 1869
remains in the hands of growers, the
qualit}', on the whole promising to be
superior to preceding vintages. The
bulk of the Wine shipped has been of
the vintage of 1868, although large
quantites of the 1867 Wines have also
been forwarded.

COMMON SENSE vs. PROHIBITORY LAWS ; OR, THE COMING MAN
WILL DRINK WINE.— 11.

The submission of a free people to
the executive authority of their local
or State government, is no more, I take
it, than a compliance with laws which
they themselves have enacted ; and,
while justice is impartially adminis-
tered, the submission of the people
should be voluntary, cheerful, and I
might almost say unlimited. If a law
is obnoxious, or invades their natural
rights, the remedy rests in their own

hands ; the ballot box is the potent
friend that should redress all wrongs.
But as an election is often carried by
surprise, and the ignorance of the
masses on a particular point — as laws
are now and then enacted through the
same causes — it is necessar}' that im-
portant questions should be kept con-
stantly before the public and thoroughly
examined, in order that more light may
follow.

The Coming Man Will Brink Wine, etc.

179

A fine and useful talent is that of
being able to discover and unravel the
truth which most men attempt to con-
ceal. This being uo doubt your own
sentiment, let us try to instruct our-
selves ; and while doing so-, let us
endeavor not to scandalize the weak
minded and the ignorant, a most diffi-
cult task, even in a free countr}', when
one wishes to speak the truth.

The worth of a government and of
its institutions exist in the protection
given, in restricting or maintaining
within due bounds, in encouraging
and fostering all jjossible industries,
trades and professions capable of
adding to the revenues of the coun-
try, or to the wealth and comfort of
the inhabitants — nor can a goveni-
menf be good if the laws that it enacts
are not in keeping with the rational
liberties of mankind, and of an
enlightened reason. That reason
teaches us that certain excesses and
evils, when not clashing with a gen-
eral public opinion, or in dii'eet oppo-
sition with public interests, or peace,
should be to a certain extent winked
at, especiall}' when well aware of the
great truth — that public opinion
changes in due proportion to the
light spread.

Temperance, as understood now-a-
days is, as wo all know, a most adniir-
able invention, and quite christian in
its results, as it gives at times posi-
tion and standing to a certain politico-
religious party, wdiile it can and does
greatly add to the number of hypo-
crites in the nation. Some day when
I have more leisure I shall advocate a
marble statue to its inventor; the
"might have been " and the redeemed
drunkards should be earnestly thank-

ful, and I trust will then subscribe
liberally.

The first time that this question of
Temperance M'as forcibly brought to
my notice, was over twenty years
ago while going from Germantown to
Philadelphia. Having missed the cars
I had concluded to foot mj- way back^
but the power of a July sun, coupled
with the dust of the road, soon made
me feel thirsty. I stopped at a way-
side Inn, and called for a glass of
wine : "Had no wine by the glass !" —
I asked for a little brandy and water :
could not give me any, it being
against the law to sell a less quantity
than a gallon ! — Freshly- landed in this
free country' I was somewhat taken
by surprise; it was something new" to
me, amongst my travels, to be refused
enough to quench my thirst, and be
offered suflScient to kill a dozen times !
My dull mind was set a working, and
kept long in contemplation before the
thought ; how extraordinary, myste-
rious.and queer was a free country.

Shortly afterwards having gone up,
or down East, I forget which, 1 was
conducted b}' a friend to one of these
halls where is supposed to assemble
all the wisdom and intellect of a
nation — a great mistake, I assure j^ou
— and whilst there I witnessed a rich
scene. The house, as I was after-
wards informed, was in a fit of ill-
humour, the honorable members being
under the efl:ects of a laborious diges-
tion, caused by eating too freel}* of
cod-fish balls for breakfast. One of
the honorables, a shij^ping merchant,
whose name I forget — largely engaged
in the coffee and tea trade — rose from
his seat to address the house. He
was wealthy and skillful, and known

180

The Grape Gulturist.

for the excellency of his entertain-
ments, where choice wines flowed
freely — whenever a certain vote was
to be carried — every body shouted,
hear I hear ! all listened.

In a short but eloquent speech, he
soon proved that drinking was the
cause of all the evil, vices, murders,
which could be witnessed — since the
fall of Eve through the apple juice —
everywhere in our otherwise quiet
and happy country, in this land of
freedom ! any day one chose to take
up and read a paper; that all the
adulteries committed ; all the divorces,
which followed ; that all the strikes,
the quarrels, the robberies, the spolia-
tions, the murders which constantly
took place — all, all — drinking was the
cause ; that there remained nothing
but to close all drinking establish-
ments— those of tea and coffee excep-
ted— all the distilleries ; to check all
importations of wines and brandies ;
and to forbid under the most severe
penalties the sale of alcoholic bever-
ages ; that this done, the world would
at once make a halt, and, instead of
continuing its Avay straight to perdi-
tion, would retrograde towards the
golden age ; a result likeh' to be
reached provided we took backwards
as many steps as we had taken forward.
The world is full of echoes, and par-
ticularh" legislative halls; well, on
that day there was an echo, and a
deep and sonorous one it w'as too.
It said : at last the time has come
when we should curtail that natural
liberty which the whole world admits,
even the greatest despots, I confess —
it is time that we should prohibit the
sale of the vile beverage under whose
influence laid the sood Noah when

the posterity of Ham was cursed ; a
beverage which offered the friends of
Can a too much merriment at the
wedding ; in short it is high time that
we should put a stop to a trade which
all other nations appear anxious to
increase ; let us follow the commands
of .Jouadab to the Eechabites, and the
blessing of the Almighty will be
transferred upon us, we are the
chosen ones !

The House to a few exceptions
made itself the echo of the Echo, for
it is the unfortunate part of majori-
ties, even in our well ascertained free
country, to be nothing but echoes,
and I believed for a m-oment that they
would sing that good old song of
David : ^''Behold ! how good and how
pleasant it is for brethren to <n\'ell
together in unity."

It followed that the majority became
of the opinion that all the robberies,
spoliations, strikes, adulteries, divor-
ces, murders &c. ; which were of daily
occurrence, could easily be traced to
liquor and to the noxious influence of
bad spirits, and as the}' had no real
spirit of their own, they passed a law
for the utter prohibition of alcoholic
drinks under whatever shape possible
except — mark the proviso, for medical
purposes I —

The final result v,^as, that the sale
of liquors, wines &c., was transferred
from one class of citizens to tinother;
that a people hei'etofore healthy,
became quite sickly, and that wines,
brandies &c. were used as much if not
more than before, only under the plea
of "medical purposes," Mark the
moral. Dr. Ampelos.

Golden Hills A'ixeyard, ]
Nauvoo, Ills. J

Training of the Herhemont.

181

TRAINING OF THE HERBEMONT.

Mr. George Hlsmann :

As I see in the May number no
remarks about the frost of the IGth
and 17th of April, I will report to you
that Concord has suffered badly, Nor-
ton's but little, and other varieties a
good deal, but the doi'mant buds,
which pushed out branches, show a
good deal of fruit, especially on Con-
cord, and we may count on a two-third
crop yet, if nothing else should happen.

Herbemont has suffered severely by
the early frost in fall, and most of the
buds which had escaped were killed by
the frost of the 17th of April. The
cause why the Herbemont wood is so
easily injured b}' frost, is, I think, to
be sought in its late growth in fall,
being ^-et green when early frost sets
in, as has been the case for the last
two years.

Can 3'ou not advise us of a method
by which its wood va^y be ripened
sooner, as, for instance, by summer
pinching and pruning, or \>y not culti-
vating late in summer. By any advice
you could give upon this subject, 3'ou
would much oblige the man}^ friends
of this excellent grape.

Yours, truly,

Henky Nahm.

Augusta, Mo.,M:iy '20, lt<70.

Geo. Husjiann, Editor Grape Cult.:

In your article about the " Effects of
the Cold Snap," (June number, page
1-12^) you report on nearly all varieties,
but omit to report about the Herhemont.
It is one of the varieties which were
not advanced enough that the frost (of
last Easter eve) could do ax\y harm,
and still we doubt that j^ou could name

it among those " not injured at all."
With us, at least, the Herbemont
shows but very little fruit this season.
Our vines of this variet}' were covered
last fall, uncovered this spring in proper
season, and we ascribe the failure to
the very wet winter, when the wet,
cold covering injured the buds, so much
so, that we intend in future to try with
a portion of our Herbemont vines
whether merely laying down to the
ground is not a sufficient protection
against freezing, while we would avoid
the danger of their fruit being killed by
the cold dampness of the ground in a
wet winter.

Should you disagree with us on this
s ubject, you will at least approve that
we try to study in the school of disas-
ter and to add our lessons to those of
other studying and suffering grape
growers. Yours,

IsiDOR Bush & Son.

BusHBERG, Mo., Jiiiie, 1S70.

[As both of the above letters refer
to the same subject we publish them
together, and thank our friends for call-
ing our attention to this subject, while
we plead guilty to a serious oversight
in not uiving the needed advice before
it was asked.

We 'think Mr. Nahm on the right
track, and believe that we can assure
our friends Bush, that they need not
fear an}- damage from covering with
earth, if the wood is ripe lohen thus
covered. They must look for the evil
further back than they have done,
namely, to the late growth of the
Herbemont, Cunningham and similar
varieties. If we can fully and per-

182

The Grape Culturist.

fectlj' ripen their wood by any method
of training or cultivation, we believe
that they may as safely l)e left without
covering as most of the varieties w^e
cultivate.

We think we can reach the desired
object by several means combined,
which we will name to our readers, and
hope that many of our readers will
profit from them, and the cultivation of
these excellent varieties will thus
become more general than it is at
present.

1. Choose for your Herbemont the
poorest and dryest location you Lave,
if possible a southern exposure, with
limestone soil. Many years ago Mr.'
M. Poeschel prepared, with a great
deal of expense and labor, a stony
southern hill-side, so steep that he
terraced it with the stones taken out of
the ground. This was at first planted
with Catawba, but they invariabl}^
burned and turned yellow during the
summer. The Catawbas were then
dug up and Herbemont and Norton's
planted in their place, which flourished
exceedingly well, produced splendidly,
and the Herbemonts on that spot always
ripened their wood. The^^ were seldom,
if ever, covered, and produced splen-
did crops nearly every year of as
fine Herbemont bunches as we ever
saw.

2. Pinch the ends of the young canes
as soon as they have grown, or three
four feet, as advised in article on sum-
mer pruning. No. 2. This will divide
the growth of each cane into from three
to four laterals, which will generall}'
ripen their wood much more perfectly
than the main cane would had it been
left unchecked. After these have

grown about three feet, thej' rasij again
be pinched or stopped, and if you
follow this course vigorously, we think
you will have well ripened wood for
fruiting. It is the same principle which
leads us to pinch dwarf pears, viz :
stopping the young growth to
ripen the wood, and promote fruit-
fulness.

3. Give your vines enough to do,
that is, " Prune long and fruit heavil}'."
A well-developed Herbemont vine,
which has at least ten feet of room on
the trellis, is able to bear and ripen
perfectly from 20 to 25 lbs. of grapes.
They have often done it for us, and will
then ripen their wood much better, than
when the principal energ}' of the vine is
expended in producing wood.

4. Cultivate your vineyard well early
in the season ; keep it clean and mellow,
but after middle of July cultivate but
little, especially in wet seasons like the
last. Should weeds appear, scrape but
shallow with the hoe until late in tlie
fall, when the leaves have fallen, when
you can give it a good, deep plowing.
Before 3'ou plow, however, prune your
vines and lay them down along the
trellis, throwing the ground on them
with spade and plow, leaving a furrow
in the middle of the row. This will
leave the covered vines on a ridge, and
there is no danger of injury by
wet.

We can assure our friend Bash that
the method he proposes would be worse
than having the vines hanging loose,
for the}' are much more easily injured
b}' wet and cold when fastened on the
ground than when under it or left to
hang loosely on the trellis. We have
tried it to our cost, and " know of what
we affirm." — Editor.]

Wine Cellars.

183

WINE CELLAES.

Many of our readers, in expecta-
tion of a good grape crop, (and we
hope they are the majority) will have
to buiki these very necessary appen-
dages to their vineyards, and a few
hints on their construction ma}' come
in season. "We have become con-
vinced, in a practice of some dura-
tion, that a great deal of unnecessary,
nay even injurious expense has been
incurred in their construction. As
early as 1857, while in conversation
with Mx\ Fournier, then manager
of cellars of the Longworth Wine
House, he told us in his brusque man-
ner and his broken English, "Much
better if people will ferment their
must in open shed than in a d — d
cold cellar/' We have often thought
of this remark, and have, more and
more, been convinced of its truth.
Talking about an arched, cool cellar
to keep your wine, is all well enough,
but practice has taught us, as well as
dear bought experience, that must
should be fermented quickly and thor-
oughly, freed from its lees as speedily
as possible, and if this has been done,
you need not fear even a considera-
ble fluctuation of temperature. If
3'our wine is wine — that is, if all the
sugar has been changed into alcohol,
and it has become perfectly bright
and clear, without lees being yet sus-
pended in it, you need not fear for
its keeping, even if the thermometer
should run up to 70°, or even 75° in
ummer.

Having become convinced of this,
and having built a very expensive
cellar once, which proved much too
cool for fermentation, we set to work

to construct a cheap storehouse for
the first crop of the Bluifton Wine
Company here, (about 13,000 gallons)
on the following plan :

At the foot of the hill into which
we intend to make an arched cellar
by and by, we put up a building of
rough lumber 65 feet long bj' 24 wide,
and 10 feet high. The frame was
made of scantling 4 by 6, rough
boards nailed upright on the outside,
and crossways on the inside, thus
making a hollow wall, with a space
of four inches between the outside
and inside boards. This was filled
with sawdust, which was put in grad-
ually when the inner boards were
nailed on, and firmly stamped and
pressed down, somewhat on the plan
of an icehouse. Over this was laid
a floor, also of rough lumber, and a
good roof completed the building,
which also has five windows, each of
four panes 10 by 12, with shutters,
to be closed in cold weather, and a
strong double door, six feet wide.
The floor we covered with hay above.
In this building we have fermented
our wine, and kept it so far (16th
Juue) without the temperature ris-
ing above 70°, and the wine is now
in prime condition, bright and mar
ketable. We have room in it for
about 25,000 gallons, and the whole
cost was 81,250 A cellar of the same
dimensions, arched with stone, would
have cost between 6 to $8,000, and
we doubt if our wine would be in as
good condition now, had we fermented
and stored it in such a one. Of course,
we had to have a stove in it during
winter, and had to keep the fire up

184

The Grape Culturist.

all day sometimes, Avheii the weather
was veiy cold, but with this addi-
tional help, we had no trouble in
keeping it warm enough. We intend
to put up another building similar to
it, on the north side of it, at a cost
of about ^1350, and these two will
hold all of our crop, which we hope
will be about 40,000 gallons this sea-
son. We intend to add a few im-
provements, however. Instead of
four inches space between the walls,
we intend to make it six inches, thus
making the walls two inches thicker,
and instead of a simple floor above,
we intend to seal it with tight plank
below the joists, fill the space also
with sawdust, and lay a floor above
this. Then we are satisfied that we
have a storehouse warm enough in
winter and cool enough in summer, in
which our must will ferment speedily
and perfectly, and make good wine in
the shortest possible time. Both build-
ings are entirely above ground, and
are much more health}' to work in, as

they are always dry and the air pure,
than underground cellars, with the
additional advantage of being light
enough to work convenientl}', except
in ver}' cold weather, when the shut-
ters must all be kept closed.

There, kind readers, you have our
plan. If you doubt its feasibility or
applicability, come and see for your-
self, and taste the wines stored in it,
and after that, we think you will feel
inclined to "go and do likewise." If
this article should save you time and
money, and you feel that we have
given you good advice for which you
are grateful, hand the Grape Cul-
turist to some of your neighbors
who plant grapes but do not read it,
and urge them to subscribe ; but above
all, give us also your ideas and -expe-
rience, so that we may all learn from
each other. We do not doubt but that
many of you may suggest improve-
ments yet, and we all ought to
learn and improve as long as we
live.

THE PEOSPECTS FOE THE COMING CEOP.

It seems like if our faith in the
reliabilit}^ of the grape crop everj-
year should be severely tried this sea-
son. First came the frost, Avhich
damaged some vineyards considerabl}',
and now we hear of destructive hail-
storms which have visited some of
our grape growing districts. In St.
Chai'les and vicinity we hear that the
whole crop has been destroj'ed by a
terrific hailstorm. Parts of Gasco-
nade count}-, especially the southern
part, were also severely damaged, and
even some of our vineyards here were

damaged by hail a week ago, to the
extent of about one fifth of their
crop, while the greater part escaped
entirely unhurt, and show a splendid
crop of fruit. Our experimental vine-
yard, where about seventy varieties
are in full bearing this season, presents
a splendid sight. The size and num-
ber of bunches is truly enormous, and
we have not seen any mildew as yet,
nor any other disease, on any of the
varieties owing as we think, to the
dry season we have had so far. We
see hardly any noxious insects here;

Shovel Wine.

185

but hear that the grape vine Fidia
(figured in Ma}- number, 1869) is
completely destroj'ing the foliage, and
even the fruit, of some vineyards in
the neighbourhood of Hei'mann. AYe
have seen some berries punctured by
the Grape Curculio, but i.ot to any
alarming extent.

We have great faith in the recu-
perative qualities of the vine, and
therefore hope that even those vine-

yards, which have been so severely'
visited by hail, will partially recover,
and yield to their owners, if not a
full crop, at least a partial one,
to compensate them for their
labor.

Will not our readers favor us with
their reports ? From what we have
been able to learn so far, we think the
crop, on an average, will yet be a fair
one. — Editor.

SHOVEL WmE.

''Under this name, a wine has lately
been introduced from Lothringin,
which has been much lauded in
European Journals, and which took
several first premiums at Paris. The
method to produce this reallj' exquis-
ite beverage is very simple. The
grapes, after they are madhed are
thrown into a shallow vat, and are
then incessantly worked -with iron
shovels for 24 hours, from which pro-
cess it derives its name. Fermenta-
tion, which has so far been suspended
or disturbed^ then sets in with great
violence and rapidity, and as soon as
the husks have settled, the juice can
be put into casks, when it is treated
as usual. The pure product of this
process is not only one third bottoi',
but also has the exquisite boquet and
development of wine several yeai-s old,
so that the vintner can at once sell it,
and realize his capital from it, instead
of v.-aiting several j-ears. The only
draw back to the so produced wines
is that small quantities lose their fine
boquet if kept in a warm room, which
they regain, however, if placed in a

cool cellar. This could perhaps be
obviated by the discovery of Pasteur,
who heats the wine, by which process
it will not even sour, when exposed to
air. The shovelling could be done by
machinery, to save unnecessary
labor. Will our grape growers
try it '/"

[One of our subscribers sends us the
above, clipped from the New York
Belletristic Journal, and wishes to
have our opinion of it. We think it is
" air treatment" in another shape, and
eventually tends to the same purpose,
and similar results, as Mr. D'Heureu-
se's process, namel}- to bring every
part and particle of the must and
grapes into contact with air, thus
inducing rapid and thorough fermenta-
tion, and thereby hastening the ma-
turity of the wine. As the D'Heu-
reuse process is much more simple and
convenient, we prefer it, especially as
the contact with iron shovels is
avoided, which can not be to the
advantage of the wine, and it is much
less laborious. — Editor.]

186

The Grape Culturut.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY GRAPE GROWEES' ASSOCIATIOxN— THIRD

A:NiNUAL MEETING.

( Concluded.)

TYING MATERIAL.

Mr. Colnian — What is the best and
most economical material for tying
vines ?

Mr. Ilusmann — The only fit mate-
rial for spring tying is the willow ;
golden is best, but there are native
varieties that will do.

Dr. Spalding — In the absence of
willow, uses the gunny cloth ; is chea-
per than to hunt for willow, and will
last through the season, but when this
is used in spring a little more care is
required in summer tjnng.

Dr. Clagett — For trellis, strings will
do, but for stakes, would use Papaw
or Linn bark.

Mr. Edwards — Had used different
materials, and found the willow alone
suitable for tj'ing to stakes.

Mr. Squires — Had seen a new plant
recommended b}' Professor Shepherd,
which he thought would meet this
want of grape growers.

Adjourned till 2 p. M.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Mr. Riley, State Entomologist, read
a paper on the grape vine borer, and
most of the subsequent part of the
session was devoted to the discussion
of the subject.

The question of making the fall
meeting the annual and only meeting,
was discussed.

Mr. Engleman spoke of the diffi-
culty of exhibiting wine in good con-

dition at that time, owing to the warm
weather.

Dr. Sj)alding — An ice-chest will
obviate that.

After a vote of thanks, for the use
of the hall so kindly tendered by the
St. Louis Fair Association, and of the
substantial to the Janitor, an adjourn-
ment was taken to the 2d Wednes-
da}^ in September next, in this city,
at which time it was agreed to hold
an exhibition of both fruit and wines.

STATISTICAL RETURNS.

Kansas. — From Kansas we have
reports from six vine growers only.
Planted in 1869, 2 3-4 acres, and 400
vines — 8x8, 6x8 and 8x12. Two years
old, 15 1-4 acres ; over two 3'ears, 18 3-4
acres. Grapes sold, 1300 pounds, at
12 cents and upwards per pound; 560
gallons of wine made. LeaveuAvorth,
9-10 of crop lost by grasshoppers. At
Topeka, some loss by hail. At Man-
hattan, 1-10 b}" birds. No rot com-
plained of. A large number of vari-
eties are under cultivation for trial.
Oldest vines, 12 years. Succeed well.

Illinois. — Reports received from
eighteen grape growers, show that
there were planted by them in 1869,
21,222 vines, at distances varying
from 5x5 to 8x10. The largest num-
ber planted, 6xQ ; next, 8x8; next,
6x8. Vines two years old, 12 acres;
also 8,575 vines. Some reporting by
acres and others b}^ number of vines.
Vines over two years old, 37 acres;
also, 32,620 vines. Grapes sold, 26,500

Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Valley Grape Growers' Association. 187

pounds, all but one receiving 8 cents a
pound. Gallons of wine made, 7,875;
on hand, 9,460 gallons. Most of the
reports are from Alton and vicinity.
They show a loss from rot and other
causes, chiefly rot, varying from 1-8
to 3-4, and in one instance, 9-10.

In addition to the above, we have
the following :

Statistics of grape vines in Nauvoo,
Hancock county, III., for the spring
of 1869, made up by Emil Baxter,
of Golden Hills Vineyard, Nauvoo.

Bearing. Not bearing . Total.

Catawba i!75,'J(»U 27,300 303,200

Concord 29,250 12,350 32,600

Delaware 7,575 4,290 11,865

Norton Seedrg. 9,105 2,780 11,885

Clinton 9,450 5,000 14,450

Other vines 11,515 10,000 21,515

333,795 61,720 395,515
Outside of Nauvoo, in the sur-
rounding townships, for which
we had no statistics tor 1869,
there is about 150,000

Total in and about Nauvoo... .545,515

These vines cover an area of about
550 acres. Most of the old vineyards
are planted 6x6, but of late years the
fashion has been 6 or 7 by 8. In
1869 the Catawba crop — owing to
mildew induced b}' a most unfavora-
ble wet spring and summer — was an
entire failure, and no wine was made.
About 3,000 gallons of Concord and
Clinton was the entire result of the
year — the most disastrous in our an-
nals. Even this small crop was much
endangered, and suffered from the
depredations of the (.Irape Curculio.

A substitute for the Cataw^ba is
sadly wanted, and our vintners are
turning their attention to the Goethe,
Concord and Ives. The lona has
beau tried, but so far without real

success. The Walter is also on trial,
and may prove as good, though it suf-
fered much last summer, being the
first season on trial.

Makanda, 111., April], 1S70.

Jj. D. Morse, Esq. : Wo think 7x10
would be a better distance for plant-
ing, as seven feet is amjjle room for
cultivating, and ten feet will allow
longer pruning, Avhich we think would
be better, as it allows you to take off
imperfect bunches, and have enough
left for a crop.

The number of vines planted in
this neighborhood is 20,000 ; the num-
ber planted in the vicinity of Makanda
is more than 100,000. I have been
trying to get the correct number, but
have not succeeded. The crop in this
portion of the State was injured about
one-third by rot. We attribute it to
unfavorable weather. There was a
very few of the Grape Curculio and
some other insects, but they did but
very little damage. The Delaware,
Maxatawney and Ives' Seedling did
not rot any scarcely. The grapes
heretofore have been mostly shipped ;
but a great many are making arrange-
ments for making wine this season.

The number of pounds of grapes
shipped from Kakanda last year was
249,898. If the season is favorable^
there nvill be at least 600,000 pounds
this year. Truly yours,

J. S. SprinctER & Co.

MISSOURI.

Hermann. — Mr. Dean W. Tainter
reports from his sub-school district,
lying east of Hermann, the following
figures: Grapes planted in 1869, 2J
acres ; distances, 6x6 and 8x8; two
years old, 6 acres; over two years old,

188

The Grape Culturist.

87i acres, Grapes sold, 17,100 pounds,
at an average price of 6j cents per
pound: gallons of wine made, 30,400.
Mr. T. says: "For a fair estimate of
the county, multiply the totals by five,
inasmuch as we have made one-fifth
of the generallj' estimated number of
gallons of wine." Multiplying the
above figures by five, gives about 477 J
acres of grapes; 85,500 pounds of
grapes sold, yielding at 6? cents a
pound 85,557.50. Wine made, 152,000
gallons, which, at an average vfllue of
§1.00 a gallon, gives the total grape
product a value of 157,557.50 in Gas-
conade county, chiefly in Hermann.

Augusta. — Ten grape growers in
Augusta reported the following; —
Planted in 1869, 4,010 vines, at dis-
tances varying from 5x6 to 7x8; the
largest number, 6x7; two years old,
1,962 vines, and three acres; over two
years old, 6,310 vines and 10] acres.
Grapes sold, 800 pounds, at 6 to 10
cents a pound. Wine made ; 7,190
gallons; on hand, 5,595 gallons. 'In
addition to the above, the Augusta
Wine Companj' planted in 1S69, 3,675
vines, 6x7 and 7x7, and have, two
years old, 5,200 vines; over two years
old, 14,900 vines: and made 8,000
gallons of wine. The oldest vine-
3"ards here are 23 years old, and, be-
ing mostly Catawba, are considered
by several as ''played out." Other
varieties are doing well.

Franklin County. — Ten grape grow-
ers in Franklin county report: Planted
in 1869, 1,160 vines, and 4? acres, 6x8
to 8x8 ; two years old, 2,100 vines and
2^ acres; over two yours old, 8,550
vines, and 8 acres. Grapes sold 10,-
750 pounds, at 7 to 10 cents. Wine
made, 6,800 gallons.

In addition, we have the report of
the Missouri Smelting and Mineral
Land Company, of Stanton, showing
2,800 vines planted in 1869, and about
68 acres two years old.

Mr. G, L. Busch, of Washington,
says : '' M}" oldest vines are Catawbas,
22 years old ; shall be extirpated next
winter, to make room for Goethe.
Oldest Nortons, 18 years, as vigorous
and healthy as ever, bearing a full crop
every year."

St. Louis Cou7\ty. — In this county
eighteen grape growers reported, foot-
ing up as follows : Planted in 1869,
7,662 vines, and 8f acres, a large pro-
portion 8x8 ; two years old, 2,695
vines, and 8i acres; over two years
2,270 vines, and 30* acres. Grapes
sold, 37,250 pounds, at 8 to 13 cents.
Wine made, 6,360 gallons; wine on
hand, 12,960 gallons.

Additional, is the report of the Cliif
Cave Wine Company, in the south
part of the county: Distance planted,
8x8; two years old, 3j acres; over
two 3'ears old 19^ acres. Grapes sold
at lOi cents a pound. Wine made,
3,000 gallons. Lost one-third from all
causes ; say one-fourth from rot.

George Hofi'man, Kirk wood, reports
having lost, through insects and rot,
five-sixths of his crop; the grasshop-
pers doing serious damage. He saj's:
''I dug my vineyard too deep in the
spring, so that all the heavy rains re-
mained on the ground, never ran off,
and the earl^^ rot came the 10th of
June — while unhoed and uncultivated
vinej'ards showed none."

Adolph Kehr, Barrett's Station,
sa3-s: ''I consider the mixture of Vir-
ginia seedling and Concord, in press-
ing, of great advantage.

Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Valley Grape Growers' Association. 189

L. E. Ai'mstrongj from E. J. Ga}',
says: "My experience is against
deep cultivation, over-fruiting while
young, and summer pruning; all cul-
tivation should cease after July."

John S. Sej^mour, Eureka, saj's:
"Tarring posts is useless. Five years
ago I boiled 400 white oak posts in
gas tar, and some of them are rotted
off. Twelve years ago I put in 200
posts ; 175 of them were green chin-
quepin oat, and 25 were white oak,
well seasoned. The latter rotted off
in five or six years ; some of the green
chinquepins lasted ten years."

Jefferson County. -J e'Serson is claimed
to be one of the best counties for grape
growing in the State. The business
is quite largel}' j^'^ii'sued there, and yet
but half a dozen of the grape growers
have thought it worth while to report.
The totals are as follows : Planted in
1869, 900 vines, and 4\- acres, all 8x8 ;
two years old, 1,000 vines, and 4 acres;
over two years old, 8,000 vines, and 15
acres. Grapes sold, 8,000 pounds, at
5 to 20 cents a pound. Wine made,
2,320 gallons ; on hand, 2,490.

A. Bainbridge, Do Soto, ssiys : "The
season has proved to me that trench-
ing for planting does not prevent the
rot of grapes in this neigborhood. I
think that grapes planted in trenched
land will do better in dry seasons than
those planted in holes dug."

Isidor Bush & Son, Bushberg, write:
"We deem it interesting to know,
from the experience of the past year,
first, that the rot was worse where
the ground was well cultivated than
where it was neglected ; worse on
vines that were well pruned than on
those on which apparently too much
wood had been left; worse on those

which had good soil and made a vig-
orous growth, than on poor soil and
weak plants ; worse where summer
pruning was done than where it was
neglected. All this, probably, in con-
sequence of the extreme wet season.
Second, that we have probably suffi-
ciently desii'able grapes for red wines,
and are planting too many thereof, in
proportion to white wine grapes.
Concord, ]^3'orton, Hartford and Ives
have taken the place of Catawba in
nine-tenths of our vineyards ; but
the}- can not supply its place as a wine
grape. We look upon Goethe, Maxa-
tawney, Herbemont, Cunningham,
Rulander, Louisiana, and even to Mar-
tha and North Carolina, as the vines
we should plant largely for white
wine (until we find better varieties),
to produce of the latter at least as
much as of red wines. The Delaware
makes one of the very best white
wines ; but last year, with us, and in
most places with others, it lost the
foliage, and did not fully ripen its de-
licious fruit. Third, that Rogers' No. 1
(Goethe) and No. 4 (Wilder), are
among our finest table grapes, and
bring a very good pi'ice. We sold
200 pounds at wholesale at 20 cents
per pound, while Concords brought at
the same time only 10 cents.

Scattering. — From various other
portions of this State reports, more
or less complete, have been received
from about 30 vine growers, giving
the following result : Planted in 1869,
49,100 vines, and 26 acres; distances
varying from 6x6 to 8x11 ; the larg-
est number, 8x8 and 6x8 ; two j^ears
old, 9,400 vines, and 47 acres ; over
two years, 18,750 vines, and 77 3-4
acres. Grapes sold, 16,675 pounds,

190

21ie Grape Gulturist.

at an average price of about 12 cents
a pound. Gallons of wine made,
32,870; on hand, 23,140.

To this is to be added the report of
the Bluffton Wine Company, of Bluff-
ton, as follows : Planted in 1869, 12^-
774 vines^ 6x6 and 6x10 ; two 3-ears
old, 22,652 ; over two years old, 24,-
408. Wine made, 13,490 gallons ; on
hand, 13,000 gallons.

Notes. — A. E. Trabue, Hannibal,
lost 9-10 of his crop by bad weather ;
some by birds. " Grapes did best on
the wettest, poorest ground; also,
bunches down in the weeds rotted
less than those exposed to the wind,
sun, etc. On the richest, best drained
ground. Concords all rotted en masse."

Hon. Fred. Muench, Dutzow, War-
ren county, writes: "My principal
reliance, as yet, is on ISJorton and
C_ynthiana for dark wines : on Her-
bemont and Louisiana for superior
light wine ; on Concord and Goethe
for a more ordinary and yet whole-
some and pleasant beverage. All the
said varieties do very well with me,
while the Catawba, Cassady, Delaware
and others never paid for my labor.
I have about sixty varieties on trial,
some promising well. I expect to
raise hardy seedlings from the Her-
bemont and Louisiana ; the latter I
consider the ne plus ultra of all our
grapes."

Dr. N. de Wyl, Jefferson City, re-
ports most varieties there doing well,
except Catawba and Taylor, which
are worthless. About 13 acres bear-
ing vines in the county, and about 7
acres at the opposite bluff, in Callaway
county.

F. M. Eedburn, Keytesville, says :
<' I have not had a diseased vine in

my vineyard as yet. My Delawares,
some four j-ears old, are perfectly
health}- and fruit well."

John Ballinger, Gallatin, is well
pleased with his success, and prefers
the Concord to any other of his twenty
varieties.

Eeports from St. Joseph and vicin-
ity are quite favorable.

Gottlieb Graff & Bros., on Graff's
Island, in the Missouri riyer, three
miles above Hermann, report the Del-
aware doing very Avell.

Li a southwest direction a good
deal of interest and good success re-
j^orted from St. .James.

The following from the extreme
Southwest is of interest :

Granhy, Kcwtoii County, Mo., )
April 1,1870. ^

L. D. Morse, Esq. : I should have
given you a more detailed report
about grape culture here with pleas-
ure, but now it is too late for any-
thing but short answers, if this reaches
you before the meeting.

1st. There were about 2,000 grape
vines planted in this county in 1869;
distance from 6x6 to 8x10. I planted
Concord 6x6, intending to dig up every
alternate row, and every alternate
vine in the rows, after they get too
large.

2d. There were about 350 vines in
bearing last year ; 300 of them in
their first bearing (third season).

3d, There were about 4,000 vines
planted in vineyards in Newton Co. in
1869, and about 4,000 more we had in
the nursery. Of these about 3,500 were
Concord, 100 Clinton, 80 Isabella, 40
Norton, 30 Delaware, 30 Taylor, and
the balance of about 35 other varieties.

4th. Hardly an}' grapes sold.

Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Valley Grape Growers' Association. 191

5th. "We made last year the first
■\riue made this side of Springfield.
One hundred and fifty gallons of Con-
cord wine from 200 vines in their first
bearing ; average product per vine, 8
pounds.

6th. Weather very unfavorable the
forepart of summer. Eot 40 per cent,
in Catawba, 70 per cent, in Isabella,
20 per cent, in lona, 2 per cent, in
Clinton and Taj'lor ; a few berries in
Concord. No rot at all in Eulandei",
Louisiana, Martha, Hartford, Dela-
ware, Mary Ann, Norton, Cynthiana;
on the latter variety I found a bunch
of grapes (two inches under ground,
grown on a rooted layer), in February
last. It was colored, matured, per-
fectly sound 3'et, and good to eat.

Little injur}^ done by insects, but
quite considerable by birds. When
the man}' vineyards that are now be-
ing planted, especiall}' in our neigh-
borhood, come into bearing, birds Avill
no longer be the pests they now are.

I have never seen mildew here on
any vine. Am experimenting with
about ten European varieties imported
from Switzerland and Hungar}', and
even they showed no sign of mildew
the last unfavorable season, and kept
their foliage perfectly green and heal-
thy up to the first killing frost in
November.

More vines have been planted this
Avinter than ever before, and we have
established a perfect grape nursery,
in order to be able to supply the
growing demand for roots.

Our vineyards are on Oliver's prairie,
three and a half miles south of Granby.
We are experimenting with about fift}'
varieties of American grapes ; intend
to plant another experimental vine-

yai'd on timber land (a hill of gentle
slope) next fall. All the Fox grapes,
Rogers' Hybrids and Delawares, do
splendidly on our prairies. The sum-
mer grapes do well, also ; but we in-
tend to plant them mostly on hills
and woodlands, where grapes similar
to Norton grow wild in abundance.
Yours truly,

Hermann Jaeger.

Conclusion. — On footing up the num-
ber of vines and acres reported in Mis-
souri, and reducing the number of
vines to acres, taking 6x8 as an aver-
age distance, gives us 1,031 1-4 acres.
The grapes sold by those who have
reported, amount to 73,475 pounds,
which, at an average price of 8 cents
a pound, gives $5,878. The number
of gallons of wine reported as made
last year is 80,010. It will be evident
to those familiar with the State, that
not one-twentieth of the vineyards
have been reported. Taking $1.00
per gallon as an avei'age value of the
wine made, and multiplying the
figures above by 20, adding the pro-
duct of Hermann, gives us $1,875,-
317 50 as the annual value of the
grape crop of the State. The esti-
mate is undoubtedly quite too small,
yet it shows an interest of considera-
ble magnitude.

The total number of vines reported
as planted in 1869, reduced to acres,
is about 132 acres against about 194
acres planted in 1868, a falling off of
almost one-half. Near the large mar-
ket of St. Louis there was little if
any falling oft'. The number of gal-
lons of wine reported on hand does
not equal the number made last year
by some 10,000 gallons.

The reports obtained possess con-

192

The Grape Culturist.

siderable interest, and if grape grow-
ers could be induced to report gener-
ally, the result would be of great in-
terest and value.

[We give the statistics in full, as we
deem them, meagre as they are, of
great interest. We wish grape grow-
ers would think it worth their while to
report more generall}", and we ofler our
pages to them for the pm-pose. Much
useful information could thus be gath.
ered, and be of more advantage than
the discussions of any meeting which
lasts but a few days at best, and at
which much of the time is uselessly
consumed by other matters. Some of
the views expressed in the correspon-
dence, have drawn our attention, as we
think the}' are apt to mislead grape
growers. Air. Armstrong says that his
experience is againsc deep cultivation,
summer pruning and cultivation after
July. Has it never struck him, that
difierent seasons require ditferent treat-
ment? We cultivate shallow in wet
seasons, and never work the soil in any
shape while wet ; while in dry seasons
we consider deep cultivation and fre-
quent working all important, as loose,
well pulverized soil, thrown around the
vine, is the best mulch it can have. If
he leaves his vines without cultivation
after Julj^, pra}^ how does he keep down
the weeds in loet seasons, or how can
they withstand the drought in such dry
summers as those of 1867 — 1868 ?

Mr. Bainbridge does not like to plant
in holes, and is perfectl}^ right in that,
only we did not suppose that anybody
followed that practice ^-et. We fancy
neither — trenching and inverting the
soil, nor planting in holes. Holes,
especially in tenacious subsoil, are so
many receptacles of water, and give the

vine wet feet, as the phrase commonly
goes, thereby causing disease. Stir
the soil to an even depth, without in-
verting it, is our advice to all planters,
if they desu-e healthy vines. Messrs.
Bush & Son report the rot worst in cul-
tivated ground, and vines that were
pruned short, on rich soil, and where
summer pruning was done. We think
their ground may have been cultivated
during wet v,feather, when of course it
would enhance the rot. That those
vines should rot worst which were
pruned short, and made a rank growth
of young wood, is natural, and only
confirms our advice, "to prune long in
fall, and rub off what may be super"
fluous early in Spring." Give the vine
enough to do ; it will be much health-
ier, and the air can circulate through it
much more freely, than when pruned
short, and all its energies are led to the
production of young wood. That the
rot should be worse in rich soil and on
well cultivated vines, is also natural,
and ma}' be led to the same cause — too
rank and succulent growth. But when
they assert that it was worse on ^ines
that Avere summer pruned than where
it was neglected, we say, serves them
right. We saw how their vines were
summer pruned, or rather cut, slashed
and maimed, we would call it ; our
heart bled for the poor misused and
abused vines, and we told them at the
time that the}' had much better left it
alone altogether, than maltreat their
vines thus. We have found summer
pruning, if done at the proper time,
when the shoots are so young that they
can be easily pinched with finger and
thumb one of the best preventives
against rot ; but if done late, as they
did it, and the fruit bearing branch

Grapes Around Rocheport, Boone County, Mo.

193

rudely lopped oft' with a kuife when it
has already attained the size of a fourth
of an inch in diameter, one of the best
inventives of rot. Will grape growers
never learn that the leaves are the
lungs of the plant, and that the true
object of summer pruning is only to
gently stop and check the 3'oung shoot,
and make two leaves grow where there
would but have been one before? We
endorse every word of what thej'' say
about the necessity of growing more
grapes for white wine, and think their
advice about varieties good.

Does Mr. Trabue really mean to say
that grapes succeeded best with him on
icet, poor soil; or is it a bungle of the

reporters, who sometimes pla}^ sad
havoc with our meaning? We can
believe him when he saj^s on poor soil,
but that they should do best where wet,
and rot most on well drained soil, is
contrary to all experienced we have had.
We think that much of the mischief
which our friends ascribe to cultivation,
comes from cultivating loJten too toot,
and too deep. With us it is a rule to
cultivate very shallow, and only when
the soil is in fair working order, in wet
seasons, and to cultivate deeply and
frequently in dry seasons, keeping the
vines well supplied with loose earth*
We think our readers will find this the
best course, if the}' will try it. — Ed.]

GRAPES AROUND ROCHEPORT, BOONE COUNTY, MO.

I have read the Grape Culturist
with much pleasure and profit since its
commencement, and think every man
who has as much as twenty-five grape
vines, would be greatly benefited by
taking it. I have a small vineyard
(400 vines) under wa}", of the following
kinds : Concord, Norton's Virginia,
Herbemont, Hartford Prolific, Dela-
ware, Martha, C3'nthiaua, Rogers' Nos.
1, 2, 4 and 22, North Carolina Seed-
ling. The}' have been out one year,
and are making a fine growth. The
plants were bought of the Bluftlon
Wine Company. My land is not such
as is generally considered most favora-
ble for the grape, being a black, rich
loam, but very elevated, about 250 feet
above the Missouri river, and on the
apex of a ridge between two large
creeks, distant from the Missouri river
about three miles. My object in plant-
ing so many kinds in such a small quan-

tity was first, to have a variet}' for my
own use, and secondly, to test what
kind or kinds will succeed best on m}^
soil. When I arrive at definite results,
will report to you.

I have a few old vines of the '' Cape
Grape," the Oporto, Concord, Norton's
Virginia, Creveling, and Isabella. The
Isabella, grown in the ordinary way, all
rotted to nothing, but a vine of this
grape planted to a tulip tree bore a
fine crop, twenty feet from the ground.
There are four or five small vineyards
commenced in my neighborhood, some
of them on the river and creek bluffs,
in exceedingly favorable localities. I
will notice them and report progress
hereafter. Respectfull}',

M. P. LlENTZ.

Rocheport Postoffice, Boone Co., Mo.

[Thanks for the promise of reports,
which we hope you will fulfil in due
time. — Editor.]

194

The Grape Culturist.

EDITOK'S LETTER BOX.

Covington, Ga., May23nl, ISTO.
Geo. Husmann, Esq.

Dear Sir : — I would be pleased to
receive your method of preparing
liquid ammonia for the acid test. A
gentleman of iS"orth Carolina uses the
Hydrometer at 95.0 or 5 degrees
lighter than distilled water; if this
process will answer can I obtain the
Hydrometer adapted for this purpose
of Jacob Blattner of 3'our city, and
what is the cost. I look for good
results from Dr. W^'lie's new Hybrid
of the Yinifari, empregnated with
pollen of our white Hcuppernong.
If the new vine retains the habits of
the male parent, and the improved
fruit of the European grape we shall
probably have the best grape, all
things being equal that has ever yet
been produced. I have applied for a
supply of the new vines and shall give
it a fair trial. We have had no rain
since the 29 April ; should it continue
dry ten days longer m}' grape nursery
will begin to suifer, I remain, etc.,
A. C. Cook.
[We think the acidometer a very
dangerous instrument in the hands of
the inexperienced, as the solution of
ammonia is subject to the influence of
air so much. Our Acidometer is our
tongue, and we would rather trust to
it, than to the most complicated
instruments. We think it safer, and
more reliable, as it has never misled
us yet. We trust 3-ou will report
your experience with the now Scup-
pernong Hybrid. — Editor.]

Fallston, June 7th, 1870.
Dear Sir : — I am extremely interes-
ted in the contents and management

of the Grape Culturist, to which I
have lately become a subscriber. The
qualit}' I have chiefly admired, aside
from the ability displayed in affording
valuable information, is the elimin-
ation and expression of truth — with-
out fear, favor or affection, and is a
striking characteristic of the matter
it contains. The principles and theo-
ries you inculcate, are however widely
different from the notions I had for-
merly of grape growing &c. I have
only just commenced grape growing,
have had but a little experience in the
fermentation of must, and therefore
know little practically of the vintner's
business, but I have read extensively
standard works, treating upon this
subject in Europe, and was surprised
in the difference in the management
of wine especially, there and here.
I intend to apply perhaps extensively
the simple rule of subtraction to your
good nature, and thereby find ready
access to your large fund of expe-
I'ience. Now in all the works upon
fermentation of wine in Eui'ope,
eveiy possible exclusion of the must
from the air is asserted to be the very
best mode to ferment red wine — you
recommend frequent exposure to aii" —
even running it through the rose of a
watering pot, you do not say into
what, but I presume into a bucket or
other open vessel — does not the wine
lose its alcohol by so doing — I have
found it so.

I was going to bu3- your book, but
as you have advised to read the Cul-
turist, please give us all information.
Can a common cellar properly ferment
wine, what is the cost of a two storied

Editor's Letter Box.

195

one ; will wild grapes make wine at
all palatable? I wish to experiment
until the varieties I here procured
produce fruit ; are our varieties worth
cultivatingin California? does D'Hou-
reuse's process obviate the necessity
of a scientifically constructed wine
cellar — do you think grape gi'owing
will continue to be profitable — but
will it after a few j'cars not pa}-.
Yery respectfully,

CiiAS. Bond.
[We know that it has been the
practice to exclude air as much as
possible from wines during their fer-
mentation, but 3'ou must remember
that without access of air, fermenta-
tion could not set in at all. A great
revolution is working its way, quietly
but steadily, as you will see from sev-
eral articles in this number. You
will find an article on cellars in this
number. Some of our wild grapes
make very good wine indeed, espec-
iall}" the Aestivalis class. We think
that grape growing will continue to
be profitable, if we produce good Avine
and good grapes. — Editor.]

El Douado, May 2(5. 1870.

Dear Sir : — I sent you a third article
on the Scuppernong which I looked
for in April or May No. It has not
appeared however.

There are spots of blight or mildew,
which appeared on my vines^ (the
leaves) — all kinds — on the leaves of
the elm, and I notice them on the
leaves of the black haw, and some
apple trees. These spots first appear
white, then turn brown, die and crum-
ble out if rubbed. What is the
cause ? Have 3'ou an}^ remedj^ ? Is it
something in the dew drops ? Is it
with 3'ou.

The late freeze this Spring (15
April), nearly killed most of the bunch
grape vines, as they were full of sap
and forward. It had the same effect
on the Flowers grape, a species of
the Bullace or Muscadine family, as
they also were quite forward in put-
ting out. The Scuppernong being
later, does not seem to be affected.
The rot at this time, although the fruit
is fully set on the eavl)- kinds of
bunch grapes, has not made its
appearance, owing I think, to the
very dr}' spring so far, but those kinds
of bunch gi-ape which were injured
bj' the freeze seem unhealth}', both in
vine and fruit, so that there will be a
very poor crop — (if the rot do not
appear) — both in quantity and quality.
1 am going ahead with my Scupper-
nong vineyard (MI desperandi,) your
opinion notwithstanding to the con-
trary, of the Scuppernong as a wine
grape, Respectfull}',

J. II. Carleton.

[The brown spots are evidently
mildew. It is caused b}- rapid change
of temperature, and murky weather.
Dusting sulphur on the vines will cure
it, but it is a very troublesome pro-
cess which 3'ou will hardly follow. —
Editor.]

(Bohemia- ViNV.YAUDS.) Towk Point. J

P. O. Chesapeake City, Cecil County, Mo. \

June (ith, 1870. )

Mr. George Husmann :

Dear Sir : — The cuttings you sent
were fine and are growing wondei*-
fully in open air. I had cut them up
to two and one eyes, and find that
even single eyes of Cynthiana and
Herbemont have rooted ; as we have
had warm rain showers the last two
weeks. Mr. Hippies Concords which
were severely hurt by the hail, are in

196

The Grape Culturist.

full blossom the remaining first, as
well as newl}^ started second, and even
some of the third buds have fruit;
1 think there is not much lost, the
fruit is only not so evenlj- distributed
on the vine, as hy a regular start.

Ives and Creveling, no fruit on
second bud. Clinton and Diana some.
The vai"ieties of grapes you send, give
full satisfaction.

Please state through Grape Cultur-
ist, if the husks of the Cunningham
grape, after slight pressure for white
wine, then Chaptalized say with 80
gallons of sugar Avater to about llC
or 115° substituted for ever}- 100 gal-
lons of pure juice, after complete fer-
mentation on the husks — would it not
make as dark and good a red wine as
Chaptalized Cynthiana ?

Yours truly,

Otto C. T. Pfahl.

[We are glad to hear of your suc-
cess with the wood we sent. Will
you not give us, through the Grape
Culturist, your method of starting
and managing them. Herbemont and
Cynthiana, are generally very diiS-
cult to grow from cutting.

Your report about Mr. Hippies
vines only confirms our doctrine that
the grape is the most reliable of all
fruits. We wish him joy of their
recovery.

Chaptalized Cunningham makes a
very good wine, but more resembling
Madeira, of brownish color, while the
Cynthiana makes a dark red wine, of
the character of the choicest Burgun-
dy-. Thus j-ou will see that they are
entirely different, though both very
fine. — Editor.]

Oswego, Oregon, May 30, 1870.
Mr. Geo. IIusmann :

Dear Sir : — Mj- friend A. B. lloberts,
of Walla Walla, had the Grape Cultur-
ist sent to me last year. I like it, and
wish it continued. The four varieties
of Eogers' Hybrids I received of your
company last fall will I believe all
grow, though some of them are slow
in starting. I dont see whj^ it is that
the rooted cuttings we get from East
of the mountains are so small com-
pared with those we make here. I
am done with the first stage of sum-
mer pruning. Followed j'our insti'uo
tions as near as I could. But in this
country the shoots at 6 inches have
not developed more than half the fruit
bunches, consequently they must grow
longer before they can be pinched.
Among all the vines I have (some 40
kinds), none grow faster than the
Delaware, some shoots of which have
grown 4 feet. It is also as great a
bearer as any. It seems to be per-
fectly at home here.

I wish to try some of your best
wine grapes that will ripen here. I
think the Cynthiana will i-ipen as well
as Nortons & Louisiana. I have Her-
bemont, Lenoir, Pauline, and Lincoln,
alongside of the Delaware, Aliens
Hj'brid, Concord, Israella, Koyal
Muscadine, White Sweet water &c.,
but the}' do nothing compared with
these latter kinds, but I shall give
them another trial on the south side
of a high butte or hill, and if they do
no better there I shall discard them
entirely. Most if not all our foreign
grapes have been brought here origin-
ally from California, and their nomen-
clature is all in confusion. As I
expect to raise grape vines for sale,

Editor's Letter Box.

197

I am very desirous of getting the
names right, and to that end design
sending to some of the most intelli-
gent propagators of the foreign grape
in New York for a full list of them.
Do you suppose I shall succeed in my
object, or are they mixed up thereto©.
The grape is almost in bloom here,
and there is prospect of an abundant
crop. The vines are looking splendidly
and growing rapidly. I find the lona
to be the slowest grower I have, but
the vines were impoi'ted from Dr.
Grant, and I think the j'oung vines
will do better. I will report progress
during the season.

I will contribute regularly to your
journal if you wish it; am just com-
mencing a vineyai^d and expect to
increase it yearly if I can find market
for my grapes.

Yours Very Truly,

A. E. Shipley.

[Thanks for your interesting com-
munication, while others, we hope,
will follow. I think that all our
varieties of grapes would ripen with
you, if the}' will succed at all.

We do not doubt but you can get a
correct assortment of foreign grapes,
if you apply to a reliable firm at the
East. — Editor.]

Bloojiixgtox, 111., Juiit" 1, ISTO.

George ALusmann, Esq. :

Dear Sir: — I made about 1500 gal-
lons of wine in 1868, mostly of Con-
cord, some of it very fine, and some
got chilled and did not work well. I
should like to have somebody familiar
with wine making examine it and tell
me what to do with it.

Do you ever come up this way?

Should be \ery glad indeed to see you.
Let me hear from you.

Our vines this year are doing very
well, and with the rest of the season
satisfactory will give us an abundant
crop.

Hoping soon to hear from you, I re-
main, Ver}' respectfully yours,

K. H. Ffxl.

[We think the only thing you can do
with the wine you report "■ chilled" is to
throw it on the husks of grapes after
you have pressed them, 'this fall, and
ferment it in a temperature of about
80°. Let it ferment thoroughly, then
press it, and you will soon have wine
of it, if it is not already spoiled other-
wise. We are so bus}' here that we
find but little time to travel. Should
we come your way, will avail ourselves
of your invitation. — Editor.]

Sr>fXY Side, June 1, 1S70.

Mr. Husmann :

Dea7' Sir: Being but a beginner in
grape cultivation, I would like to ask a
few questions on the modus operandi of
grafting : First, how would the Herbe-
mont do grafted on the Clinton ; the
situation in which it is planted ' being-
southern exposure, warm, rocky, newly
cleared gray land, with red subsoil? I
live near Charlottesville, Ya., 38 deg.
latitude. Second, if the Herbemont
will not do, what kind would you rec-
ommend? Tiiird, my vines were set
out this spring, would you graft next
spring, or the spring after? Fourth,
which is the best month to graft in ?

As before said, 1 am but a beginner,
but will give my experience if it will
be acceptable. In the spring of '68 I
planted two hundred and seventy-five
vines, namely, Concord, Clinton, Ives,

198

The Grape Culturist.

Hartford Prolific, Diana and Delaware.
Tlie first four grew well, making from
five to ten feet of wood, wliicli ripened
well. The roots of the Diana got dry
before planting, and but few of them
lived. Delaware grew tolerabl}". All
have plenty of bloom, exi ept the Ives.
In '69 planted Concords, Hartford Pro-
lific and Delaware. My Delaware of
last year"s planting have grown five feet
this spring.

I have Husmann on Grapes and Wine,
which I follow ; also the Grape Cul-
turist for '69. Enclosed you will find
the price for the Culturist. which you
will please forward. Direct to W. R.
Duke, Charlottesville, Albemarle Co.,
Va. You will oblige nie by giving a
list of the varielies that will grow from
cuttings, as I have never seen one. In
my first planting I bought twenty-five
Clinton and twenty-five Norton, whicli
Mr. Motop pronounces to be Clinton.
What ought to be done with the vendor?
Very Respectfully,

W. R. Duke.

[We refer jou to the several articles
on gi'afting in Grape Culturist, espe-
cially to those in February Nos. 1869,
'70. The Clinton is the ver}' worst
stock vv^e know of to graft upon. It
seems like if the Aestivalis and La-
brusca varieties will not readily unite
with its stock ; and, besides, it sucks
so terribly that the natural sprouts
must be taken off every week. You
had better now leave your stocks until
next spring, as it is getting most too
late. Before that time we will give the
result of a new method we have prac-
ticed lately, and which will much sim-
plify the process, if it succeeds. We
have some fine grafts growing on the
Clinton, but would much prefer the

Concord, Hartford, or Ives as a stock.
Before fall we will give a list of varie-
ties which grow readily from cuttings,
as well as those difficult of propaga-
tion. We can give you no advice
about what to do with the dishonest
dealer. You had better not buy again,
except from reliable persons. — Editor.]

Bohemia Vineyards and Fkuit Farm,
Town Point, Cecil Co., Md.

May 16th, ISTO.

Mr. George Husmann :

Dear Sir : — We experienced in our
vine3^ards, and through a small scope of
country around us, on last Tuesday,
a most terrific hail storm, lasting some
15 minutes, and making sad havoc in
our vinej'ard, our vines had made
shoots ranging from 6 to 12 inches in
length, and showed a splendid array of
fruit. But alas, the short space of fifteen
minutes entirely changed the aspect;
the vines were completel}" riddled, fully
three-quarters of the fruit being cleaned
off, and shoots destroyed in every form.
A s the second buds however had but in
a few cases started we hope that the
check which the vines received from
the storm, and pinching the remaining
shoots, will push them vigorously, and
probably supply the place of the des-
troyed fruit. They are principally
Concord vines.

Do 3'ou think that a soft well water
free from limestone, will injure any of
the qualities of wine if used in gallizing
07ily moderatel3\ Should our vineyard
be able to recover the effects of the hail
storm, we anticipate being able to make
a good report as well as a good show
this fall.

Please let me have your advice as to
what kind of wood to have casks for
white and red wine, made out of. If

Editor's Letter Box.

199

there is any preference between oak
and poplar. Yours truly,

Edward T. ITipple.
[We are sorry for your misfortune,
also that your letter came too latn for
our June No. We trust your vmea will
recover, and produce a fair crop yet,
from the secondary buds.

We use only white oak for casks, and
do not think poplar will do, as it swells
and shrinks too much. We do not
even like it for vats on that account,
and prefer clear white pine, which,
when without knot,, contains very little
resin. — Editor. ]

Friend Husmann :

Last winter when on a visit to
Hermann, I accompanied a friend, to
see Mr. Langdorfer, the originator of
the Hermann Grape. There had the
pleasure of tasting wine of that vari-
ety, as also of the 3Iartha and other
kinds.

He has great faith in the Martha 5
"so have I," as also in his seedling,
the Hermann. The "wine of the lat-
ter was still sweet, showing to my
notion, that so heavy a must as that
yielded last fall (115^) I think needs
a higher temperature to ripen than
his Grotto cellar will allow of, when
the cool weather comes on. The
Martha and other vines were more
advanced, and all promised well.

When the Hermann must has a fair
treatment, I am satisfied it will make
one of our best wines, while the vine
and grape is all that could be wished
for in point of health and vigor.
When I look at the vine it reminds
me of a handsome ivell dressed lady,
just stepped oui; of the dressing room.

While there I also witnessed the
clearing of wine by forcing through
paper pulp. The wine was quite
C'oudy when put in, but came out clear.
Now a question arose in my mind,
which some of those who have had
experience will please answer, whether

this wine will keep as well as though
it had clarified itself by time, and in
the oi'dinary course, or whether there
still remain ingredients therein to
cause trouble in keej^ing it afterwards.
A reply to this query will oblige.
Yours truly, Samuel Miller.

Bluffton, Mo., June .% 1870.

[We can give our friend our ideas
about mechanical clarification of wines
by filtering, etc. We think if the wine
still contains unfermented sugar, fil-
tering will clarify it for the time
being, but it will be subject to re-
newed fermentation again, as the par-
ticles of lees are so fine that they
remain suspended in the wine, even
when it 'loohs quite clear and bright.
If wine is thoroughly fermented it
will fine naturally, and filtering be-
comes unnecessary. If not, filtering
will only clarity it for the time being,
and it Avill become cloudy again.

We fully agree with friend ^Miller
about the value of the Hermann. We
have no grape in our whole collection,
comprising some TOO varieties, which
we value more highly, which we think
more productive and healthy, or pro-
ducing a better wine. We speak ad-
visedly, having watched the grape
since its origin, and are willing to
stake our reputation on it as a icine
grajye, for our State at least. — Editor.]

200 Grape Gulturist Advertisiyig Sheet.

COOPER,

1618 Jackson Street, St. Louis, Missouri.

Offers his services to Wine Dealer?, as manufacturer of all kinds of casks, fermenting
vats and cellar apparatus. He guarantees satisfactory work and lowest prices. Refers to
some of the principal wine dealers in the State of Missouri, for whom he has made casks
and vats for a number of j^ears, and especially to the Blufifon Wine Company, No. 22
South Main street, where casks and vats of his manufacture can be seen by those fnterested
in tlie business. feb'ea-tf

GRKAT TO^ESTKRW GUm ITU'ORKS;,

wo. 179 SMITHFIELD STREET, PITTSBUSGH, PA.

Double-Shot Guns. S9 to $100. Single-Shot Guns, $8 to $'20. Rifles, $10 to $50. Re-
volvers $G to $20. Discount to Clubs." Send stamp for price catalogue.

53= Army Guns and Kevolvers bought or traded for. j'une9-3m

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUITS.
[Nursery Established in 1857.]

A splendicl stock of Vines and Plants are offered the coming Fall and Spring,
including nearly every variety known to be of valut;. The popular and w hite Grape

MARTHA, OR {WHITE CONCORD,)

In large or small quantities. Also, Arnold's new Hybrids, Eumelau, Walter, Wee-
hawken, Christine, Hine, and all valuable numbers of Rogers' Hybrids; also,
Delaware, lona, Israella, Concord, Hartford, Ives, Norton's Virginiaj etc., etc., in
all about one hundred clistinct'varieties.

Kittatinny Blackberries and Clarke Raspberries in large quantities, Jucunda
and Charles Downing Strawberries, Downing's Seedling Gooseberries, Cherry,
Versailles, AVhite Grape, and Black Naples Currants, etc., etc.

Send stamps for Illustrated Catalogue and Pi-ice Lists to

apiGj-tf GEO. W. CAMPBELJj, Delaware, Ohio.

PATENTED AUG. 6th, 1867, AND AUG. 3d 1S69.

For FERMENTATION and GERMINATION, and for PRESERVING, PURIFYING
and IMPROVING of Organic Substances.

Exceedingly useful in Malting, Brewing, Distilling. Bakin.ir, IManufacture of Wine, Cider,
Fruit Wiues, Fruit Brandies, Vinegar, etc. ; in Sugar Works, Oil Works. Manufacture of Ex-
tracts, Preserves; in Storehouses, Transportation of Grain. Produce, Fruit; Purifieation of
Water, etc., etc.

Rights for States, Counties, Districts, or EstabHshments, for sale. Apply to

P. 0. Box 6844. R. D'HEUREUSE, New York.

Grape Cultiirist Advertising Sheet,

Biisliberg Vineyards & Grape Nurseries.

GREAT REDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF

AND SMALL FRUITS.

rg^ SEMJ FOB NEli PRICK J. 1ST hOK FA T.I. 1870.

Our ILLUSTKATED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE— " More useful to the Grape Grower
than some work^ cifjiiui-li greater pretensions. " — ,l»i. A(iriculturist ,—v<-\\\ be sent bj* Mail, post-paid, for
onlv 2.") eents, either in tlie German or English Edition, as you may order

53" Agents "Wanted ti> canvass Ibr orders lor Fall delivery. Terms liberal, profits handsome. Pos-
ters, Price Lists, etc., uratis Address,

ISIDOR BUSH & SON. Buslil:erg. Mo.

€^ 3E1= .^SsL JE^ 3S ""WIF ^0> <0> 3DI> I

Immense Stock, especiall\' of

Concord, Ives, Delaware, Hartford, lona, Catawba, Isabella,
Clinton, Rogers' Nos. 4. 15 and 19, etc.

Cut from Bearing Vines before hard freezing, and stored in frost-proof Cellars.

Very Low for Cash. Price List Gratis.

ALSO, LEADING VARIETIES OF GEAPE ROOT IX STORK.
Can ship Sontli safely at any time.

feb69 tf M. H. LEWIS, Smulusky, Ohio,

For all Branches of Fermentic Arts— Manufacturing of
Wine, Beer, Spirits, Vinegar and Yeast.

THE " ZYM(jTECHNrC NEWS" will give a detailed recoril and discussion of all improvements
which obtain publicity , both in the Old and New World The more important ones of these im-
provements will be subjicfed to the most careful tests in the chemical laboratories and technic establish-
ments, amply at the editor's disposal, and the results thus gained will also form part of the communi-
cations of the " ZVMOTK( JIMC NEWS."

The "ZYMOTECH.VK NEWS" will appear both in ENGLISH and GERMAN, aiid the yearly sub-
scription for each one of the two editions is lint SI in advance.

ONLY ONE DOLLAR A YEAR!

All Business Men standing in any practical relations to Zymoteclinic Pursuits, more particularly
Producers of Wine, Brewers, Distillers, Kectiliers, Wine and Li.pior Dealers, Vinegar and Yeast Man-
ufacturers, ought to su1>scribe for a copy of the " ZYAIOTE( ilNlC NEWS " in order to rest assured that
nothing new in tlie technical appliances of their pursuit will escape their notice. If but once in a whilr
a, single item of interest and vahie to themselves has been made available, the small expense of $1 a year
will have possibly lieen repaid a hundi'ed-fold in a short time.

All letters and remittar.ces are to be directed to the undersigned.

N. B. Correspondence conducted in English, French and German.

CHAS. H. FRINGS, Editor,

P. O. Box 2,742. 202 South Fourth Street.

St Loris, Mo., December, 1809. jan7»-tf

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

TKTines and Plants.

THE BLUFFTON WINE COMPANY

"^T'OW offers to the trade, and to the public generally, its first crop of wines, grown at
.1^ Bluffton, comprising, of red wines, Concord, Norton's Virginia. Ives, and CUntou;
of wliite wines. Concord, Catawba. Hartford. Delaware, and Herbemont.

Our wines are of excellent quality, and we are sure that they will give general satis-
faction to consumers. Our motto is, "'Low prices, good quality, and quick sales;" and
Wholesale Dealers in wines will find it in their interest to apply to us. Price lists sent on
application.

AV^e also call the attention of Grape Growers to our large and complete stock of plants
of all the leading varieties. We shall nialce it our aim, in our fall trade, to supply our
customers with tlie best of plants, and at as low rates as any reliable firm.

Descriptive Catalogues sent, on application to

WM. WESSELHOFT, Secretary,

BLUFFTON, MO.

FXJBLISHED A-ND FOR SALE

BY

ST. LOUIS, MO.

MuENCH, FiiEDERiCK, School for AmeyHcan Grain Culture. Brief but tliorough

guide to the laying out of vineyards, the treatment of vines and the production

of wine in North America.
MuENCH, F., Aynerikanische Weinhauschule unci Weinhereitungslehre, etc.

Either one of these books will be mailed free of postage on receipt of one dollar.
HusMANN, George, The Cultivation of the Native Grape and Manufacture of

American Wines.

On the receipt of $1 50 this book will be mailed to any address.
Schmidt, J. A., The Diseases of Wine, how to prevent and how to cure them,

according to the doctrines of M. Pasteur.

This book will be sent, free of postage, on receipt of $2.

C. AVITTER keeps a large assortment of books treating on the Culture ot
Grapes and Manufacture of Wines.

Catalogues sent on application. Please address letters,

CONHAD WITTER,

jaiifi9-tf 122 S. E. corner Walnut and Second Sts., St. Louis, Mo.

OHIOIOE ■V^.^K.IETZES OIF
Grape Vines, Strawberry Plants, Raspberry, Blackberry & Gooseberry.

Also, a few Peach and Cherry Trees, the finest growths. Particular attention
will be paid to small orders of plants to be sent by mail. For sale by

SAiaUEL, ]VIIL,L,ER, Bluffton, Mo.

THE

GRAPE CULTURIST.

Vol. II.

AUGUST, 1870.

No. 8.

AUGUST.

WORK FOR THE MONTH,

But verj'' little remains to bo done
in the vineyard, if it has been kept in
good order so far. Tying the 3'oiing
canes along the upper wires occasion-
ally, and keeping the soil loose, clean
and mellow, will be about all that is
really necessary to do. This latter is
all the more necessarj", as August is
generally the month of drouth, and
the loose mellow soil is the best mulch
for the vines.

Most of the varieties will color in
the course of this month ; birds, foxes,
raccoons and opossums will begin their
depredations, and must be closely
watched. W^e are far from advising
the indiscriminate slaughter of birds?
as we think that they do more good,
on the whole than harm, by destroy-
ing myriads of noxious insects. But
the oriole, we confess, taxes our
patience to such a degree, by poking
his bill into every ripe bei'ry, that we
have little merc}' on him, especially
as we never sec him in the vineyard
except when grapes are ripe. The best
plan to keep them in check is to erect
some tall leafless bush in several places
in the vinej'ard. The birds will alight
on them before they go into the vines,
and a dose of powder and lead may
then be applied without hurting the
vines. The brown thrush, cat-bird

and cardinal are also much addicted to
grape stealing, but we confess that we
always wage war against them with a
troubled conscience, as we think that
the insects they destroy counterbal-
ance their destruction of grapes. But
do not shoot our little graj- sparrow,
the best friend you have ; quietly and
unobtrusively it slips along among
the vines, with its clear eye always on
the watch for worms and bugs. Fos-
ter and protect him and the pretty
blue-bird; they never touch grapes,
and only live on insects. We have no
mercy on our four-footed depredators,
however, and if foxes, raccoons and
opossums see fit to attack our grapes
wholesale, we think ourselves justified
in waging war against them with all
and every means in our power. One
of the most destructive is a dose of
strychnine, put on the w^ng or leg of
a chicken, and scattered about through
the vineyard. We have killed a whole
family of foxes in this way in a single
night, and if they partake of these
pleasing morsels, the poison acts so
quick that they will not get out of the
vinej'ard alive. But of course you
must keep your dogs at home while
applying it, or the}^ might share the
fate of their arch enemies. Where
you cannot obtain strychnine, steel

202

The Grape Culturlst.

traps and dogs will do good service
against them.

When grapes are to be marketed,
they should be packed in small, shal-
low boxes, containing from ten to
twent}' pounds each. Do not cut them
when they are wet with dew or rain.
They should be perfectly dry, and all
rotten or damaged berries carefully
picked out. Cut the stems long, and
lay a layer of grape leaves or paper
at the bottom of the box, then a laj'er
of grapes packed as tight as you can
crowd them, then put on another laj'er
of leaves or paper, on this another

layer of grapes, and cover smoothly
and nicely with leaves or paper. The
boxes should not be deeper than to
hold two la^'ers, say about six inches,
and the cover slightly pressed on in
nailing it down. They will bear
handling much better than when
loosely packed.

Get all 3'our casks ready for wine
making, your fermenting vats, etc.,
so that the vintage will not find you
unprepared.

We will give some advice about
wine makine; in another article.

THE CLIFF CAVE WINE COMPANY OF SAINT LOUIS, MO.

A S K K T C II .

The organization of the Cliff Cave
Wine Company took place in Januar}",
1866, under a charter obtained from
the Legislature of Missouri just pre-
vious to the adoption of the present
State constitution. Consequently the
stockholders of ttiis company are ex-
empt from the double liability clause
which bears so heavily upon all cor-
porations organized under the exist-
ing constitution of this State.

Soon after its organization, the
compan}^ purchased about two hun-
dred acres of land, situated on the
bluffs of the Mississippi river, thirteen
miles below the city and within the
limits of Saint Louis count}". An
adjoining tract of forty acres was
subsequently acquired, making the
present domain of the company about
two hundred and forty acres.

About one-half of this whole area
is well suited for vineyards, the soil

being a friable clay loam, having com
plete natural under-drainage, and the
elevation being high. On the prem-
ises is also a natural cave of consider-
able extent, a portion of which has
already been converted into a two-
story wine cellar, having a storage
capacity of upwards of 100,000 gal-
lons.

Operations on the ground com-
menced in the spring of 1866, and
about eight acres were planted in
grapes the first season. Subsequent
plantings have increased the number
of acres of vineyard to twenty-three,
all of which will be of bearing age
this season.

The varieties planted are as follows:
Concord, - - 8} acres.

Norton's Virginia, - 8 ^'
Ives', - - - 4:1 "
Hartford Prolific, - 1^- "
Other varieties, - I • "

Of the fifty-eight varieties now
growing on the grounds of the com-

Can ^Vlne he Aerified with Impunity.

203

pan}", quite a large portion arc of re-
cent introduction. Probably only a
very few of them will be found wor-
thy of being extensively planted.

The most common fault with new
varieties is their liability to mihlew,
and the consequent loss of foliage.
Among the great number of new sorts
which have been brought before the
public within the last few years, only
a very small number are found to pos-
sess that degree of hardiness requisite
to carry fruit and foliage through the
long summer of our latitude, unim-
paired.

The Cliff Cave AVine Company do
not, therefore, look to the experimen-
tal portion of their vine^-ard as a
probable source of immediate profit.
Aside from the great interest which
attends the testing of new varieties
of fruit, those having the direction of
the affairs of the company have felt

it to bo their duty to contribute their
share toward determining what varie-
ties of the grape were most likely to
become of real value to the vintners of
this portion of the Mississippi valley.

The propagation of grape plants for
sale is now quite an important branch
of the business of this company, and
it is intended to make this interest a
permanent dopartmcni.

Their proximity to the city of Saint
Louis enables the companj" to choose
between selling the grapes in market,
and turning them into wine. Up to
the present time a large portion of the
fruit has been marketed in SaintLouis,
at satisfactorj^ prices. A small quan-
tity of wine was made in 1868, and
last season (1869) that portion of the
crop which was converted into wine
yielded about 2,800 gallons, mostly o^
the Concord variety.

C. W. Spalding, President.

CAN WINE BE AEEIFIED WITH IMPUNITY?

The above question is naturally sug-
gested by the few remarks made on
my essay on wine racking, published
in the June number ; and when the
same are made by an eminently prac-
tical mind, like Mr. Geo. Husmann,
the new theory is worthy of further
elucidation for fear that, being in con-
flict Avith the practical experience of
the older wine countries, it might
cause fatal mistakes with vintners, in
their haste to put it into practice, be-
fore our American experience has full}*
demonstrated that with us the reverse
is true : that Avine can be aerified with
impunity; and here, when I say loiiie,

let it be well understood that I do not
mean must.

Cursorily, and as briefly as the sub-
ject will permit, I propose to open the
discussion by submitting a few of my
doubts, trusting that our practical and
observing vintners will follow with a
record of their experience ; we may
then, perhaps, in time, arrive at a near
solution of this most important ques-
tion.

Supposing that the aim of the vint-
ner is always to obtain aAvine of supe-
rior quality, let us first consider the
chemical change Avhich takes place in
wine by the free admission of air; it

204

The Grape Cultiirist.

is this : the alcohol is oxydized and
forms aldehyd, then acetic acid, when
the wine is soured and turns to vine-
gar. Chemically speaking; the change
occurs thus :
Alcohol. Oxygen. Aldebyd. Water.

Qi H« O- + 0- — C H* 0- + 2 HO

In the fii'st place a chemical equiva-
lent of alcohol endures the action of 2
equivalents of oxygen, the product
being one equivalent of aldehyd plus
2 equivalents of water. The aldeh^'d
being produced, it in turn absorbs 2
more equivalents of oxygen and forms
acetic acid.

Aldehyd. Oxygen. Acetic Acid.

(J4H4 Q2_j_02— C*H^ O^

This change meets with no diffi-
culty, even at an ordinar}^ tempera-
ture, and a few drops of wine left over
night in a wine bottle will satisf}"
those vintners who have not as yet
observed this transformation.

The fact that the free admission of
air, by oxydizing the gluten, would
soon clear wine, had not escaped my
observations; but I was also aware
that there was no better or more cer-
tain wa}^ to make vinegar, this aerifi-
cation being always accomplished at
the expense of the quality of the wine,
which soon loses, when prolonged, its
oil}' or velvety feeling, its vinous
aroma and smoothness ; and without
this last and precious quality wine can
have no charm nor worth. This is
why, since my essay was read before
the Nauvoo Grape and Wine Growers'
Club, in the winter of 1868, I have
found but few reasons to alter my
views, except perhaps on rule 5, and
that only in special circumstances,
such as the need of quick sales re-

gardless of quality, or when the first
fermentation has been very imperfect
or sluggish, otherwise it is always to
be feared that the quality of the wine
will suffer. For these same reasons I
would be loath to discard my rules 6
and 7 : who is it that has not wit-
nessed the fact when drawing wine,
that a bucket left exposed over night,,
or only a few hours, had contracted a
flat, vapid or insipid flavor, quite dis-
agreeable to the taste ?

Wine, when properl}' fermented in
the start, needs but few rackings to
insure its stability. When I advanced
that two rackings well done were suffi-
cient for the first 3'ear, I in no way
meant to imply there should be na
more rackings afterward, to free it
from the fermentescible matter : I
hold, on the contraty, that there
should be more, and at least one fin-
ing before bottling.

Owing to the presence of carbonic
acid, wine can stand a number of
rackings; bttt these should be quick,
and with faucets that will not spit, but
flow in an unbroken column, then the
evaporation of this acid is slow, and
in like proportion excludes the absorp-
tion of oxygen; but the rose of a water-
ing pot, being just the thing to free the
carbonic acid, must be a dangerous
tool to rack wine with, unless it be
one that has as j^et fermented but lit-
tle, and has consequently next to no
alcohol ; otherwise, was not the quan-
tity of oxygen required to make
acetic acid large, it would make vine-
gar at once.

It is these facts which have sug-
gested, in Europe, so many different
means of racking wine with the exclu-
sion of air. But whilst wine fears

Air Treatment Again.

205

aerification, it is the reverse with jnust.
ft is now some ten 3'ear8 that I be-
came aware of the fact, while attempt-
ing to make a dark red Isabella in a I
perfectly closed tub. Fermentation
is the most perfect when the must has j
heen well oxygenized, and in this re- !
spect especially do I hope much from
the D'lleureuse air treatment.

E. Baxter.

GoLDKN' Hills Vixeyaru, Nauvoo, Ills.

[We think our correspondent does
not exactlj' understand the question
involved. The D'Heureuse air treat-
ment will not be needed for wine — that

is, ^oine complete and finished. Nor
do we advise to rack such wine through
the rose of a watering pot. -But so
long as wine contains ferment, it can
hardlj^ be called finished ; and it is
only to unfinished wines that air
treatment should be applied. AVe
publish in this number another article
on this important subject, which will
tend to show our correspondent that
air treatment is also practiced in
Europe. We are glad to have this
subject so thoroughly discussed in our
pages, as we think it of vast import-
ance.— Editor.]

AIR TREATMENT AGAIN.

That most influential and well con-
ducted German quarterly journal on
grape and wine culture, the Annalen
der Oejiologie, Carlsruhe, Baden, pub-
lishes detailed tables and highl}^ satis-
factory results of systematically con-
ducted operations with air - treatment
on must, b}' its principal editor. Dr.
A. Blankenhorn, and numerous other
parties of high standing in autumn
of 1867 and since, and enthusiastically
recommends the process. There is no
doubt that its use will soon be general
in the German wine countries. Air-
treatment was employed there on the
must at about 05^ F., and previous to
fermentation only. The apparatus used
is named Prof. v. Babo's Patent Must-
whip (Mostpeitsche), which consists in
a vertical hollow shaft, provided with
hollow perforated arms below. By
gearing and crank the shaft is made
to revolve quickly, so that the air is
urged through the hollow shaft, and

impelled through the perforations of
the arms into the must. The whole is
attached to a plank placed over a tub
or tank. The construction certainly is
ingenious, but seems to be more com
plicated and less apt to be kept per-
fectly clean than the simple perforated
pipe or mouth-piece, connected by hose,
etc., with an air force-pump, the mode
recommended by the patentee of the
American air-treatment. The v. Babo's
machine can only be used on must or
wine in tanks, not to hasten the fer-
mentation of the must while in casks,
and could not very well be employed
for other purposes also, like the pump,
for instance, for the purification of foul
water in cisterns, etc., or for transfer-
ring the wine merely by hose or pipe,
without passing through a pump, from
cask to cask, by pneumatic pressure
on the wine. The price of Professor
V. Babo's machine will probabl}^ exceed
that of pump, etc., the power i-equisite

206

The Grape Culturist.

to work it certainly does by the same
action produced. Ttie American patent
covers the use of either.

The above journal (page 209) also
mentions the efficiency of air-treatment
to quickly clarify wine, even if of bad
taste and ropy. The wine was made
perfectly clear and of good taste in a
day, after half an hours' air-treatment
with the isini^'lass solution. Similar
results have been obtained previously
in California wine-cellars, where the
clarifying (Schonen) is now done en-
tirely by air-treatment, in place of the
commonly used rod.

In an analysis and official report of
October 1869 by the chemist of the
Agricultural Department, Washington,
on California air-treated wine of Nov.
1868, very favorable to air-treatment,
the unusually large amount of acid (as
tartrate of potassium and of little taste)
is noticed b^^ the chemist in the follow-
ing manner, tovvit: "It may be that
the process of aeration results in the
foimation of acid at the expense of
extract." This, however, certainly is
a mistake ; no test of the must before
fermentation was made for acids, while
the taste of the wine reveals no acid ;
on the contrary, it is too free from it
to satisfy those accustomed to German,
French or North American wines. A
practical wineman of high standing of
Toledo, Ohio, writes to the patentee of
air-treatment the following in regard to
the above : " We have seen an analysis
and official statement by the chemist of
the Agricultural Department, Washing-
ton, about air-treated California wine,
and we think that by an obvious incor-
rection therein, it may give rise to an
impression injurious to 3'our air-treat-
ment. No test for acids appears to

have been made on the must, the wine
from whicli is said to contain an unusu-
ally large amount of acid, and which,
the chemist surmises, may be the re-
sult of air-treatment. Our experience
does not corroborate such supposi-
tions. We have employed your air-
treatment in spring, summer, and again
in fall 1869, on large quantities of wine,
invariably with beneficial results, to
accelerate the fermentation and to ob-
tain a wine of superior flavor. We
have also ascertained the amount of
acid in the must before fermentation,
and also in the wine obtained b}" air-
treatment from the same must, and
find the same proportion in both, prov-
ing that no acids have been formed by
this process, or the character of the
wine injuriously changed thereb}-. We
have perfect confidence in your air-
treatment."

The French chemist, Pasteno, found
rather less acid in wine fermented with
previous an-ation, than in some from the
same must fermented without aeration.

R. H.

[The following is the official state-
ment of the Chemist: — Editor.]

OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT

OF AGRICULTURE AT W^ASHIXGTON, ON

WINE MADE BY d'hEUREUSe's AIR

TREATMENT.

Lauokaiuky of the Dep't of Aghicultiue, )
Washingtoti, October 'M, ISOt). i

Hox. K. T. McLaix, Acting Commissioner:

Sir : Having examined the wine sent
by R. d'Heureuse, Esq. , of New York,
I have to report as follows, concirning
its chemical constitution, and the re-
sults of his patented process termed
" x\ir Treatment." The wine, as re-
ceived, contained :

Quincy Wines.

207

Absolute Alcohol, by weight.. 9.76p.c.
'^ '- by volume.. 12. IS "

Equivalent to proofper cent. ..21.24 ''

Grape sugar 0.05 *'

Acid, calculated as dr}^ tartaric 1.70 "

Extract 1.84 "

Ash 0.26 ^'

This analj-sis presents some points
of interest. The wine forwarded for
examination presents all the characters
of a wine of some years' age, while the
evidence is sufficient to show that it
was made from the vintage of 1868.
The aged character being communi-
cated by the application to the must
of the process patented by Mr. d'Heur-
euse, of New York, the results of
which are, that the amounts of sugar
and of extract are very small, and that
the wine is perfectly clear. Its fer-
mentation is complete, and it will, per-
haps, undergo little further change in
cask. The amount of acid present in
the Avine is large, amounting to nearl}'
1,200 grains in the gallon, or double
what is occasionally present. It may
be that the process of a'ration results
in the formation of acid at the expense

of extract ; the latter contains some
albuminous matter, so that the process
has not wholly removed the protein
compounds. Yet, as the sugar is almost
wholly absent, but little further saccha-
rine or acetous fermentation can occur.

The process of Mr. d'Heureuse is
one which appears to be of immense
value in the manufacture of loines, as
placing it more under the immediate
control of the manufacturer, and suffer-
ing it to depend less on the circum-
stances suiTOunding the wine vats, and
also regulating the process of fermen-
tation. The fact alone that it saves
two years in the period of fermenta-
tion, (i. e., complete production) of
wines from the grape, is sufficient to
recommend it to wine makers.
Very respectfully,

Thomas Antisell, Chemist.

[The evidence in favor of air treat-
ment seems to be of so general and
conclusive a character", that we think all
of our readers who make wine should
give it a trial during fermentation.
We feel convinced of its utility, and
shall try it on a large scale. — Editor.]

QUINCY WINES.

We had the pleasure of receiving,
some time since, samples of Concord
and Delaware wine, made by Mr. J.
L. Mooi-e, of Tower Place, Quincy, 111.

The Concord was a good white
Avine, 3'ellow, mild and pleasant, with
just enough of Concord flavor to
plainly show its origin ; a little less
of acidity than we would like, but
perhaps all the more suited for general
taste. It was 3'et somewhat imma-
ture, but even in its present stage, not

''hard to take." The Delaware was
beautifully bright and clear, of fine
straw color, not very heavy for that
variety, but quite enough of body,
good flavor, and altogether a credita-
ble specimen of Mr. Moore's skill in
hai;idling wines.

We are glad to see the manifest im-
provement in our native wines from
year to year. ^Ir. Moore should have
no trouble in disposing of such wines
readily, at remunerative prices — [Ed.

208

The Grape Culturist.

CANE AND .STARCH SUGAR, AND THEIR USES IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF WINE AND BEER.

{Co/icluded.)

From Indian corn an excellent ar^ growers as the ^re?rers, whose demand
tide of starch sugar can be prepared, ! for this article has alread}^ produced
which will yield alcohol one-eighth a regular importation movement. To
cheaper, and equally as pure as that j ourselves this is next to incompreheu-
froni cane sugar. It is therefore a j sible. It is only in case of exceptlon-

matter of surprise that in this country',
where industry is so highly developed,
the manufacture of starch sugar has
barely been commenced. Up to the
present time only a few small f^-^tab-
lishments are concerned in this manu-
fiicture, so important to the zymotech-
nic arts : by far the greatest part of
the starch sugar now consumed here
is — imported.

Ever since the introduction in Ger-
many, of the practice of adding sugar
to must naturally deficient in that in-
gredient, in order to produce a drink-
able^ 8j)irituous wine,the manufactories
of starch sugar have sprung up like
mushrooms. More than a hundred
of them are engaged in the manufac-
ture of the article in question from
•potatoes, being the cheapest source
available to them ; and the}' enjoy a
constantly increasing custom on the
part of wine-growers. Excepting
only the Bavarian Palatinate, where
the use of "grape sugar" is prohil.)i-
ted, we find depots and agencies of
these manufactories in almost every
wine-growing ncighljorhood, while
just before vintage-time the local
newspapers are crammed with adver-
tisements recommending "The best of
Grape Sugar"-"ChemicaIly pure Grape
Sugar" — "A No. 1 Grape Sugar," kc.

It is curious to note that in this
countr}' it is not so much the wine-

ally high ])rices of barley, and when
no other cereal is available as a sub-
stitute, that the use of starch sugar
in brewing (tan be justified.

Barley contains on an average 57
2)er cent, of starch and cognate sub-
stances. These pass into the wort,
partly as sugar, partly in the shape
of dextrine (gum ) The relative
proportions of these ingredients vary
in accordance with the method of
brewing; but experience teaches that
on an average, one bushel of yields
about 12 pounds of sugar and 15
pounds of dextrine. A portion of
the latter substance is further trans-
formed into sugar during fermenta-
tion, so that a bushel of barlej' rep-
resents, on an average, 16 pounds of
sugar and 11 pounds of dextrine
(gum.)

Both, dextrine (gum) and sugar,
are equall}^ essential to the brewing
process. The latter I'urnishes the al-
cohol, without which no beverage can
be called spirituous ; while the former
constitutes almost the entire extract-
ive matter, ov body, of the beer, which
is one of the chief distinguishing fea-
tures bet A^een beer and wine. Now
it is true that all (commercial) starch
sugar contains a certain amount of
dextrine — the moi'e, the poorer qual-
ity ; but this portion would be insuf-
ficient in case a ^/oo^i article were used,

Keeping Grapes Under Ground.

209

while ill the contrary case it would be
paid for at an extravagant rate.

Imported potato sugar of good
quality, containing some 15 per cent.
of dextrine (gum,) costs about 12
cents per pound at New York. Maize
eugar of equal purity can be furnished
here at 8 cents per pound. Twenty
pounds of either article, costing re-
spectively 82.40 and 81.60, would
yield 10 pounds of fermentable sugar
and 3 pounds of dextrine (gum,)
M'hile a bushel of barley will yield
not only 16 pounds of sugar, but 11
pounds of dextrine or gum besides.
Thus starch sugar can be added to
beer wort only in small quantities,
unless when it is desired to impart a
vinous character to the beer. AYhen
the latter object is not in view, the
best substitute for barley will alwa3'S
be found in maize or some other cheap
grain.

Xot so in the tnanufaeture of wine.
For this purpose, good starch sugar,
containing not exceeding 15 percent,
of dextrine, is decidedl}' preferable to
cane sugar. A pound of the latter,
of the quality suitable for wine man-
ufacture, costs at least 15 cents ;
whereas, as just stated, good starch
sugar from maize can be sold at 8
cents. Now as 5 lbs. of starch suo;ar

are equivalent to 2 pounds of cane
sugar as regards their yield of alco-
hol, the balance is altogether in favor
of maize sugar, to-wit :

4 pounds cane sugar at 15 cts., 80.60

5 pounds grape sugar at 8 cts., 80.40
The 15 per cent, of dextrine (gum)
contained in the maize sugar will
(according to the usual proportion of
sugar added to must) increase the
amount of "extract" in wine onl}' by
a few per cent., and will tend to give
it the ^'monthly" taste (''body") which
in meagre wines, already fermented,
is sought to be produced by the addi-
tion of glycerine.

Enormous quantities of cane sugar
are already being consumed in the
wine manufacture in this country; so
that even as a consideration of nation-
al economy it is highly important to
supply in maize sugar a partial sub-
stitute for imported cane sugar.

In a like manner the South, more
particularl}', might furnish a very
cheap cane sugar, whether in a liquid
or solid condition, and that answers
all the requisites of the fermontic arts;
provided it be free from nitrogenous,
mucous substances ; and which mo-
mentous difticulty the recent technical
progress offers the ready means to
overcome.

KEEPING GEAPES UN DEE GEOUND.

Friend Husmann : — Many years
ago, while in the nursery business, a
customer wanted some vines of me,
and while the}^ were being dug up he
asked me if I had kept any grapes
over winter. This was in March. Of
course he got a negative reply. Well,

said he, when I come next week for
trees I will bring jon some along.
The thing seemed but a joke to me at
the time, but of course I thanked him
for the kind offer. True to his prom-
ise, when he came a week or ten days
thereafter, he brought me some. Not

210

The Grape Cnltnrist.

a few berries as might have been ex-
pected, but at least five pounds. They
were Isabellas and Catawbas, per-
fectly plump, sweet and fresh, al-
though most of the berries had
dropped from their stems. With the
exception of a very slight earthy
taste, the}' v\^ere certainly excellent.
The question, of course, was asked,
how do you keep them thus? The
reply was, that in the fall as late as the
cold will admit, they were gathered in
a clear da}- when perfectly dry; a
box about eight inches deep was
taken ; a layer of green leaves was
taken from the vines and laid on the
bottom ; on these a layer of grapes,
then a layer of leaves again, until the
box was full, finishing Avith a layer of
leaves. Put the lid on tight and bury

deep enough to escape the frosts of
winter. Of course it must be where
water cannot settle into the box.

The stems of those grapes were
quite fresh when given to me. The
man told me his father-in-law had
kept them thus for years. Wh}^ I
never tried it is now a mA-stery to
me; but if spared until fall, will do
so, I think.

Yours truly,

S. Miller.

Blukfton, Mo., June 1st, 1870.

[We have often dug up bunches of
grapes on layers, late in the fall, when
all the grapes on the vines had been
frozen long ago, and found them
plump, sweet and fresh. We do not
doubt the method is a good one, and
worth a trial. — Editor.]

For the Ghate Cultuhtst.

TRAINING VINES.

Mr. Editor: I have always thought,
and was b}' this 3'ear's experience
greatly confirmed in the opinion that
we ought to give our vines a sort of
foot-stool, that is, one stem or several
arms stretching 1 or li feet upwards
from the ground, so that no leaves or
young sprouts may touch it. Bend-
ing down our heads we ought to be
able to get a look from under the vines
from one end of the row to the other
all the year through.

This will enable us to keep the
ground clean and pulvei'ized, bj" the
plow and hoc, right near the stems,
and a free circulation of the air and,
by it, the warming of the ground just
around the stems will be insured.

In fact, sometimes we want, for the

sake of renewal, a sprout to come out
from or near the roots; but there is
no difficulty about that. By properl}'
trimming the upper canes, we ma}* at
an}' time, when needed, have sprouts
from the roots. Generally we have
too many of them, and though they be
removed in the early part of the sum-
mer, many of them will grow after-
ward unobserved, because we can not
get a look to the ground near the
stems, being nothing but a nuisance.
If a new twig from near the roots is
wanted, we ought to let it grow the
first summer and tie it up ; the next
year we should rub off the three or
four first buds and leave the fourtli or
fifth to sprout to make a good spur for
the comino; year.

'' That Taylor Hybrid,'" and Other Grapes.

211

Another advantage of this plan is,
that no clusters will hang down so low
as to he dirtied, or pilfered hy par-
tridges and obnoxious quadrupeds.
Even domestic chickens, otherwise so
very useful in the vineyard, will do
ver^' little damage to our grapes,
when none of them are hanging down
loAver than 1 J feet from the ground.

The fruit of the vine should hanff

from two to four feet from the ground ;
the new canes should not extend
higher than to remain within the
reach of our hands, and 1 or \h feet
from the ground there should be
nothing to impede our looks, or the
circulation of air, light and warmth.

Brethren of the vintagers' tribe,,
just try the plan, and j^ou will ap-
prove it. Fr. MiiNCH.

"THAT TAYLOR HYBEID," AND OTHER GRAPES.

Friend Husmann : In reply to 3'our
friendly inquiry as to grape prospects
in this region, and "^ especially about
that Taylor Hybrid," 1 have pleasure
in saying that the prospects for nearly
all varieties are at this date, June 20,
unusually promising. They are, with-
out exception, making a good, healthy,
and vigorous growth, showing thus
far no sign of mildew or disease of
any kind. A few of the very earlj^-
blooming varieties, such as Adirondac
and Creveling, were somewhat injured
by late Irosts, and are only showing-
fruit on secondary buds. Concord,
Delaware, Hartford, and Rogers'
Hybrids are all looking well, and
fruiting abundantly.

Salem, Avhieh both mildewed and
rotted shockingly last year, appears
at this time perfectly healthy.

Martha is all that could be desired
in health and productiveness, and is
showing larger and more perfect
branches than I have seen before.

Even the " celebrated Walter,"
which was last year stricken by mil-
dew, almost " unto death," is making,
thus far, a clean and healthy growth.

" That Taylor Hybrid" has always

been healthy, and vigorous in gi'owth
and passed the terrible ordeal of last
season with less injurj^ than Concord,.
Hartford, or any of Rogers' Hybrids.
Its foliage was very slightly touched
by mildew, it showed no rot whatever,,
and retained its leaves until they were
removed by the frosts of Autumn.
I believe it to be a decided improve-
ment upon the Taylor, its female
parent, and free from its most promi-
nent defects. In growth it is strong
and vigorous, but more compact, and
shorter-jointed than the Tajdor. The
foliage is not quite as large ; less an-
gular or pointed, and thicker in sub-
stance. Its most strongly-marked
feature of improvement is, however,
found in its uniformly well-set, com-
pact, and perfectly-formed clusters, as
1 have no variety its superior in this
respect. Its berries are also larger
than those of the Taylor ; oval in
shape, and of a delicate purplish or
maroon-red color, somewhat like those
of the Grizzly Frontignan, its male
parent.

The only fear I have as to the suc-
cess of this hj'brid, is that it may
prove too late in ripening to be uni

212

The Grape Culturist.

forml}^ depended upon in this latitude ;
— and for this reason I have not jet
grown a single plant from it — nor
have I determined that it is really
worthy of dissemination. It how-
•ever seems to me, that wherever the
Taylor is desirable or valuable, this
hybrid must prove much more so.

Of the many other seedlings and
hybrids which I have been producing
for nearly twenty years, I have but
very few that I regard as especially
promising. Of these I w^ill hereafter
^ive you a more particular account,
when I can also send you samples of
their fruit ; for I always feel a hesi-
tancy about expressing opinions of
my own productions, without at the
same time affording to others, who
can have no partiality in their favor,
.an opportunity of judging of their
correctness.

Two seedlings from the Concord
-cross-fertilized with Delaware, seem
to me quite promising; for they have
thus far shown only the good quali-
ties of both parents, without their
faults. In other words, the}^ have ex-

hibited the freedom from mildew
which is found in the Concord; and
the exemption from rot which char-
acterizes the Delaware. Both passed
through last season in perfectly open
exposuies, without either mildew or
rot, and in the immediate vicinity
when Concord, Hartford and all
Rogers' hybrids were nearly des-
troyed. As to character of fruit, &e.,
they are both black grapes, larger
than Delaware, though resembling it
in form of bunch and berrj^ ; but less
in size than Concords. In quality I
regard them as intermediate; better
than Concord ; but not equal to Dela-
ware.

I have also had some interesting
experience in raising seedling Dela-
wares, tending to establish, as I think,
the purel}' native character of the
Delaware. And I think I have also
produced among them one seedling
that will prove a decided advance and
improvement upon the Delaware both
in habits of growth and in quality.
Geo. W. Campbell.

Delaware, Ohio, June 2C, 1870.

THE COMING MAN WILL DRINK WINE; OR, COMMON SENSE vs.

PROHIBITIVE LAWS.

It may be that in our otherwise
happy and progressive countr}-, a cer-
tain portion of its inhabitants, moulded
out of some superior clay, and lor that
reason — beyond a doubt — going fast
ahead of the age, have been, antl still
•continue to grow too pure to live in
quiet fellowship with the rest of man-
kind. Saints need a world of their
-own, and should rule on earth if not in
heaven ! I particularlj'^ dread those

who say : eat as we do, drink as we do !
I am too well aware that there is but
one step from the ridiculous to the
horrible, and that, if indulged, there
may come a time when they will add :
believe and worship as we do ! In a
free country like ours these are facts
which should be carefully noted and
guarded against, and which make it a
necessar}' duty to be always on the
look out, ready for a fight. When an

The Coming Man Will Drink Wine, etc.

213;

error or a prejuice has been destroyed,
there is ever to be found some knave
or fool ea<ier to restore it to life.

From time immemoi'ial, moralists
have inveighed, in prose and in poetr}',
against intemperance or the abuse of
strong drinks, nevertheless drinking
has always been a necessity cherished
by man, and upheld not only by sober
and well constituted minds, but even
by those whom a sincere faith in the
teachings of the scriptures, not only
compel us to regard but to follow as
the great lights of our holy religion.
In proof of my assertion I could, if I
so desired, take you as far back almost
as creation, but this might be rashly
tampering with your powers of endur-
ance. I will not prove thus cruel, and
without looking further back in the
annals of the world than the time when
the earth was flooded, I will simply
call your attention to the fact, that the
only man whom the Lord considered
worth}', and singled out to replenish
the world, was him who at once set to
replant the vine, Noah ! if I must call
him by name, the patron of all true
vinej'ardists.

My time being limited, a wide leap
will bring us down to that worth}' man
from whose loins sprang the Messiah.
AVhat will our modern temperance men
say w^hen, by turning to that book of
books, to which all professed christians
look to as a moral guide, they find in
the 104th psalm that " God sendeth the
springs into the valleys to give drink
to every beast of the field and wherein
the wild asses quench their thirst ; that
he causeth the grass to grow for the
cattle, and herb for the service of man :
that he may bring forth food out of the
earth, and wine that maketh glad the

Jieart of man." Can there be a reason-
able doubt but that it was intended, in
the beautiful and admirable organiza-
tion of this world, that wine should be
the drinlv for the superior and rational
being, man, and water the drink for
wild asses ? Perhaps the chief reason
of immature temperance men for exalt-
ing water above wine is, that they con-
sider themselves as members of this
last mentioned class of animals ; if so^
as all created beings have a right to
their own opinion, and should act
according to their nature, — reasonable
men cannot object ; the motive of the
reason is good, and should receive the
due consideration of all the charitabl}^
disposed. But 1 wish to insist upon
the fact that whilst calling themselves
christians, they do not appear to re-
alize that they are warring against
Providence, seeing that in obedience ta
the stern law of a misguided philan-
thropy, they are continually rejecting
the favors that he has and is abund-
antly throwing upon them. I ask of
all right thinking men if it is not better
assuredly to be on the side of Provi-
dence against the recent water drinkers
than on the side of water drinkers
against I'rovidence?

The great Creator, who has provided
so wisely and abundantly for all his
creatures, " grass for the cattle and
WINE that maketh glad the heart of
man, and water for the asses," knows
what is best for us infinitely better than
we do ourselves, all politico-religionists
included ! And there can be neither
sense nor merit, nor even sound states-
manship, I take it, in churlishly refusing
to partake of that ample entertainment,
sprinkled with delicate perfumes, gar-
nished with roses, and crowned with

214

The Grape Culturist.

the most delicate fruits, which we know
were not only specially prepared for us
but also made ready, as nearly as
geologists can judge, for the appointed
hour of our appearance at the feast.

This we also know, I might add if it
was necessary', that when the Divine
Man came into the world, unlike the
modern water men, he did not refuse
the temperate use of any of these lux-
uries, not even of that '• manufactured
wine" with which he replenished the
empty jars of the publican, while a
guest at the wedding of Cana. This
happeneil at the beginning of a short
but eventful life, sacrificed for the sal-
vation of the world. Was it an error
of 3-outh atoned for in after-life, and
was the use of wine ever afterwards
deprecated by him ? The curious reader
will find the answer by turning to what
is called the institution of the holy
supper, in Matthew, Luke, or Mark,
chap. XIV., v. 23, 24 and 25. It is
evident from wliat is there contained
that it never entered the mind of Christ
that drinking wine was a sin, a hateful
sin to be severely reproved, forbidden
or punished. Yet, with these facts to
stare them in the face, our new-fangled
christians know better than Christ, and
are determined to improve upon him.
Here is what a set of these " know
betters," an influential religious organi-
zation in the temperate State of Iowa,
have unanimousl}'

^'Besolved, That the use of an3'thing
containing intoxicating properties, in
the celebration of the Lord's supper, is
a perversion of that solemn ordinance,
and ought to be abandoned for ever."
And this is called a "Christian and
right movement" ( ! )

It may be right where there is miijht

to enforce it, but please leave the
" Christian " out, that it never can be if
you believe the apostles.

Is it not safe to infer that these men
belong to that class who, in Matthew,
11-19, called Christ a "wine-bibber?"
Are they not, by implication, repeating
the same charge made by the unbeliev-
ers? O Lord ! what follies are perpe-
trated under cover of Thy name.

Let us now turn our attention to the
great gun of these modern, not modest,
christians, and see if it will not go off
with a fizzle. It is to be found in the
35th chapter of Jereiniali, and consists
in the recommendation of Jonadab to
the Rachabites not to drink wine,
neither build houses, nor sow seeds,
plant or own vineyards, the better
to enable them to reap the full advan-
tages pertaining to a nomadic life. But
as my patient readers all have bibles
of their own — or ought to — let them
read and digest for themselves ; and
whilst I shall have the satisfaction to
know that they are engaged in a pleas-
ant occupation, it will spare me the
trouble to write the chapter, with the
risk of being accused of quoting but a
part.

I will not here do our young Jona-
dabs the injustice to suppose for one
moment that they have the slightest
conception of the real meaning of that
admirable chapter, God forbid ! I know
that their zeal, far above their under-
standing, will not allow them to see in
the son of Rechab aught but the only
reliable light wortli following upon this
question. It is true that the second
verse — that is, the command of God —
is rather in sharp conflict with the third
resolution of their own platform, which
reads thus : "The absolute prohibition

Reports on Grapes.

215

of the manufacture, importation, and
sale of intoxicating liquors for such
purposes — prohibition expressed by due
form of law, with the penalties deserv-
ed for a crime of such enormity'." They,
no doubt, can reconcile the two,
"Alike, but oh I how ditt'erentl"

and as I give them due credit for an
understanding entirely' of their own,
I will make no comment.

Nor shall I do my intelligent readers
the injustice to think that they need an
explanation of the real intent and pur-
pose of Mr. Jonadab, together with the
vast difference which naturally must
exist between a command from that

gentleman or one from God. I surmise
that though there is yet plenty of spare
room left in Uncle Sam's domain, there
are but few of them ready to abandon
their houses, stop sowing seeds, give
up their vineyards and drinking wine
for the noble purpose of leading a life
similar to the admirable and enviable
red skins. God keep me from ri'sem-
bling those deep hypocrites who assume
that light shines but for them. I know
my readers can judge and decide for
themselves, and here I rest.

Dr. Ampelos.

Golden Hills Vineyard, ]
J^sAUVOO. 111. \

EEPOETS ON GRAPES.

These are always welcome to us,
from wherever they may come, and
we are ghid to see our correspondents
commence early. AYe hope to get
quite a number of them for September
issue.

Here, we have some eight}' varie-
ties fruiting, about seventy of which
are in the Experimental Yineyard
under our immediate care. In about
thirty acres of vineyards, now bear-
ing here, we do not think we have lost
over twenty-five pounds of grapes by
rot so far, although our upper vino-
yards, some ten acres bearing vines,
were considerably damaged b}' hail
twice. "Wo may have lost about one
fourth of their crop by hail, but they
still have a heav}' load of fruit.

As a general thing, the crop is lar-
ger than any thing we ever saw,
especially on ihe vineyards in the
river bottom. The Concord, Ives and

Hartford there on four year old vines,
will at the lowest estimate, produce
thirty pounds per vine average. On
a Franklin vine, four years old, we
counted three hundred and twenty-
six fine, compact bunches. The Tay-
lor, which generally sets imperfectly,
has fine compact bunches this season,
and in our experimental vine3-ard,
will average at least tAvelve pounds
]ier vine. Four years old vines of the
Goethe will we think, we rage twenty-
five pounds, and even the three years
old in the other vineyards have a
large crop of beautiful fruit. In
fact, all varieties look well, but
especially the Maxatawney, Telegraph,
Lindley, Massasoit, Wilder, Cynthia-
na, Martha, and, last but not least, the
Hermann, covered from top to bot-
tom with its beautiful compact clus-
ters, the verj' picture of health and
productiveness. Mary Ann, Miles,

216

The Grape Culturut.

Telegraph and Hartford are coloring
at this date (the 19th of July.) For
an early market grape we know of
none, which would pay better than
Mary Ann. It Ip the earliest we have ;
we saw colored berries on it the 4th
of July; it is enormously productive,
healthy and hardy, always produces
fine bunches, hangs well to the stem,
and is of better quality than Hartford.

"VVe think it premature however at
this early date to attempt a full re-
port. We shall do so in September
and October, and hope all our friends
and readers will give us their expe-
rience in their localities.

We may safel}- saj', however, that
to the true friends of grape culture,
those who take an interest in its pro-
gi*ess, a visit to our vineyards would
richly pay, and we hope to see a good
many of our friends here, where they
will find us ever ready and willing to
show them what we have, and demon-
strate our advice by actual fact.

Editor.

grapes about cincinnati.

Geo. Husmann, Esq., Editor Grape

Culturist :

I promised some months ago to act
as your correspondent at Cincinnati
and keep 3'ou posted as to matters of
interest in the vine_yard in this region.
As this is my first communication, I
fear you have already put me down
as a very poor one. But I will try to
redeem the time in future, and besides
I can plead a good excuse, for with a
hundred acres of grapes planted and
half that number in bearing; you will
agree with me that I have enough on
my hands to keep one man busy, if
not to set him craz}'. Before pro-

ceeding further I must pause to tell
you that we are all happy; all vine-
dom in this region is jubilant. Never
within the memorj'' of man, was such
a crop of grapes seen here. Every
thing is glorious, no mildew, no rot,,
no leaf blight, no vine destroying
insects. All varieties are doing equally
well. The delicate white grapes, the
Eebecca, Maxatawney, Cassad}', and
others which have always rotted here,
are this year perfect ; so of the lona,
Isi-aella and Martha. And the Cataw-
ba, our glorious old Catawba ; what
shall I say of that, perfectly healthy
in leaf and berry, and the 12th of
Jul}', are we not about out of the
woods 'i Is this prince of grapes not
about to be restored to us. I hope so,
for among all the new varieties, we
have not yet found one that has its
favor with the people. [Very natu-
ral, the people do not know them long-
enough. Ed.]

Our season thus far has been just
what every grape grower would have,
mild and temjjerate, with no scalding
showers, and this applies to the great
grape region of Ohio and Kentucky,,
from all parts of which I have infor-
mation, and the testimony is univer-
sal, that there has been no disease, a
great absence of insects, with an un-
bounded crop. Old Catawba vine-
3'ards, that have not had a crop in
man}^ 3'ears are hanging full ; truly
the year of jubilee has come!

I am glad to notice that you are
giving up a part of your first love for
the Concord and dividing it with the
Ives. This 3'ou will not regret, for
if ever a grape was grown, that is
perfectly healthy, hardy and produc-
tive, it is the Ives. I have counted one

Reports on Grapes.

217

hundred and ninety-six good bunches
on a single Ives X'ine, six year old, in
my vineyard the present week, which
will make two gallons of wine, and
the vineyard will average over a gal-
lon to the vine (on trellis). Besides,
Ives wine will sell, while there is little
demand for Concord. "We are having
a great revival in grape culture here,
a single vineyard of one hundred
acres, mostly Ivos; another of onehun-
di'ed and forty-five acres, mostly Ives
and Delaware, besides numerous
smaller ones were planted the present
season, and the Avork will be largely
increased the next season. This is
right, for to make a market for our
wines ; to make our wines popular,
we must make more of them and sell
them cheaper. Our mission is lo
make this a wine drinking, instead of
a whisk}' drinking nation, and to do
it, we must increase the production at
least two hundred fold. We must
bring it within the reach of all ; we
must make a wine good enough for
the rich and cheap enough for the
poor. We must give it to the people
at such prices, that the mechanic, the
drayman, the day laborer can have a
bottle of wine for his Sunday- dinner,
without feeling that he is scrimping
his famil}'. I would even make it so
cheap that the universal brotherhood
of man (and woman too) dan have it
for a daily beverage. Let the children
have it, accustom them to its daily
use when young, and they will never
become drunkards Avhen they grow
up. And for this we mast make a
light delicate Avine ; for a breakfast
wine, in the place of coffee. And I am
not sure Mr. Editor, that I would not
add a little suo-ar and water to the

must, to make it light, pleasant, and
harmless to ladies and children. But
I must stop. I was going to tell you
what varieties we are growing, man-
ner of cultivation &c., but of this in
my next.

There is to be a great national ex-
hibition of almost everything held
here the last of September. Grapes
and wine will be in order. Can't we
have a meeting of the American Wine
Grower's Association at the time, and
all come, and show the world what we
can do. Lot all bring statistics of
grapes and wine ; these will be pub-
lished with the proceedings, and go
out to the world. The exhibition will
be held under the auspices of the Cin-
cinnati Chamber of Commerce, Board
of Trade, and the Ohio Mechanic's
Institute.

E. A. Thompson.

Cincinnati, July I'i, 1S70.

P. S. My Ives are changing color,
showing the purple blush ; which
proves the season to be at least two
to three weeks ahead of last year.

[We ai-e rejoiced to hear such good
news from the starting point of grape
culture, and think it was needed, after
so many disastrous seasons. But
that a single very favorable season
should restore the Catawba — we for
one cannot believe, and think our
Cincinnati friends would be the last to
hope so, after their disastrous expe-
rience with that grape. We believe
the Goethe and Lindley will super-
cede it completely in a few years,
when they become bettor known and
tried.

Concord is not slow of sale here, in
fact it sells faster than any other red
wine, and we have yet to see the red

218

The Grape Culhirist.

■\vine, Avhich is go Avell adapted to fur-
nish the 'masses with a cheap, pleasant
and exhilarating drink. Not even
the Ives will do it. We are glad to
see that friend Thompson has changed
his views about adding water and
sugar. \Ye always thought he would
come to it. Better reform late than
never,

AVe are afraid Crrape Growers will
be too busy with their crop to permit
those from a distance to attend an
exhibition in September. We know
it will be next to impossible to us,
and we ^^ judge of others by our-
selves/' although nothing would give
us more pleasure than to meet our
many Cincinnati friends on so happy
and interesting an occasion. Editor.]

Baden, St. Louis Co., Mo., .July i;5, IhTO.

Mr. George Husmann, Editor Grape

Culturist :

Dear Sir : Reading the ditierent re-
ports in your Grape Culturist with
great interest, I shall endeavor to uive
you my experience in grape culture. I
have about two acres in vines; the sit-
uation is rather low, soil heavy and
rich loam ; the vines were planted in
the spring of 1<S65, 6 by 6 feet apart.
I would now plant them 6 b}' 10 feet.
The principal varieties are Concord,
Virginia Seedling, and Catawba, be-
sides about twelve more varieties on
trial. In 1867 I ougiit to have had ni}'
first crop, but got hardly Viwy on ac-
count of too short pruning. In 1868 I
had an enormous crop, i. e. , of Concord
and Norton's ; the Cunningham had
plenty of fruit but did not ripen it.
Last year ('69) I had the prospects of
a splendid crop, but lost fully nine-
tenths by rot, mostly from the effects

of the wet weather, but also from my
own negligence in summer pruning too
late. In this summer pruning, accord-
ing to my experience, the vintner can
hardl}- be prompt enough. This 3'ear,
so far, the prospects are, in spite of the
late frosts, for an enormous crop. I
have worked my ^•ine3'ard well, and am
satisfied it will pay.

Now, a little more about the varieties
of grapes. I have rooted out this year
as worthless on my place, the Catawba,
Herbemont, Rulander, Cunningham,
Blood's Black, Cassady, Allen's Hy-
brid, .'Ndirondac, Taylor, Rogers' 15,
and Ion a. The Delaware really don't
pay, but as yet I cannot part with that
delicious fruit. The Ives are bearing
with me for the first time, and are really
making a beautiful show ; they seem
to be hardy, healthy, very productive
and prolific ; the bunches are also larger
than I expected them to be, for they
are full}' the size of Hartford. The
Martha also has a few bunches, but the
spring fiost nipped it rather severe.
Maxatawny is with me a very slow
grower ; have not yet been able to fruit
it. Cynthiana is doing rather slovv, but
1 am confident it is all right, for I have
known it for the last ten j^ears, and it
has always done well, especial h^ at the
vineyard of the late Wm. Poeschel.

Now to my favorite grape, the Her-
mann. I put out one plant of it in the
spring of '08 that has now about sev-
vent}' perfect bunches, and twelve
strong layers (the bunches on the lay-
ers were cat off), and as rampant and
fine a growth as any in the vineyard.
If that vine will bring its fruit to ma-
turity, and if the wine will, with chap-
talizing, retain that fine and peculiar
flavor, I sincerely believe that it will

Reports on Grapes.

219

be one of our best wine-making grapes.
(I have no plants for sale). Spring
frosts will hardly ever hurt it, because
it starts very late in the season. An-
other good wine-making grape, I think,
is the Goethe, but have not yet fruited
it myself.

I am now building a new wine cellar
and fermenting-house on your plan, and
consider it a decided improvement on
the old-fashioned cold and costly cel-
lars. Please let us hear by chance
through your Culturist j-our candid
opinion of the Hermann grape.
Yours, respectfully,

Paulus Gast.

[^Ye are sorry that you had to dis-
card so many of our favorites, but sup-
pose you were right, as your locality
may nt)t suit tliem. The Herbemont,
Cunningham, and Rulander want a
warm soil, intermixed with lime.

We thought we had expressed our
opinion of tiie Hermann often enough
(see description in April No. Vol. 1),
and can only add that every season
gives us a greater opinion of it, as one
of our leading wine grapes of the future^
when mediocrity even will have no
chance. — Ed.]

Lexington, Mo , Jime -ifi, 1870

j\Ir. Geo. Husmann :

Thinking you would like to know
something of the prospects of the
grape crop in this part of Missouri, I
drop you a line. My vineyard is one
mile northeast of Lexington. I have
but a few hundred vines, comprising
thirty-eight kinds, mostly Concord.
The grape commenced rotting about
the 15tb of this month. We have had
an exceedingly dry and v^arm spring
60 far^ and fruits of all kinds are

neai'ly a failui'e, except the grape.
The pi'ospect, up to the 15th June^ is,
that we shall have the best crop of
grapes ever seen in Lafayette county.
All varieties ai'e taking the rot except
Delaware, Eulandei', Allen's Hj-brid,
Cunningham and Elsinburg. The va-
rieties taking the rot are Logan,
Catawba, Hartford, Ontario, Hettie,
Concord, North Carolina, Maxataw-
ney, Perkins, Isabella, Diana, Cassady,
Mar}' Ann, Adironac, To-kalon, Rog-
er's Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 19.

The rot commences Avith a small
speck, skin-deep, and gradually en-
larges. In five to eight days the berry
drops off. The prospect now is that
\\Q shall lose about one-fourth of the
crop. Yery respectfully,

E. W. Bedford.

Macon, Mo , July 11, 1S70.

Geo. IIusmann, Esq., Editor Grape

Culturist :

One year ago last May I planted a
small vineyard of about six acres,
mostly Concord, Hartford Prolific,
and Delaware, with a few of each of
uearl}- all varieties of grapes i-ecom-
mended for this climate. Most of the
vines have been layered this season,
but about one thousand Concords that
were left for bearing, w^hieh are doing
finely and from present indications
many of them will bear from five to
ten 23ounds of grapes to the vine.
The other varieties are doing finely.
The cuttings I received from you we
grafted in bearing vines, one-half of
which are making a fine growth, so
that I expect to be able to test them
all here next season. My experience
in grape growing is so very limited,
it could hardly be of much value to

220

The Grape Culturist.

your readers. The ground was pre-
pared bj deep piowingand subsoiling,
as recommended by you. Then
thrown up in ridges eight feet apart,
on Avhich the vines were planted ; thus
making a surlace drain between ever}'
two rows. The vines are tied to
stakes at present, but I wish to adopt
the trailing chain culture next season,
similar to that described in Messrs.
Bush k Son's catalogue. You will un-
doubtedly confer a great favor upon
many of your readers, as well as upon
your humble servant, by giving a
full description and details of that
system of training. I think, for field
culture, it has many advantages over
any other sj'stem, besides being much
the cheapest, which you know is a
very great consideration with persons
of limited means. You have caused
the explosion of the idea of the ne-
cessity of trenching, thus saving a
i^.eedless expense ; now if you can
show a system of training disj)ensing
with the necessitj' of trellising, you
will do a great service to the grape
growing interests, and will confer a
great benefit upon a great number of
poor men. If desirable I will in my
nest give you the statistics of grape
growing in this count}', with the soil,
elevations, &c., &c.

Yery truly yours,

J. A. Vrooman.
[You Avill find the trailing chain
S3-stem fully described and discussed
in July, August, and September num-
bers Grape Culturist, 1869. AVe
think it entirely impracticable here,
and have given our reasons for think-
ing so in the article referred to. AVe
shall be glad to get the statistics. —
Editor.]

THE GRAPE PROSPECT AT LQCKPORT,
NEW YORK.

A few words will inform j-ou of our
present prospect for a crop of grapes
at this point. It never was better since
the first grapevine was planted. Nearly
all varieties are carrying a heavy load.
Some Delawares that overbore last
year, which was very wet, are not fruit-
ing so heavil}" as usual. Hartford is
bearing an enormous crop, and the
bunches are better than Concord this
year. Diana, lona, and Rogers' Hy-
brids all look finely. No mildew, no
rot. As I have before said, Wilder
must supersede the Concord as a mar-
ket variet}'. With us this year it is
immensely ahead. Salem is bearing a
fine crop ; some of the bunches will be
as lai'ge as ''the picture," which you
know has been considered a little ex-
travagant. I hear that the 30-acre vine-
3'arcl at Brocton is promising well. A
single Walter in the fine vineyard of jNIr.
Hoag is carrying a fine crop. He also
has some Marthas in bearing, but the
bunches seem to me small. I will send
a few brief notes later in the season.

I. H. B.

LocKroKT, N Y., -Tuly 12rh, 1870

[Glad to hear so good a report. The
Martha bunch is not as large as the
Concord, but we have raised them to
weigh half a pound, of handsome shape
and compact, and the vine is very pro-
ductive. The bunches will get larger
as the vine is older. Hope yon will
have a good crop of everything, lona,
Salem, and Walter included. — Ed.]

GRAPES IN TENNESSEE.

Memphis. July 9, 1*70.

Mr. G. Husmann :

Bear Sir: — You ask for a report

Reports on Grapes.

221

from grape growers. Well, as I ara
in that -line a little, and received all
raj instructions through you, I will
tell jou how I get along. I never saw
a vine planted, or layered, or grafted
until I did it mA'self. Now I have
three thousand vines in bearing,
mostly Concords, with a ver}^ fair
crop)^ although I was very much dis-
couraged on the 16th of April last.
My vines had put out canes from two
to six inches, and showed a large
quantity of fruit; but all were killed.
I read somewhere that I must pull otf
all the frozen Avood : I did so, except
one row, and that put out first again
and did better than the rest. Where
I pulled off the frozen wood the}- bled,
and I think I injured the remaining
bud. Part of my vine^'ard (one
thousand vines) were a j-ear old when
set, the balance were cuttings put out
in the field. I think the whole vine-
yard will average ten pounds to the
vine — the 1,000 vines Avill go fifteen
pounds or more. How is that for a
crop, under the circumstances ? There
is no mildew, but some rot. Fifty
Hartfords are very full, and I think a
tenth of them are rotten. I have also
fifty Herbemonts, with a few Cunning-
hams among them. On some of the
Herbemont vines the grape are all
rotten, others have no rot on them.
No rot on the Cunningham; the Del-
awares are very fine also. The Con-
cords are rotting some, mostl}' on the
richest ground. The}' are all on what
is called here poor land, and the Her-
bemont is on the poorest of it. I put
in about four hundred grafts of the
Goethe and Martha (I got from you) :
about half of them came up. I think
the severe drouth in Ma}- Avas the

cause of their failure. The Martha
cuttings, four hundred, I lost; I root-
grafted them and planted in the vine-
yard ; none grew. The Goethe I did
the same; they did better, and all my
cuttings did well in the cutting bed,
where they were mulched.

I have been very much discouraged
about grape growing here. The old
citizens said they would not do — that
I would lose all I put in them ; but I
think the prospect is good. We have
the advantage of the northern mar-
ket. M}- Hartfords are coloring now
(July 9), only about eleven weeks
since they were all frozen off. I put
three or four grafts of the Goethe
into an old wild vine, and one of them
has grown ten feet already. It Avas
grafted in February.

Yours very respectfully,

T. S. Barbour.

[We are ghxd to see that our proph-
esy in regard to the crop Avas fulfilled
so well, and think that CA-en the
croakers Avill now concede that the
grape is the most recuperative and
safest of all fruits, if suitable A-arie-
ties are chosen. Your crop is a very
fair one Ave think. Go ahead, and don't
mind those Avho try to discourage you.

We neA-er had any success in graft-
ing grapes and setting them out the
same spring. Would rather plant
cuttings of such A-arieties as Goethe
and Martha. — Editor.

Cliff Cave, Mo., June ii, 1870.

Mr. Geo. Husjiann :

Dear Sir : At our locality Ave had
more or less rain fall on twelve succes-
sive days in this month, keeping the
surface of the ground and the foliage
of the vines almost constantly wet.

The Grape Culturist.

During the last U\o or three days of
this wet period, grapes began to show
some rot, especially the Concord, but
as soon as the atmosphere became dry
the rotting entirel}' ceased. It was
worse on vines not very closel}' summer
pruned. The Catawba did not suffer
from rot but mildewed badly.

The injury from the late spring frost

(April ] 6th) was also greater upon the
Concord than upon an}' other variety
in our grounds, excepting, perhaps,
Clinton. I think fully two-thirds of
the primary fruiting buds on the Con-
cord were destroyed. I intend to make
you a full report of the damage by frost
at some future time. Yours, truly,

C. ^V. Spalding.

A FEW HIXTS O]^ WINE MAKING.

BY THE EDITOR.

It has been our fortune, during a
practice of nearly twenty years, to
serve an apprenticeship in American
"wine making, which commenced at
the rudiments of the art; and Ave well
remember how careful we would be to
pick our grapes, to get them thorough-
ly ripC; to keejD out all dew or rain,
and the doleful looks we would east
upon our imperfectly ripened grapes,
as we did not think it possible to make
good, drinkable wine from them. But
fortunately those days are past, and
we often think of them with mingled
pity and amusement. Thanks to the
teachings of Gall, Chaptal and Petiot,
we can now make good drinkable Avine
ever}' year.

But, during this practice, Ave found
that different grapes requii^e different
treatment, almost as varied as the
grapes themselves. To elucidate this
we would once more briefly allude to
the definition of bouquet and aroma,
as already explained in the ''Chemistry
of Wine," by Mr. Erings.

Aroma is the flavor peculiar to the
variety of grape : for instance the foxy
flavor so very perceptible as to be

disagreeable in some of our grapes,
especial!}- the Northern Muscadine,
Perkins, Hartford Prolific, and even
in the Concord and CataAvba.

Jjouquet is developed during fer-
mentation by the action of the alcohol
upon the acids. If the graj^e contains
but little acid it can not develop
much bouquet, nor can it be dcA'cloped
if the must does not contain sufficient
sugar to be changed into alcohol dur-
ing fermentation. These simple facts
Ave must keep before our eyes, as they
are the most important guides, in wine
making.

We have some varieties of grapes
Avhich Avill make so-called aromatic
Avines: that is, the aroma of them is
most pleasant when fully developed,
Avhich it can on!}' be by thorough ri-
pening of the fruit. In this class Ave
can include the Creveling^ Cynthiana,
Arkansas, Hermann, Norton's ^ ir-
ginia, and perhaps Clinton. We
should therefore let these ripen thor-
oughly, if Ave intciul to make the best
Avine they can produce ; and for this
reason we think, those living in north-
ern latitudes, Avith shorter summers,

A Fnv Hints on Wine Making.

223

will never be able to make as good
wine from them as those livingin lati-
tudes where they can thoroughly ripen
and shrivel on the vines.

Other varieties we have which con-
tain aroma in excess, and where it is
desirable to have it in as slight a de-
gree as possible, and to develop bou-
quet instead. We can best attain this
by gathering the fruit when not so
ripe, as the aroma is not so fully de-
veloped. Should the must not contain
sugar enough it must bo added ; and
should the grape contain a surplus of
acid, we can ameliorate I)}' adding
water.

Among the varieties Mduch will
make the best wine, if treated thus,
we will name the Concord, Cassady,
Catawba, Cunningham, Delaware, Di-
ana, Hartford Prolilie, Ilerbemont,
Ives, Louisiana, Maxatawney, Martha,
Goethe, Massasoit, Wilder, Lindley,
Agawam^ Merrimack, Salem, Eogei-s'
Nos. 8 and 12, Eulander, Taylor and
Telegraph.

This may appear rather startling to
some of our readers, and lor a long-
time we believed that it was necessary
to ripen all grapes thoroughlj' to
make the best wine from them. But
''experience is the mother of wisdom."
We never made better Concord, Ca-
tawba, and Herbemont, than in the
esason of 1865, when the summer was
somewhat similar to the present one,
\vhen no grape ripened thoroughlj^,
and our Concord must did not average
more than G5°, Catawba not over 60°,
and Herbemont not over 75°. By add-
ing a gallon of water to the gallon of
must, and sugar enough to bring the
whole mixture to 80'^, -xq made a wine
which we have not been able to sur-

pass since, nor come up to it. The
Herbemont was pronounced by the
best judges in the country the finest
American Avhite wine they had yet
tasted. (Jur Norton's Virginia, how-
ever, made that season, though a fair
article, was much inferior to the vin-
tages of 1866 and '67. Delaware made
that season^ from half ripe grapes,
was valued at 66.00 per gallon within
six weeks from the time it was made.
It was a perfect wine then, clear and
fine, and with an exquisite bouquet.
The Concord was without the offensive
foxiness, and contained acid enough
to be a very palatable wine : the best
we have been a!)le to make of that
grape since.

In wine making we must always
I'emember, that we have no perfect
grape as .yet; that grapes will, in dif-
ferent seasons, yield entirelj^ dilYerent
products, and that only thinking, prac-
tice and experiment will teach us how
we can best improve it.

In making the wine Ave think it liest
now, afier out' experience of last sea-
son, to ferment each vai-iety on the
husks until the wins becomes perfecth'
clear and finished. Fermentation will
draw out all wine-making ingredients,
as acid, sugar, tannin, flavor, etc., and
the husks be perfectly tasteless. We
shall therefore leave it in the ierment-
ing vats until the beginning of De-
cember, then draw it olf and press the
husks. We can not give the propor-
tions, as they will vary with the
variety of grape we have to deal with,
and iis inherent qualities.

Fermentation should be rapid and
thorough, and the fermenting room
be kept at an even temjDerature of 65'^
to 70''. Should it not be warm enouich

224

The Grape Cultuibt.

the room should be heated bj a stove.
Beware of cold cellars for young wine ;
they will retard fermentation, and you
will have continued trouljle. Your
■wine should be clear, and all the sugar
changed to alcohol, in three months
from the making.

We hope we need not tell our read-
ers that all their utensils, pails, vats,
casks, etc., should be perfectly clean
and sweet. A sloven has no business
to be a grape grower, much less a wine
maker, and does not deserve success.

We can, of course, give only general
rules, but we hope that they will be
sufficient to enable all of our readers
to make their wine. They need not
expect that they will reach the climax
at once : it will take long years of
patient study and experiment to pro-
duce the best Avine a grape is capable
of yielding. We do not pretend to
know all about it; on the contrary,
the more we learn we see only the
more clearly how little we yet know.
But we have made some good wines
in our day, and do not fear any more
that we will make a really poor article.
If these hints will enable our readers
to do the same, we shall think our-
selves richly repaid; and if they will,
now and then, send us samples of their
skill, we will try and give them our
opinion and advice about it.

[We republish this article from last
year's issue and have but little to add
to it. Our wines made last 3'ear, by
these rules, are ver}^ satisfactory, and
we intend to follow them again — with
such variations as the different season
may make necessar}^.

As there is a great demand for
white wine, many of our readers may

wish to make white wine from their
Concord grapes. How to do this we
have explained in our reply to Mr.
Huhner, in Letter-box. We have
made, also, excellent white wines of
Hartford and Xorth Carolina seedling,
by a similar process. But observe,
that in each of these cases our grapes
must not be too ripe, as their peculiar
aroma will then be too strong, and the
must will not have acid enough to
allow enough dilution of the aroma.
Most of the Avhite Concords we have
tested do not contain acid enouffh.

Wc shall also use D'Heureuse's air
pump, to hasten fermentation, and in-
tend to have our Avines ready for bot-
tling in three months from the time of
their making.

A few words to those who can
make wiae from the Goethe. This
excellent grape, when properly man-
aged, makes one of the finest and
smoothest white wines we have. But
it has the Muscatel flavor to such a
degree that it is offensive, in the pure
juice of well matured grapes. In
January 1867 Ave made Avine from it,
which competed Avith Delaware, Hex*-
bemont, Rulander, MaxataAvney, Tay-
lor, and the choicest Catawba, at the
wine trial at Hermann, and received
the second premium, as the best Avhite
Avine on exhibition. It Avas made in the
following manner: The grapes Avere
gathered Avhen only Avhite and fully
soft and translucent ; thirty gallons
of Avater and sugar Avere added to two
hundred pounds of the grapes, and the
Avhole mixture brought to 80*^ by ad-
dition of sugar. The whole fermented
two days on the husks, Avas then
pressed and put into casks. It AA^as
our faA'^orite Avine among some twenty-

German Student's Song.

225

live varieties we made that year. Last
winter we tasted several sampler made
from the same grape, at St. Louis, at
the meeting of Mississippi Vallc}"
Grape Growers' Association, which
contained so little acid, and so much
of the peculiar flavor of the grape

that tliey were repugnant to the taste.
Such wine Ave would not drink, could
we help it. ''A word to the wise suf-
fices."

We are so crowded with matter that
we must defer the continuation of this
subject until the September number.

GERMAN STUDENT'S SONG.

[Transliitfd IVom th? German by J A. sclimiilt ]

My life is full of joy iiiul love,

And brightly nuking songs,
And when they gaily rise above

To me the world belongs.

Wild is and rough the road of life,

Xow high, to-morrow low,
Tn vain against oiu- fate the strife,

Therefore— I let it go .

The grape is crushed and pressed — we all

Begin the life in tears ;
But soon, with song and festival

The sparkling wine appears.

Away with care; as snow and ice
^Melts in spring's sinniy shine —

Still grief must leave when we arise
Like bright and gob len- wine.

Come in thou guest, so dear to me;

Oh joy, and taste the winel
Bless all that I received from Thee.

And be thou queen of mine I

The Royal Crown, he shall wear hence

Bacchus, god of the wine;
Joy be the queen, its residence

Be on the glorious Rhine I

The Senate sits in Heidelberg

Round that gigantic tvui,
And Congress in Johannisberg,

Producing wit anel fun.

And the Minister's residence

Shall in Cote d'Or remain,
Council of war and Parliaments

Your seat be in Champagne'.

We call attention to the advertise-
ment of Capt. J. W. Martin, in our
present number. We believe that an
energetic, practical grape grower Avill
find this a good opportunity, as it is
said to be one of the best locations in
the South^ convenient to both city and

railroad, and a vinej'ard is already
commenced on it.

We understand from Capt. Martin,
that capital is not essential, but that
he desires to associate Avith him a
thoroughly practical grape grower, on
advantao;eons terms. Editor.

226

Tlie Grope Culturist.

EDITOR'S LETTER BOX.

TuENTOX, OuuchitM Parish, La., )
June tith, isTu. ^

George Husmann, Esq. :

Dear Sir : Will you allow me to en-
croach upon yom^ valuable time, and
permit the favor of an answer to two
questions?

First. If the Scuppernong grape will
grow in and about the line of the Iron
Mountain Railroad or South Missouri?

Second. If South Missouri on and
near Iron Mountain Railroad is at all
adapted lor grape culture generally ?
and greatly oblige,

Yours, respectfully,

J. R. Endek.

[1. The Scuppernong will not ripen
its fruit, and its Avood is winter killed
nearly every year in Missouri. It is
entirely worthless here.

2. Some parts of South Missouri are
well adapted to grape culture, and our
friends on the Iron Mountain RaiU'oad
have claimed often that the}' have the
best grape region in the State. We do
not think so, but there are certainly
good locations on the Mississippi bluffs,
and along the line of the Iron Mountain
Railroad. — Editor.]

Villa Ridge, IIU , July "i, lalO.
GE0R(iE liuSMANX, EsQ.:

Dear Sir : I expect to make from
two to three thousand gallons of wine
this fall, and write to know if A'ats and
casks used one year in a beer brewery
could be made sufficiently clean to use
for wine ? I have a steaming apparatus
with which I could thoroughh' steam
them if necessary. I can get a vat and
casks at about one-half the price of new
ones of the kind stated above.

M}- grapes are Concord. I have
thought to make what white wine 1 can^
and then with the balance to Chaptalize
say with an equal amount of must and
water. Is it advisable to do this ? and
if so, can I press the ground grapes
and still have white wine? or should I
merely drain it off? Does the must for
white Concord wine need any diflferent
treatment in fermentation from red,
with the exception of not being fer-
mented on the husks ?

My cellar is a seven-foot house cellar,
and I cannot afford to build a regular
wine cellar this season. Is there any
process of air treatment b}' which I could
improve my wine to make it more sale-
able this winter? as I must sell for want
of a proper cellar to keep it in during
the hot weather.

We have usually ver}' warm weather
here when our grapes ripen (about Au-
gust 15th to 2.ith). Should I put the
fermenting vat in the cellar and keep
up a fire heat, or would it do to ferment
outside, sa}" where the thermometer
reaches 8;"^^ to 90^' in the day and as
low as 50-' to GO'-' at night?
Yours, truly,

A. HUIINER.

[^"ats and casks from a brewery may
be used if they have not been pitched,
as is often the case. In that ctise, thej'
are not fit for wine.

For making white wine of Concord,
wo would advise not to mash the grapes
at all. Do not let them get too ripej
if they aie fairly black the}' are ripe
enough ; throw them into the press as
they are, and the pressure wall burst
the skins and lot out the juice without

Editor's Lette?' Box.

227

the coloring matter. Then add one-
third of sugar and water, weigli the
whole mixture, and I)ving it up to 80°
Oechsle's scale, by addition of sugar,
if necessarv. I would use D'Heur-
euse's air pump during fermentation,
and ferment in a temperate room, but
would prefer a shed, to a cold cclhir.
The process 3 ou wish to follow with
the husks of your grapes is called Po-
tiot's method, not Chaptal's. Chaptal
recommended the addition of sugar,
icithout ivater, to inferior n^/ist. You
can press your grapes sharply for
white wine, and then make good red
Concord from the husks, in the way
3'ou propose, by fermenting the husks
with the fluid for about a week.

Never mind the warm weather. I
would rather make wine and ferment
must in a temperature of 85°, than in
one of 45'^. If your must has been
thoroughly fermented, and the wine
has become perfectly clear, j'ou will
have no trouble in keeping it through
the summer. — Editor. 1

IMox.MOUTii, June 17, l-^7(i.

Mr. Husmaxn :

Dear Sir: — Have you the Croton, a
ncAV white grape, and at what price
can I get some wood or a vine? I
wish to raise some white grapes for
market ; our market is glutted, with
grapes, and 1 want something earlier
or better than others, so I can find a
market. I would like to have an ear-
lier grape than th'e Hartford. Have
3-0U the Janesville grape, and have you
fruited it ? It is sa.d to be two weeks
earlier than the Hartford. Please di-
rect and assist me in getting some-
thing that will give me a little advan-
tage in the market. I Avill write vou

again and let you know how the dif-
ferent vai'ieties have behaved with me.
Yours truly,

James Findley.
[We have no Croton vines for sale.
AVhy do you not grow the Martha as
a white market grape ? also the Goethe,
which we think is best when yet white,
for eating. If you will take our ad-
vice, you will look more to late grapes
than to early ones, for profitable mar-
keting. There is more jn-ofit in them.
The Marj^ Ann is a week earlier than
Hartford, and the most profitable very
early grape we know. We have not
seen the Janesville, nor do we know
anything positive about it. — Editor.]

GRAFTING.

Troy, Iowa, Juiif 1-1, JSTO.

Mr. Geo. Husmann :

Bear Sir: — I think a few lines to the
CuLTURisT might bo of some little in-
terest. Last fall, between the loth
and 20th of November, I grafted quite
a number of five-year-(>ld roots, set-
ting two grafts in each, and taking
more than ordinary pains. I spent
some two days in securing from frost,
I removed the Covering in April, and
kept down all suckers. On a close
examination to-day I found all to be
dead, so I am done with fall grafting.
Mr. Fuller's plan may succeed in the
South, where winter protection is not
needed. I rather think here, in our
cold climate, that fall grafting takes
too much work, and is not ver}^ suc-
cessful, so far as m}" personal knowl-
edge extends. I also set some eightj^
grafts in !March ; the greater part ai-e
starting finely. I graft from four to
six inches under ground, put a small
shovel of sand around the graft, then

228

The Grape Culturist.

cover two or three inches Avith fine,
well pulverized earth, so as to keep
the sand moist : for if the sand be-
comes dr}* it would injure the buds.
Mulch with sawdust is mj' most suc-
cessful plan. Youi's truly,

E. W. Gaxdy.

[You are rij.'-ht about fall grafting.
It has been very unsuccessful here.
When sj^ring comes again we will give
our readers a new method, which is
much easier, and which we have prac-
ticed with good success. The leaf of
the Peggy 3'ou sent us was the largest
grape leaf we have ever seen. It
measured 14 inches across, and 15
inches from stem to point. We would
like to hear more of the grape, and
how ic has behaved elsewhere. — Ed.]

Edoewood, July 10, 1S70.
FHIENI) HUSMANN :

Please find inclosed one dollar for
the renewal of the Grape Culturist;
you said some time ago that 3-ou
would have to give up the paper, un-
less 3'ou got more subscribers; never
think of giving up ; add on another
dollar first, and keep the thing mov-
ing; can't do without it. I suppose
that you would like to hear how
grapes are doing in this part of Illin-
ois, I have five hundred Concord
vines in their fourth bearing, set 8x8,
ground trenched 2\ deep, which work
I think is useless ; the first crop was
rather light, the second 3'ear, sold
S600, worth of grapes, from 380 vines ;
which left me 8400 clear, the third
year f of them rotted, and the remain-
der brought but little, owing to there
being so few berries on the bunches.
This season they are looking fine, and
.are loaded with fruit, nothino: has dis-

turbed them, save a little rot about
the middle of .Tune, being a little too
wet. I have 2,140 Concord in their
first 3'ears fruiting, and they are
doing their work faithfulh*; ground
subsoil, vines setGxlO; also 1000, two
yeai's, set 7x10, making a fine growth ;
and 780 set last fall, 7x10. I have a
dozen, of each of Hartfo'd, Ives' Seed-
ling and Norton's Yirginia on trial.
Hartford is well loaded ; Norton is
growing finely, but did not set much
fruit ; Ives is not looking so well as I
would wish to have them,not much fruit
on them. I have a few of the Clinton
doing worse every season ; think I will
graft them with some better sort, they
are not worth planting. Last season I
think that I cultivated m}' vines too
much, got too much growth of vines
which I believe was one cause of the
rot; some of my neighbors had a few
in their garden, with no cultivation,
growing up to weeds as high as the
trellis and no rot. I do not think
that we need to do any extra work to
make our vines grow, all the cultiva-
tion that is needed in this place- is
just enough to keep down the grass
and weeds. Some one came in to my
vine^'ard one year ago last spring,
about the time the buds were starting,
and cut part off of several vines, one
vine was cut all off, and of course
the}' bled ^ery much, the ground was
quite wet about the vines for a long
time, the vine that was cut all off
made a vevy large growth, and long-
jointed, and I was expecting to see it
hang full of nice large fruit, but was
disappointed. The fruit is rather
small and the bunches not filled out
good, and I have noticed the same
thing in other parts of my vineyard,

Editor's Letter Box.

229

where the young vines grow very-
large, the fruit is smaller and the
bunches not well filled. What do you
think about the large growth of Nines?
please give us ^'our ideas ; thei-e is
about ten thousand vines set in this
vicinity, mostly Concord, the grapes
are all marketed, no wine made. The
extra numbers of the Grape Culturist
that you are >ending me, I have distri-
buted among mj' neighbors, sent one
to Oregon one to Maryland and one
to ]N"ew York, hope to get a subscri-
ber soon. I must close, for I am
spinning this yarn longer than I ex-
pected I should.

Fj. a. Hegeman.

[Thanks for the interest you take
in the Grape Culturist. We can not
think, however, of increasing the
price. We wish to keep the paper
within the reach of the poorest vint-
ner in the land. We have now
worked nearly two years for nothing.

we think we may say faithfully and
earnestly, will have spent, at the end
of this year, about $1,000 out of our
pocket, but we hope we have also
done some good, and if Ave tind, at the
end of the year, that our list will not
warrant a continuance, wh}' we must
quit, that is all. Therefore our
fi'ieuds, who Avish to have the paper
continued, should exert themselves
betimes ; try and add more recruits to
our list. This is the only assistance
Ave ask, besides the contribution of
their experience to our columns, and
Ave hope it Avill be freel}' giA'en.

If j'our A-ines make too much
groAvth, AA^e know of one remedj' ;
prune longer, giA'ing them more to do,
and they Avili soon keep within
bounds, and be more healthy. Your
I^ortous and Ives Ave suppose to be
too young to bear much. They Avill
generallj' not bear much before the
fourth summer. Editor.]

Grape Vines! Grape Vines!

TT^ >^ X .X e 03F" lOVO!

We offer our usually large and selected stock of all standard and new

varieties, including

SALEM, MERRIMACK, lONA, CYNTHIAXA,

WILDER, GOETHE, HARTFORD, MARTHA,

LI^^DLEY, CONCORD, DIANA, EUMELAX,

AGAWAM, DELAWARE, HERBEMONT, WALTER.

SA.LEM A_"~ SPECIALTY.

Our stock of plants Avill be unequaled, and quality of superior excellence.
Salem, with us, is bearing a fine crop of fruit, and must soon become one of
the leading A'arieties in cultivation. It fulfills all that has been claimed for it.
For circulars, etc., address

augT0-3ni

I. H. BABCOOK & CO.,

Lockport, W. Y.

230 Grajje Culturist Advertising Sheet.

WANTED.

.TANTED — An industrious energetic man experienced in grape growing,
to take charge of a young vineyard situated one mile and a half from
Little Eock, Arkansas. The location is a beautiful table land, on a bluff
elevation of some three hundred feet, on north bank of Arkansas river, over-
looking the cit}^ and railroad depots, convenient to both ; and is, all things
considered, the most desirable in the State for a large vineyard. A yjartner-
ship with responsible party of some means preferred, but this not essential.
Correspondence solicited. Address, J. W. 3IARTIN, Little Eock, Ark.

'TANTED several active, enterprising salesmen, to sell wines and plants
7 for the Bluffton ATine Comiianv. Parties wishing to engage, should
address, " " WM. WESSELHOEFT,

Seeretar}' Blufl'ton Wine Co., Bluffton, ]\Io.

Bushberg Vineyards & (irape Nurseries.

GREAT RBDITCTION TN THE PRIGE OF
AND SMALL FRUITS.

SEND FOR NEIV PlilCE EIST I OR J ALL 1870.

Our ILIiUSTKATED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE-" Move usefnl to tlie Grape Grower
than soniu works of iiuich greutev jiivtLTisioiis." — Am. Agriculturist ,— will be sent by Mai!, post-paid, for
onlv i.") lents, either in the German or English Edition, as yon may oriler.

53° Agents "Wanted to cajivass lor order.-> for Fall delivery". Terms liberal, profits handsome. Pos-
ters, Price Lists, etc., :;-ratis. Adilress,

ISIDOR BUSH & SON, Bnshlerg. Mo.

^^fcisiS^ .^.^ »= siiC^JSL J*^ liJSll-S \j^"^^U' \l^^' ^&s=si# tJL^^' ■»

Immense Stock, especially of

Concord, Ives, Delaware, Hartford, lona, Catawba, Isabella,
Clinton, Rogers' Nos. 4. 15 and 19, etc.

Cut from Bearing Vines before hard freezing, and stored in frost-proof Cellars.

Very Low for Cash. Price List Gratis.

ALSO, LEADING VAEIETIES OF GEAPE EOOT IX STOEE.
Can ship South safely at any time.

febGo tf M, H, LEWIS, Sandushy, Ohio,

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

issonri lyVines and Plants.

THE BLUFFTON WINE COMPANY

Now offers to the trade, ami to the pubUc generally, its tirst crop of wines, o-rovvn at
Bluffton, comprising, of red wines, Concord, Norton's Virginia. Ives, and Clinton;
of white wines. Concord, Catawba, Hartford. Delaware, and Herbemont.

Our wines are of excellent qualit}-, and we are sure tliat they will give general satis-
faction to consumers. Our motto is, ••TjOw prices, good quality, and quick sales;" and
Wholesale Dealers in wines will find it in their interest to apply to us. Price lists sent on
application.

^Ve also call the attention of Grape Growers to our large and comjilete stock of plants
of all the leading varieties. We shall make it our aim, in our fall trade, to supply our
customers with tlie best of plants, and at as low rates as an\' reliable lirm.

Descriptive Catalogues sent, on application to

WM. WESSELHOFT, Secretary,

BLUFFTON, MO.

PUBLISHED A.:srD FOR S-ALE

BY

CONRA.I3 T^^ITTER,

ST. LOUIS, 3IO.

MuEXCH, Frederick, School for American Grape Culture. Brief but thorough

guide to the laying out of vineyards, the treatment of vines and. the production

of wine in North America.
MuEXCH, F., AmeriA-anische Weinbauschule unci Weinhereitungslehre, etc.

Either one of these books will be mailed free of postage on receipt of one dollar.
HusMANX, GEORtrE, 27^6 Cultivation of the Native Grape and Manufacture of

American Wines.

On the receipt of $1 50 this book will be mailed to any address.
ScH^iiDT, J. A., The Diseases of Wine, how to prevent and how to cure them,

according to the doctrines of M. Pasteur.

This book will be sent, free of postage, on receii)t of $2,

C. WITTER keeps a large assortment of books treating on the Culture of
Grapes and Mantifacture of Wines.

Catalogues sent on application. Please address letters,

CONRAD WITTER,

jan69-tf 122 S. E. corner Walnut and Second Sts., St. Louis, Mo.

Grape Vines, Strawberry Plants, Raspl)erry, Blackberry & Gooseberry.

Also, a few Peach and Cherry Trees, the finest growths. Particular attention
will be paid to small orders of plants to be sent by mail. For sale by

SAITruSIi MILLER, Bluffton, Mo.

„M^^P^ Oulturist Advertising Sheet.

C O OPE JR,

1618 Jackson Street, St. Louis, Missouri.

Offers liis services to AVino Dealers, as niaiuilacturer of all Icinds of casks. fernientiHa-
vats and cellar apparatus. He guarantees satisfactory wo)k and lowest prices. Refers to
some of the principal wine dealers in tlie State of Missouii, for whom lie has made casks
and vats for a number of j'ears, ^and esiieeially to t]|Blluffcon "Wine Company, Xo. 22
South Main street, where casks and vats of his manufa75lure can be seen by those interested
in the business. feb'ea-tf

GRllAT ^^USTKRN GUM VITORKS^

NO. 179 SMITHFIELD STREET, PITTSBUBGH, PA.

Double-Shot Guns, $9 to $100. Sino-le-Sliot Guns, $3 to $20. Rifles, $10 to $50. Re-
volvers $G to $20. Discount to Clubs.' Send stamp for price catalogue.

33= Army Guns and Revolvers bought or traded for. juneO-om

GRAPE VINES AND Sl^iii^L FKUITS.
[Nursery Established in 1857.]

A splendid stock of Vines i>nd Plants are oftered the coming Fall and Spring,,
inchiding nearly every variety known to be of value. The popular and white Grape

MARTHA, OR {WHITE CONCORD,)

In large or small quantities. Also, Arnold's new Hyl)rids, Eumelan. Walter, Wee-
hawken, Christine, Hine, and all valuable numbers of Rogers' Hybrids; also,
Delaware, lona, Israella, Concord, Hariford, Ives, ISTorton's Virginia, etc., etc., in
all about one hundred distinct vaiieties.

Kittatinny Blackberries and Clarke Raspberries in large quantities, Jucnnda
and Cliiirles Downing Strawberries, Downing's Seedling Gooseberries, Cherry,
Versailles, White Grape, and Black Naples Currants, etc., etc.

Send stamps for Illustrated Catalogue and Price Lists to

apiG'j-ti GEO. W. CAMPBELL, Delmvare, Ohio.

PATENTED AUG. Gih, 1S67, AND AUG. 3d 1SG9.

For FERMENTATION and GEKMHyTATIOlSr. and for PRESERVING, PURIFYING
and IMPROVING of Organic Substances. M

Exceedingly Useful in Malting, Brewing, Distillhig, Bnking, ilaiuifacture of Wine, Cider,
Fruit Wines, Fruit IBrnndies, Vinegar, etc.: in Sugar W'orks, Oil Works. Manufacture of Ex-
tracts, Ti-eserves; in Storehouses, Transportation of (Train. Produce, Fruit: rurification of
Water, etc., etc. '. /!xm|

(TlS^ liights for States, Counties, Districts, or Establishments. ^Psaie. Apply to

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THE

GRAPE CULTURIST.

Vol. II.

SBPTEMBEE, 1870.

No. 9.

SEPTEMBEE.

AVORK FOR THE MONTH,

This will be mostly confined to wine
making, as the Hartford, Delaware,
Concord, North Carolina Seedling,
and manj" others will have to be
gathered this month.

It will assist the ripening and swel-
ling of the fruit very much if the
vines are hoed and plowed once more,

so that the ground may be in a con-
dition to absorb all dew and mois-
ture. Shade the fruit wherever j^ou
can, so that it can ripen fairly. By
loosening a young cane now and then
and tying it over the fruit, you can
assist wherever the leaves may have
dropped.

TWITCHELL'S ACIDOMETEE.

We had the pleasure to receive one
•of these instruments from the inven-
tor a short time ago, and after sub-
mitting it to a thorough trial on some
eight varieties of wines, we confide nt-
1}' recommend it to our readers, as the
onh' safe and practical instrument of
the kind we have seen yet, and which
any person of common intelligence
■can use with perfect safety. The in-
ventor says of it, " The action of this
instrument is based upon the well es-
tablished fact, that, when an excess of
carbonate is added to a liquid con-
taining an acid, there will be given
oif carbonic acid gas in exact propor-
tion to the amount of acid there was
in the liquid; and by measuring the
volume of the gas given off, the
•amount of acid in the liquid can be
■determined, while the instrument is

so divided as to give the exact per
cent, of acid without any calculation
or table of corrections."

All the acidometers formerly in use
were very unsafe in the hands of any
but a practical chemist, as the solu-
tion of ammonia is influenced by the
least exjDOSure to the air, and it re-
quires some practice even to deter-
mine the exact coloring of the liquid.
They were therefore of verj" little
practical value to the majority of
grape growers, and thus Twichell's
Acidometer, being both safe and sim-
ple in its application, fills a want long
felt by the grape growing public.
We annex a cut kindly furnished us
by the inventor, with directions for
its use. See advertisement about the
price of these and other instruments.

Editor.

232

The Grape Culturist.

TKAILING CHAIN CULTURE.

Editor Grape Culturist:

When a description of this culture
was published in the papers last sea-
son, as it hapj)ened I had several of
Norton's Virginia plants chain-trailed
in the same way.

I had practiced it for years on
cucumbers. I found they would grow
much faster and do better when
trailed on forks or on brush under
them than when on the ground. I
question if that mode of culture will
even go into general practice here in
vineyard culture; there is too much of
the French pattern about it. For this
country it requires a great man^^
little forks; still I think it useful in
propagating new varieties where as
many plants as possible are to be pro-
duced from a small quantity of wood.

It is astonishing what a growth
they will make when trailed in that
way ; those Norton's Virginia plants
that I trailed last summer, only one
year growth, if I liad laid down all
the wood they made, I am sure would
have produced more than a hundred
plants each. I have about thirty
Goethe grafts that I set last March ;
they did not start till June, but when
they did push, the way they went
ahead was not slow ; they were worked
on Isabella vines four years old, often
trailing them six or eight weeks. I
layered them, and have a fine pros-
pect for fifty to seventy-five plants
from each graft, with good canes for
a full crop next season. I use sap-
lings an inch or less through, cut
them in lengths of fifteen inches.

sharpen one end to put into the^
ground, split the other end, press a
chip into the out, as it is more expe-
ditious than hunting forks.

Some of your readers who attend-
ed the Illinois State Horticultural
meeting at Bunker Hill in 1868,,
will recollect that Dr. Warder exhi-
bited a grape-vine from a single bud
of a graft that measured over ninety
feet; of course, I don't expect mine-
will come up to Dr. Warder's speci-
men, but do that some of them will
come near it. I have faith in Goethe.

I have been experimenting the two
last seasons, and I believe grapevines
will make a larger growth and do
better if suffered to trail on the
ground the first two seasons, than
they will tied up to stakes or trellis.
Of course, cultivate but one way, and
train them along the rows; it saves
two years of rotting of stakes in the^
ground.

A. A. HiLLIARD.

Brighton, July 25, 1870.

[We publish the above with pleasure,:
although we confess Ave can not see-
how our correspondent can keep the
weeds down, or keep his vines culti-
vated, under this system. For the
purpose of layering, we can not see
the necessity of forks; if it is desired
to grow the largest number of plants,
the vines may be layered in June or
July, by simply letting them run on
the ground, and we think they will
root easier than if spread over the
forks. Ed.]

Tlie Scuppernong Again.

233

THE SCUPPERNONG AGAIN.

'' Mr. Colton called attention to the
foregoing statement by Mr. Stringfel-
low, that this grape did not rot. He
had never known it to rot or mildew.
Thought it might be found profitable to
bring the plants north, and graft the
Catawba on them. It has the finest
flavor of any grape in America. [De-
risive laughter from the pomologists
present.] It will grow anywhere the
sweet potato will. Mr. Fuller said he
was sorry to hear such stutt' talked be-
fore this club. The Scuppernong
would not be grown by fruit cultiva-
tors north, if it could be grown. It is
not fit to eat. It is entirely worthless
north of Washington. Why, I am
sorry to hear such nonsense talked
here, because there are farmers fools
enough to send for this grape on the
strength of this gentleman's recom-
mendation. And it is not any better,
if as good, as our common fox grapes.
Why should farmers be misled by such
talk ? Mr. Colton replied, urging that a
new variet}', free from rot and mildew
might be obtained by grafting some of
our best grapes on it. Mr. Carpenter
asked how long since it had been dis-
covered that a new grape can be pro-
duced by grafting one stock upon an-
other. It was a new theory to him.
The distinguished Professor Colton
seemed at sea. A friend suggested
that he meatit hybridizing instead of
grafting, when the learned gi-ntleman
concluded he did not know much about
agriculture, and thought he must have
meant hybridizing.

Mr. Gregory thought M r. Fuller mis-
taken as to the poor quality of- the

Scuppernong grape. He had not eaten
it, perhaps, as ripened in the Southern
sun. Mr. Fuller replied that he had
received specimens of it from the South
in good condition, and had eaten it both
here and there ; and he thought it a
grape of ver^' poor quality. But there
is no accounting for taste. Mr. Greg-
ory said it is highly regarded in the
Southern markets ; is hard}', easily
propagated, productive, and sustaining
the same relation to the South that the
Concord does to the North. Col. Har
riss has traveled in the South the pres-
ent season, and had been informed
there, by persons whom he regarded as
competent authority, that the Scupper-
nong is going out of favor, and the
North Carolina Seedling is taking its
place, both for fruit and wine. Prof.
Colton said the Scuppernong was a
light colored grape and made a light
colored wine, v\hile the North Carolina
Seedling is dark and makes a dark
wine. Regards it a seedling "of Scup-
pernong. Mr. Fuller said it was news
to him that the Scuppernong is a light
colored grape. It might be called a
light bronze. He doubts if there ever
was a gallon of wine made from the
pure juice of the Scuppernong. He
had tasted many sami)les, and found
that the juice of tiiat grnpe had been
mixed with whiskey or some other li-
quor and sold as wine ; but it is not
wine, and doubts if wine will ever be
made from it."

[The above is sent us by a friend,
who has clipped it from the New York
Sun. It is ccrtainl}' amusing — but at

234

The Grape Gulturist.

the same time disgusting — to see men
who do not have the faintest perception
of vegetable life, know nothing about
the influence of grafting, but only know
that the word hybridizing is in the dic-
tionary and that it means some horti-
cultural operation, persist in trying to
force this grape upon Northern plant-
ers. If they consider it a " divine
gift" to the South, why — let them cher-
ish it, where it will prosper. But we
have had it growing for fifteen 3'ears

near Hermann, and all we obtained of
it during that time was three bunches,
of half a dozen berries each, which we
attempted to eat, but gave it up in dis-
gust. If it will not stand the climate
here, what foil}' then to suppose that it
will succeed still farther north. Let us
tell our northern readers, once for all,
that every cent they spend in its intro-
duction and trial is thrown away. It
may be valuable at the South, here it is
worthless. — Editor. ]

A NEW GRAPE— THE THEODOSIA.

Last spring, Mr. E. S. Salisbury
sent us six vines of a new variety,
named as above, which we planted in
the experimental vineyard here, and
requested a description of him.

The vines grew well, seem to be an
^stivalis, and we shall report on
them further. Mr. Salisbury sends
us the following, a copy of his record :

Adams, X. Y. , July 1 , 1870.

'George Husmann :

Dear Sir — Yours of the 27th June
is received; I am glad to learn that the
vines are received, and in good condi-
tion. As you wish for a more parti-
cular description, I do not know that
I can do any better than to give you
my record of the vine from the first
to noAV. I am not good in description.

History of my seedling grape named
Theodosia, the name of my wife. — In
the summer of LS62, a chance seed-
ling grape vine came up 'v\ my garden
grounds. I saw that the vine had good
foliage, and made a good grow'th, so
I took it up in the fall and heeled it
in, and next spring (1863) set it out in

a row with other vines, Adirondac
Israella, and others ; it grew in course
of the summer some six feet, and
looked remarkably fine. In summer
of 1861 it bore seven clusters of fine
grapes, and they were well colored on
the first day of September, In the
summer of 1865 it grew finelj^, and
produced twenty-five bunches of fruity
which were Avell colored first da}' of
September. In summer of 1866, it
gi-ew well and gave me some fifty
bunches of fruit, which were ripe as
usual first day September. In 1867
it grew finely and gave me about forty
pounds of fruit, but the robins took
part; what I gathered made over three
gallons of wine, which is high colored,
and rich ; this j'car it was well colored
fifth September (late season). I believe
it is hardy and will make an excellent
wine grape. In 1868 it grew well and
set finely, and the fruit was black
25th of A ugust ; the fruit of this year,
together with some other young vines,
made ten gallons of wine. In 1869
the original vine bore fiftj' pounds

Grape Culture.

235

(having been close pruned to put it
ill different shape), well colored the
fifth of September; this year I had
one hundred pounds from this and
the other young vines, making twelve
gallons of wine. This seedling conti-
nues to ripen the earliest of any
varieties I have. The earliest varie-
ties I have, are Adirondac^ Israella,
Eogers No. 19, which ripen about
the time of my seedling.

This year now (first day of July),
the vine has by actual count tw^o hun-
dred and thirty-six bunches; the
bunches are by measure three and a
half to five inches long, mostly shoul-
dered ; the vine covers the trellis nine-

teen feet long at an average of four
and a half feet wide, filled with grapes,
which are now about the size of the
Delaware. Black when ripe, being in
size between Delaware and Creveling ;
clusters very compact {rather too much
so) ; quite tart, but leave a pleasant
taste in mouth after eating them. It
takes no more sugar for wine than for
Delaware; the juice is almost like
molasses. I have generally mixed the
grapes Avith my others to give the
wine a good coloi\

I have eighty vines set that will
bear next year^ and some 400 in my
grounds of one and two years old.
E. S. Salisbury.

GRAPE CULTURE.

We surrender most of our available
space this morning to an interesting
letter from Hon. Jno. R, Eakin, of
Washington, on the above subject, ad-
dressed to our fellow-townsman, Capt.
J. W. Martin, who has just commenced
establishing a vine3'ard on Big Rock.
It contains valuable Information for the
amateur grape grower, and will prove
an excellent guide to those who are
about engaging in the business of grape
culture. It was written as a private
letter of advice to Capt. Martin, but
Col. Eakin has since consented to its
publication :

WAsmxorov, Akk , July 3, ]870.

Dear Sir :

I was much pleased to receive 3'our
letter, and find in you another recruit
for the thin ranks of the grape growei's
in Arkansas. Just here, once for all,
let me express the desire that you con-

tinue to correspond with me on this
subject whenever you have leisure and
anything to say which you would be
prompted to say if we were sitting to-
gether by a fireside, I may be mis-
taken, but I have for years considered
Arkansaspar excellence a wine country :
better than France or Italy — as good,
perhaps, as Hungary — and certainly
better than Ohio, Illinois or Missouri.
Saving California, which is too distant
to affect us much in competition, I be-
lieve Arkansas is the best grape region
of the United States. I look forward
to the time (and I hope to live to see it)
when the grape and wine crop will ap-
proach the cotton crop in value, and thou-
sands of families will find a support on
ten acres each. For that reason I hail
every grape grower that comes to my
knowledge with warmth and impress-
ment. When I visit Little Rock, unless

286

The Grape Culturist.

very much hurried, I will go to Big
Rock and f-ee your vines. I know the
nature of the soil. I am sure it is even
better than my own for vines. You
have the additional advantage of being
on a large water course. The north
side of the river 'is alwaj's best.

I would not undertake to advise a
friend about grape matters who takes
and reads the Grape Culturist, except,
perhaps, in some matters peculiar to
our local circumstances. That journal
is a noble enterprise, and should be
sustained. It was a bold enterprise
to invest so much capital in a specialty.
I am sure it is, or rather was at first, a
losing business, and only to be ac-
counted for by the enthusiasm and love
of the subject which seizes all grape
growers who once allow themselves to
be interested. Vine culture to the hor-
ticulturist is what the horse is to the
stock raiser, or turfman — a thing to be
loved above its intrinsic value.

With this journal, and Husmann's and
Fuller's little books, you have every-
thing 3^ou need. Let me advise 3'ou
also to study Mobois' little book. It is
invaluable. De Brcuil's book (pub-
lished at Cincinnati) is also very inter-
esting and instructive. I have not seen
Flagg's recent book, embodying his ob-
servations in European vineyards dur-
ing several years' travel and residence
there ; but from criticisms and extracts
am sure that it is a great addition to
the literature of the vine.

But I fear to become garrulous. As
to varieties, you mention Concord, Nor-
ton's Virginia and Ives' Seedling as
your principal stock. The first is the
most extensively cultivated in Mis-
souri, for market or wine, of any other,
and is doubtless safe. The second is

preferable in our climate, and I would
advise j'ou to go largely on that in fu-
ture planting, but that I think the Cyn-
thiana a still better grape of the same
class. It closel}' resembles Norton's in
vine, leaf and fruit. Has all its good
qualities and some better. The}^ say
also its wine is superior. It costs no
more to cultivate, and of the two I
mean myself, in extending my vineyard,
to give it the preference. I have no
experience with the Ives' ; it has
come into notice since I made wine, in
Tennessee. I have some vines to test^
and without professing any knowledge
on the subject — " I do not like it. Dr.
Fell." Nor am I much impressed with
the idea that the Concord, although
styled "the grape for the million," is
to be our grape for Arkansas. By the
time it has served us as long and faith-
fully as the Catawba has, it will be
more than I expect if it sustains its
reputation for healthfulness even so
well. It is intrinsically a much infe-
rior grape to the Catawba, in seasons
when both succeed.

Let me urge 3'ou not to neglect the
Catawba. It is the habit of late to dis-
parage it, and these things always go
to extremes. Let us confess that its in-
herent vice and inveterate habit of rot-
ting renders it an unsafe grape for
profit. But it is easily prince of the
whole Labrusca family in quality of
fruit and wine. I have never eaten a
better grape than the Catawba^ and I
have in my garden Goethe, Delaware,
Martha, lona, Maxatawnej-, Diana, Isa-
bella, and many others^ all of which
have fruited. I imagine, too, that the
Catawba is recovering its health and
vigor. I am sure my vines are, and
some of them are ten 3-ears old. They

Grape Culture.

237

make cleaner wood and more healthy
fruit than they did five years ago. The
man who discovers some plan to relieve
the Catawba of rot will be a greater
benefactor than he who discovers a half
dozen new varieties to bleed the public
for a season, and then to be discarded.
Have a hundred or two Catawbas " an'
3'ou love me, Hal." It belongs to a
class with which, especially for eating
we can not afford to dispense. It is
thought the Goethe may supply its
place, but it is scarcely so good in fla-
vor. It is certainly a most healthy and
vigorous vine, and very prolific. It is
reported to make an excellent wine.
For three 3-ears it has fruited with me,
and never shown disease. One 3'ear it
suffered, I thought, more than any
other, from the grape curculio ; but
that may have been accidental. Go
prett}' heavily on Goethe. The Dela-
ware is a universal favorite. It is the
one grape which every one praises.
You may notice in the reports from the
different States, published in the Agri-
cultural Department report for 1858,
that the Delaware ranks first in almost
every State. Wherever it will succeed
it is looked upon as the acme and high-
est perfection of grape yet attained.
The fruit and wine sell higher than
any other. It is not so profitable, how-
ever, generally, because the vine is a
feeble grower, and succeeds only in some
localities. In view of this I have taken
great interest in testing the Delaware
in o^rkansas. Knowing its importance,
in case we can grow it, I have planted
vines, and induced my neighbors to do
likewise. The report is favorable from
all, and accords with my own experi-
ence. The vines grow vigorously, do
not shed their leaves, do not seem in-

fested with insects, have shown no mil-
dew, and in two years fruiting not a
single berry has rotted. This is cer-
tainly very promising, and induces the
hope that this invaluable vine will find
its congenial home with us. Plant
some Delaware by all means.

On the whole, I feel some disappoint-
ment with the Herbemont, although I
have not tried it long enough to justify
any doubt of a grape so unanimously
esteemed. I have two trellises of it,
the length of an acre, side by side with
trellises of Norton's Virginia, and it
does not show well in contrast, although
a much more exquisite fruit when ripe.
It mildews and rots partially, and is the
especial favorite of all the birds of the
air. Certainly, it is the most prolific
variety I know, and stands the winter's
cold and the frost snaps of spring re-
markably. This year I have a fair crop
of it, and will tell you of its wine next
summer. Meanwhile, I advise you to
plant just a few Herbemont vines — say
fifty.

There are a great many fine grapes
for eating of which I would have a
few of the most noted; say Martha,
Maxatawne}', Salem, Cassady, Diana,
Isabella, Lenoir, and such others in
the catalogues of the nurseries, whose
descriptions, always to be taken cum
grano, may strike your fancy. It
would be well also to try a few
foreign varieties. Some of them
may suit our climate and soil. I have
a piece of ground set for trials, in
which I have about forty varieties.
For the vineyard, I intend, myself,
in the future, to plant Cynthiana,
Norton's Virginia, Goethe and Dela-
ware; I already have sufficient of Ca-
tawba and Concord — if not, I woidld

238

Tlie Grape Culturisf,

plant them also with some of the
Martha for a white grape. The sooner
in the fall, after leaves have fallen
and the wood growth matured, that
vines are planted the better; but suc-
cessful planting may be continued in
Arkansas throughout the winter, un-
til the buds put forth in spring.
Yinos from northern Missouri, which
have not started, may be set out here
even the last of April. We have
really no spring and fall seasons for
transplanting as they have at the
north ; there the ground becomes
frozen in winter and transplanting
cannot be done until it thaws in
spring. Meanwhile trees and vines
which may have been transplanted in
autumn remain entirely dormant.
The question arises there, whether
spring or fall planting is best, and is
much discussed, without result, as one
would suppose, since, in the nature of
things, it can really make but little
difference. We are under different
circumstances. Our warm winters
keep the ground continually open, ex-
cept now and then a slight crust for a
few days, easily broken through.
We may set out trees when we please,
without any distinction of spring or
fall. There is only this difference, in
our climate the roots of vines are
never wholly dormant, but grow a
little during the warm spells. Hence,
vines transplanted eai'ly in winter get
better established and take a more
vigorous start next spring, than those
freshl}' set out ; they have small roots
to begin upon ; hence the earlier the
better, but still the planting may
continue until vegetation begins in
the wood. On the other hand, im-
mature roots are injured by trans-

planting and it is not well to begin
too early in the fall. Even the mid-
dle of November, for home grown
plants, may be too early, if the fall
has been late. Whereas plants from
northern nurseries Avill have, by that
time, certainly ceased growth, and be
in order. It is simply a matter of
judgment. In ordering jilants from
the Missouri nurseries it is best to get
them and transplant before the cold
weather of December — beginning in
October if ready. With home grown
plants I would think it best not to
begin earlier than the first of Decem-
ber, and to continue all winter if ne-
cessary. This gives us the advantage
of time for thorough preparation of
the ground.

The question of distances arises at
the time of planting. I am thoroughly
satisfied that the grape growers of
America, misled by the German im-
migrants, have been all the time in
error in this matter. This is not
Germany, nor are our vines of the
class of European vines. We had
much better have taken advantage of
the south of Europe ; vine growing
would have been much further ad-
vanced, and many disappointments
avoided. We pruned too severely,
and gave too little room. I am satis-
fied that not only more but finer aud
healthier fruit is produced here by
ample room and long pruning. I can
take any one into my experimental
vine3'ard to-day and point this out,
showing marked differences of fruit
on vines differently pruned. Those
branches on short spurs near the old
stock are much more dwarfish and
subject to rot than those growing up-
on long canes trained high, with

The September Number

239

plenty of wood. The mere sight is
more than volumes of argument. I
think seven feet apart for trellises a
good distance for all varieties, without
distinction. I have mj'self adopted
the plan of trellises six feet apart,
with a space of ten feet every fourth
row to admit the passage of carts
when necessary. This is a very
•pretty plan, but with the rank grow-
ing vines scarcely gives room enough
I think for the roots. Seven or eight
feet would be better. Besides, as the
trellises need not be built until the third
year, the intervening ground might
be made to produce crops of potatoes,
cabbages, or other crops which would
not entangle or choke the young vines.
The distance of the vines in the
row should depend on the varieties.
For Herbemont, Goethe, Norton's
Virginia, and Cynthiana, I would
allow fifteen feet between vine and
vine along the trellis. For Concord,
Martha, and other tolerably strong
growers, I would allow ten feet. For
Catawba about eight and for Dela-
ware about six feet. Other varieties
should be allowed distance in propor-
tion to vigor of growth.

Very respectfully, yours,

Jno. E. Eakin.

J. W. Martix, Esq., Little Rock, Ark.

[We copy the above from the Little
Eock (Ark.) Daily Gazette, as it may
be very interesting to our many south-
ern readers, and as friend Eakin's ad-
vice is good in the main. Of course
we cannot agi'ee with him in every
thing. His strong predilections for
the Catawba will only last as long aa
he has not fully tried other better va-
rieties, and although he seems to think
that there are none which are better,^
we could name a dozen, easily, which
he himself will have to concede are
better, and wc know them to be more
reliable. But we can safely leave his
cure to time and experience in this
matter.

We can also not see why the ISTor-
ton and Cynthiana should be planted
farther apart than Concord. We
would think the reverse the better
course, as the Concord is the stronger
grower by far.

We must also differ with him in re-
gard to the Delaware, Good as that
grape is, it is far from being univer-
sally successful, and has given rise to
more disappointments than any other
grape, the lona perhaps excepted.
We would advise to try it very spar-
ingly at first. Ed.]

THE SEPTEMBEE NUMBER

If we should be behind time with
this number, we pray our readers to
blame neither the editor nor the
printer. We sent our first manuscript
promptly, but the postmaster at Mor-

rison saw fit to return the mail of
that day (August 15th) on the 17th,.
thus delaying it for several days.
So much for prompt postmasters. —
Editor.]

240

The Grape Culturist.

EEPOETS ON GRAPES.

Bluffton, Aug. 19, 1870.

These ever welcome tokens of suc-
cess from our friends ai*e coming in
rapidly, and we are enabled to pre-
sent our readers with quite a number
of them, from all parts of the country.
The}" present perhaps the best and
most reliable record of successes and
failures with varieties, and all of our
readers should send us such items, as
thc}^ are of great service to those who
Avish to plant, and are at a loss what
varieties would do best in their local-
ity. Some one of their neighbors
gives his experience through our col-
umns, and it serves as a guide to them
at once.

Of the crop here, we will onl^^ say
at present, that it is the largest we
ever saw, and the grapes promise to
be of excellent quality. Nearly all
varieties have done well, except where
in parts of our vinej^ards the crop of
the Concord was thinned hy the early
frost in April, and afterwards by hail.
But this is only a small portion, say
one-twentieth of the whole area, and
the rest make up doubly for what
that small portion has lost. In our
bottom vineyards the crop of Con-
cords, Ives, Hartford, and Telegraph
is a glorious sight, and we think the
vines in their fourth year will easily
average 35 lbs. to the vine. The Nor-
ton is a most abundant crop, " through
hill or dale," and it is only to be regret-
ted that the wine of this noble grape
seems to be so slow of sale. The Clin-
ton is a failure. Little fruit, very une-
ven,and the leaves are covered with the
gall louse. The Goethe is a splendid

crop, wherever strong enough to bear ;
so is Wilder, Massasoit, Lindlej', and
Eogers No. 2. Merrimack has a big
crop in berry and bunch, but rotted
some in our Experimental Vineyard.
Rulander,Louisiana, Taylor, Maxataw-
ney, Cynthiana, Martha, Creveling—
all very fine. We will onl}" say at pres-
ent, that were we to plant for most
markets, among all the well tried vari-
eties, we would choose Massasoit,
Wilder, Goethe, Martha, Creveling,
and Maxatawney; for ivhite wine,
Goethe, Lindley, Maxatawney, Mar-
tha, Massasoit, Louisiana, and Eulan-
der ; for wine resembling Madeira, the
Hermann ; for red icine, Creveling,
Cynthiana, and Telegraph. These
are the so-called newer varieties,
which we have tried to our satisfac-
tion hero, and of course does not ex-
clude the old and well tried varieties,
Norton, Concord, Herbemont, and
Cunningham, nor would the list per-
haps be suitable for all localities.
We also had the pleasure to see fruit
of four of Arnold Hybrids at our
friend Miller's vineyard. Othello, not
yet ripe, handsome grower, handsome
fruit; will report about its quality
later. Cornucopia, firm grower, me-
dium, compact bunch, very fine qual-
ity even now, when not full}' ripe.
Aubuchon, loose bunch, berry looks
very delicate and handsome ; trans-
parent, hardly ripe enough to judge
of it. Brant, the earliest grape we
know, earlier even than Mary Ann,
and of much better quality, but with
a slight Clinton scratch. They all
seem to be healthy and good growers.

Reports on Grapes.

241

In our next number we will report
in detail of al-1 varieties which have
come under our observation.

Editor.

Arkszville, Cass Co., Ills., Aug 16, 1870.

Mr. George Husmann :

As you desire to hear from every
grape grower their results of observa-
tions and experience, I will give you
mine, as near and in as few words as
possible. The weather Las this year,
so far, been very favorable for grape
growing ; so much so that Ave expect a
fine crop of the fickle Catawba, and
consequently- must have a good show
for most of all the other varieties. I
shall therefore not trouble you by de-
scribing all the most common varieties,
but will pick out a variety here and
there, and have my say about it.

Ives' seedling, as you said it would
have when it got old enough, has
a fine crop of grapes; but how it is
going to make a wine better in flavor
than Hartfor.i or Concord I can not see,
as I think the fruit is greatly inferior
to the Hartford. Rogers' Hybrids :
what a pity that the bunches of most
of them are so imperfect ! otherwise I
would consider them among the best of
our native grapes. lona I do not like ;
even in this favorable }' ear, it can not
make any show. Israella does better
then last 3-ear ; has this year fine fruit,
and the vine is very healthy ; if it be-
haves so well iu future, I will take all
back what I said against it. Herbe-
mont : no fruit this year, fruit buds all
winter killed, with good protection of
earth. Norton's Virginia, a good crop,
commence turning [.lack. Miles of
no Aalue by the side of Hartford or
Creveling. Clinton and Taylor : no ob-

jection to their fruit, but don't like their
folinge ; Delaware all right and ver}^
near ripe. Maxatawney is growing in
favor with me ; prefer it to Martha.
Casady, don't like it. Diana, fine this
year, but 1 am rather on the look out
with it.

I can not close this epistle without a
little " brag " on ray seedlings, of which
I have several hundred growing ; of
these a dozen or so fruited this year ;
out of these, there are three or four
which seem to be very promising ; I
will describe them as near as possible :
The first that ripened was of a Cataw-
ba color, with a flavor more refined
than Catawba, and almost without any
pulp, berries of medium size, bunches
imperfect (as it is the first year in beam-
ing), commenced ripening before Hart-
ford, in foliage very near like an Isa-
bella. No. 2 : the second that ripened
is a white gi'ape, berries round, almost
without pulp, and of the qualit}^ you
mayjudge yourself as I send you a few
berries by mail to-day. The vine is
healthy, and seems to be hardy ; I think
it a Concord seedling.

But now to m}^ favorite ; just imagine
a vine three 3'ears from the seed, was
never protected in winter, is about four
feet high, had after it was pruned last
fall four buds left on the vine, these
four ej-es pushed in the spring as many
fruit bearing branches. Each branch
three bunches except the top branch
which has onl}' two bunches, making
eleven bunches in all ; th^y are exactly
like a Diana, of good size, with berries
like the Union Village, all indications
show for a greenish white grape ; it is
getting a little softer now, but it seems
to be later than Concord in ripening,
made a g-ood si'owth of wood with the

242

The Grape Culturist.

heavy load of fruit, foliage large,
deeply but otherwise like Hartford in
foliage, likewise as healthy. If the
quality of the fruit will be good, it is
all I wish for ; when they are ripe I will
send you a bunch of them. If you do
not receive any, you may consider the
fruit poor in flavor.

One or two other seedlings I may
describe when the fruit is ripe. What
a variety will I have next year ! when
probably over a hundred of seedlings
will bear. Could j^ou not send me a
little grape seed of the Hermann this
fall. I can not fruit it till next year.
Yours truly,

Henry Tiemeyer.

[The Rogers' H3'brids will improve
in size of bunch when the vine gets old-
er. We have bunches of Wilder and
Goethe now which weigh a pound
each. We think that there are at least
half a dozen varieties of them, among
the best grapes the country yet has.
Your reports on seedlings are very in-
teresting ; the bunch of grapes you sent,
arrived in a very dilapidated condition,
and only a few berries were fit to taste.
The berry is round, greenish white, in
size between Concord and Martha, with
little foxiness, sweet and good. It is
certainly "promising w^ell." Let us
hear about the other seedlings. We do
not wish to see the list of our native
grapes increased, unless by something
really better, in some respect, than any
thing we have yetj but any one who
adds a new one uniformly healthy and
IJroductive, and of better quality than
anything we have now, either for table
or wine, is a public benefactor in our
eyes. We will send 3'ou some seed of
the Hermann in good time. — Ed.]

Sunny Side Vineyard, )

Plt-in Bay Island, 0., August 8th, J870. \

Mr. G. HusMANN.

Dear Sir: — While communications
from wine-growers from many parts
of the Union are contained in your
valuable paper, it has been a matter
of surprise to me, that of the islands
of Lake Erie, which undoubtedly take
a high place in regard to grape cul-
ture, very little has been said in the
Grape Culturist.

Put-in Bay, Middle and North Bass,
Kelley's, and Catawba Islands, are
annually producing large quantities
of grapes of superior quality. Being
surrounded by water, we have a more
even and cooler temperature in spring,
retarding the too early gi'owth of the
vines, which exempts us from the
damages of frosts after budding in
most 3'ears, where other localities
have to suffer.

Prospects for a good crop are
bright this year. Mildew, which last
year reduced our CataAvbas consider-
ably^ was hardly to be found this
year. A little rot has shown itself,
but not enough to diminish the quan-
tity of graj^es to any extent to speak
of; and if the weather remains favor-
able, we shall have an abundance of
grapes. Most of our vineyards are
yet planted with Catawbas, and many
entertain the hope that this valuable
grape will, after several failures^ come
out all right again. The next favorite
for wine-making here is the Delaware,
which never 3'et failed to produce a
good crop. Concord and Hartford
are doing first-rate, and out of the
former, large quantities of wine are
made, which begins to find a ready
market. Besides this, experiments

Reports on Grapes.

243

have been made with Ives', Norton's,
Rentz'S; and other varieties, most of
which promise to do well.

Preparations are made by several
wine-growers to make wine on a larger
scale here than in former years, and
I think the amount will not fall short
of several hundred thousand gallons.

Our grapes are having a good name
far and near. A large amount is be-
ing shipped off every year for table
use, as well as for wine-making.

If you consider my communications
of an}" value for j^our paper, I will
give you some more details in a future
letter. Truly yours,

H. Wettstein.

[We shall always be glad to hear
from you, or any one in yonv section.
If you did not find much about your
region in our columns, it is because
grape gi'owers from there have failed
to report. We are well aware of its
importance as a grape producing sec-
tion, and should like to have it well
represented in the Grape Culturist.
So, brother wine-growers from the
Lakes, let us hear from you ; you are
entirely welcome to our pages. The
Catawba seems to be fine everywhere,
as is usual in a dry season, but it will
not do to depend on. — Editor.]

Galvestox, .July 19th, 1870.

Dear Sir : — Your favor of the 20th
ult. came duly to hand, and with it
the eight copies of the Grape Cul-
turist; in payment of same and for
the balance of this volume, enclosed
find 82.

The delay in answering your letter
arose from the fact that I wished to
examine and compare with other pa-
pers of a similar characlei", which I

could not until the numbers came from
the bindery, and which now makes a
beautiful book.

Your work is the very best I have
seen, and the information given is
lucid and to the point. Again, your
work approximates more to Southern
wants in grape culture than works
from New York or New Jersej^, and
their surroundings. I delayed my
answer for a more important reason
than those stated, viz : Galveston is
passing through the severest drought
I have witnessed in twenty-eight
years. Up to this morning we have
onlj' had one shower in three months,
and with some twenty varieties of
grapes at my neighbor's, Mr. String-
fellow, I wished to test them. The
Hartford Prolific, Goethe and Dela-
ware stood it noblj". The Concord is
a failure.

The Hartford ripened well, and all
sold three weeks ago at twenty-five
cents, wholesale. Delaware same time.
The Goethe, now in market; large
fine bunches ; the best for market in
the State. Clinton, bore much more
abundantly than the others, but ripen-
ed a few at a time on a bunch and
then shrivelled up. Other kinds not
bearing in sufficient quantity to speak
of. Adirondac did well. Hartford
made the largest lengths of cane,
Goethe next. Querj^ — May we not
next 5"ear have an excess of rain?
If so_, will report the kind that does
the best under wet weather dis-
advantages. Our soil is drift sand
from the Gulf, with a strata of quick
sand, say at five feet below the
surface, and a perfect loblolly in very
wet weather at the top of the ground.
With decayed vegetation, artificial

244

The Grape Culiurist.

manures, etc., a vine will grow as long
on our island in one year as with yoa
in three. On my fence is a black
Hamburg, grown from a cutting
planted in February, that I stopped at
eighteen feet, and has on it all its
laterals. On my grape arbor is a
Delaware planted this spring, one
year old root, which has three main
canes that will measure in all over
thirty feet, which I stopped with
three bunches of grapes well matured.

I have on my grape arbor, 70 feet
long, 12 feet high, and 12 feet wide, a
vine (from one root) trained under the
ground and along each side, which
answers to the Herbemont, which
never fails, wet or dr}^, rain or shine ;
bunches from six to ten inches long ;
heavy shouldered, and tapering to a
sugar-loaf point ; grapes very small,
but delicious, but not suitable for a
market grape. Our greatest enemy
is a small yellow-breasted bird, which
will destroy a row of grapes on a
bunch in less time than I now state
the fact. This pest being so enor-
mous we must plant white grapes ;
this bird will not touch the Goethe or
Delaware. This fall, in a small wa}^,
I will test the varieties I think suita-
ble for our climate ; will open a viao-
3'ard ; shall order some from you,
which must be here by Nov. 20, 1870.
Will post you if anything offers.
Yours truly,

N. K Johns.

[Your letter is very interesting, as
it comes from a region so far off, and
we are glad to see that the Goethe
seems also to do well with you, If
you want white grapes you should
also try Martha and Maxatawney.
The bird you speak of, we suppose,

is the Oriole, also a great nuisance
here, and as it is only here when
grapes are ripe, we have no mercy on
it, but kill it whenever we can. Let
us hear from you again. — Editor.]

New Edindurgii, Ark., July 8tli, 1S70.

Mr. George Husmann, Edr. :

I have an acre in Scuppernongs,
and a hundred vines of other v^arie-
ties, consisting of Clinton, Concord,
Salem, lona, Norton's Virginia, Ives,
and Eumelan ; all young, and not yet
come into bearing. Of these last,
the most thrifty and promising are
Eumelan, Concord, and Ives, accord-
ing to order. The Eumulan seems
to endure our hot scorching sun bet-
ter than any of the others, and is
making the most vigorous and healthy
growth. Clinton, Salem, and lona
are subject to sun-scald in the loaf.
As to the Scuppernong, this is its
home.

You seem to prize the Herbemont
alias Warrenton, It makes an ex-
cellent wine, but is liable to rot of a
wet year. My father had an acre of
it in Monroe county, Ga., thirty years
ago, and made annually several hun-
dred gallons of wine from it. It is
yet bearing, and doing well. He
trained his vines on the '' low souoho"
or stem system, and made better
grapes (though not so many) than on
trellis.

I have another acre cleared for a
vineyard, which I intend planting
this fall, in Eumelan, Norton's Vir-
ginia, Cynthiaua, and Ives My read-
ing and little experience thus fui', in-
cline me to believe that these, together
with Herbemont, are the best wine-
grapes for the South.

Reports on Grapes.

245

I insist on having the June number
of the Grape Culturist. My wife
lo\'e8 to read it as well as I do.
Very trul}-,

John M. Dyson.

[We have sent your missing June
number, and are glad to find from
manifold communications, that our
readers do not like to miss a single
number. It has been our constant
aim to make our little periodical in-
dispensable to them, and we are glad
to sa}' we have not lost any of our
subscribers, except by death, since we
started.

We can not see how so strong a
grower as the Herbemont could be
trained on the stem or souche system.
We should think it would rot, if
trained so low. — Editor.]

New Frankfokt, Saline Co., Mo , }
Aug. 8, 1870. $

Mr. Geo. Husmann :

Dear Sir : Being at leisure, I con-
cluded to write a few lines on grapes.
The grape crop up here will be, on an
average, a medium crop. Some few
vinej'ards are just loaded down with
delicious fruit; but there was some
rot, some of the Catawba principall}',
the Concord next, and some other va-
rieties less. I have noticed that the
rot is far less where the wind and air
can strike the vineyards fairly. Tiog-
er's Hybrids, Mary Ann, Martha,
Cj^nthiana, Norton's Virginia are not
suffering by the rot. The rot com-
menced with a small black speck,
skin-deep, and gradually enlarged. In
about a week the berry drops off.
The loss by rotting this year will not
amount to more than one-sixteenth,
with the worst rotting kinds.

The area of ground in grapes in and
around New Frankfort is twenty-fivo
acres. They are located principally
on the bluffs of the Missouri river, on
limestone. The Concord, Catawba^
and Norton's Virginia, are cultivated
more than any other varieties; but
Nicholas Schmidt cultivates some
twenty-five varieties. All of the
plants were bought of the Bluffton
Wine Compan}^, and seven-eighths-
were choice plants. Next year there
will be some 300 barrels wine made in
this vicinity. Most of the vineyards are
planted too close, 5 by 4, 5 by 5, 5 by
6, some 6 by 6, and 6 by 7, and a little
6 by 10. Close planting with thrifty
vines is a great annoyance. Wire
trellises are getting much in vogue
here now, people are quitting the
stake system. Wine sold here at
$2.00 per gallon. Hardly any grapes,
sold, worth 10 cents per pound.

GRAFTING.

I think a few lines to the Grape
Culturist might be beneficial to such
people as are relying on grafting as
a mode of changing or propagating
new and valuable kinds in a short
time. I grafted a lot of Catawbas
last February and March, and did not
save more than five per cent, of
what I grafted, and I did it as well
as any one could do it. And I had
grafting done with similar bad results
for several years in succession. I
grafted on five year old roots and
mulched with straw. The grafts
looked like they would grow for a.
long time. Last year 1 had tolerable
good success with April grafting, say
four inches under the ground. If I
ever graft again I shall mulch with

46

The Grrape Culturist.

■saw-dust. I only write these few
lines to warn people that want to
transform, by wholesale, Catawba
plants into more valuable ones. I
may try Mr, Ilusmaun's new wa}-, but
that will be the last trial.

Henry T. Schmidt.

[We think those who planted so
<3lose, would gain by taking out every
other vine in the row. We agree
with you that it is not advisable to
graft whole vineyards, but we hardly
think you did the grafting " as well
as any one could do it;" or the grafts
were disturbed afterwards ; for nearly
every variety takes readily upon the
Catawba, and we can generally make
two thirds grow on that variety, if
the stocks are good. We will give
our new method in some future No. —
Editor.]

Council Bluffs, Iowa, July 17. 1S70.

President G-eo. Husmann :

Dear Sir : I have been reading the
Orape Culturist and find reports of
grape-vines planted, with their fruit
and wine, which 1 read with a great
deal of interest, and was astonished
at the aggregate amount, in dollars,
in Missouri.

Well, I will report as near as I can
in acres in this county. Last spring
('70) outside of my own I found about
five acres, and I planted eight acres.
With the eight reported before makes
sixteen for me, mostly all Concord.
Five were set in 1869, and three are
six years old. There are about ten
acres in bearing in the county all told.
vSo you see our folks don't pitch in
as rapidly as j^ou Blutt'ton folks, but
notwithstanding their backwardness,
I succeed well. I cover no vines in

winter except lona. I have had three
crops and the fourth well advanced.
Last years' crop sold for $1600, and
made 430 gallons wine, a sample of
which I sent you about the first of
March, requesting you to rej)ort, but
I have not heard from j^ou a word.
I sent it by express, and requested if
you thought worthy, to put it on
exhibition at your Association. I have
a number of patrons that think it
ver^- good ; what say you ? My pres-
ent crop is not quite as large as last
year, but quality better, being large
and healthy. I have had hard luck
this dry summer with vines and trees
going back. I lost one Martha, Wil-
der, North Carolina Seedling, that I
got of you. Yours,

A. S. Bonhan.
[We never received the wine you
mention, consequently could not re-
port on its qualit3\ I should be very
glad to taste wine made so far north.
VV^e heartily congratulate 3^ou upon
your success, and think you are doing
remarkably well. — Editor.]

COLUMBIA FURN'ACES, DANVILLE, Pa.. Aug. 1, 1870.

George Husmann, Esq. :

I cultivate some twent^'-five varie-
ties of Grapes. Those of the old
kinds, such as Catawba and Isabella,
are both mildewing, and the berries of
the former rotting. The Union Vil-
lage and Croveling are losing their
leaves, and some of the berries of the
Concord are rotting, sa^^ from one to
half a dozen berr.es in a bunch. The
Delaware and Martha, as yet, are per-
fectly hardy. My other varieties are
not yet fruiting.

Respectfully yours,

M. J. Grove.

The Coming Man Will Drink Wine, etc.

247

COMMON SENSE vs. PEOHIBITORY LAWS; OR, THE COMING
MAN WILL DRINK WINE.— III.

The other day, as I was pinching
my vinos, a most tedious and lone-
some work, as all vineyardists well
know, my mind was busy at work, as
a sound mind should always be, think-
ing of the many conflicting opinions
held by mankind, and attempting to
set reasons therefor; from fancy to
fancy, from thought to thought, it
finally reverted to the subject of tem-
perance, as advanced now-a-days, a
most natural thought, I hear 3'ou saj',
for a grape grower — it struck me that
in taking the pen, as I have done, to
help you on and advance my indivi-
dual convictions, whilst the duties of
a vinej'ard are more familiar to me —
it might turn out that after all I had
done nothing but catch a wolf by the
ears — " Auribus tenes lupum," as the
Latins have said before me, and I
felt uneasy I must confess ; on the
spur of the moment, had my eyes
caught sight of a mouse-hole I would
have gone straight for it, to hide my
presumptuous head, for such it must
be and no mistake. How I came to
forget that in that jewel among cities,
set near the centre of the country
for Capital piirposea, I am told — j-ou
must be surrounded by talented wri-
ters, who could, if they chose to
answer, bring argument upon argu-
ments, pile Pelion upon Ossa, and
thus crush to atoms my daring temer-
ity, is more than I can explain ; still it
will not do to stand abashed, though
I may be wrong in my convictions ;
though my knowledge and experience
may be at fault, I have no proofs that

it is really so, until something hag'
been brought forward more conclu-
sive than what I have seen to this day.
Let us again strike at the bushel.

Whilst pinching the aforesaid vines,
a case in point, ludicrous in itself,
but well illustrating the inconsistency
and blindness of the misguided advo-
cates of total abstinence, recurred to
my mind. It happened lately in one
of the fashionable churches out East —
wonder if Christ ever susj)ected fash-
ionable churches ! I confess I was
greatly amused to see how "we the
saints" feel anxious and perplexed
for the salvation ot sinners that do
not belong to their new school of total
abstinence Christianity*. One of these
charitable soiils, who year!}- hand-
someh' pay their way to heaven, to
the utmost satisfaction of those who
pocket the money, went so far in his
simplicity as to avow in the meeting
that the question : was Charles Dick-
ens a Christian man ? troubled his
mind, as he could not answer it satis-
factorily to meet his peculiar (total
abstinence probably ! ) views, poor
soul ! The grand high priest of the
concern, who, I must acknowledge, is
silently, quietly but safely coming
over — as he grows old and wiser,
which can not be said of every man —
to that tolerant, patient, unbigoted,
rational religion towards which all
men of sound mind and common sense
necessarily and inevitably gravitate,
gave his reasons for believing him to
have been a christian, " nothing in his
writings being found that might tend

248

The Grape Culturut.

to produce licentiousness or dissipa-
tion. Ho considered him as a man en-
titled to the highest and noblest honor,
worthy of being reckoned among the
best of men. On the single account
of drink he would make an excep-
tion— Dickens belonged to the old
school, who did not advocate temper-
ance principles; cuid he was glad that
the old school icas passing away."

Quibblers, Pharisees! ah, yesl thank
•God that you do not belong to that old
school, a school that had for its teach-
ers, Noah ! whom God chose, amongst
all men, to replenish a drowned-out
wicked world ; David ! a man accord-
ing to God's own heart, from whose
loins was to come that no less won-
derful and divine teacher, Christ ! the
Son of God, God himself! — go, right
■or wrong, Keverends, go and return
thanks that you belong to a new,
more insipid and less joyful school —
return thanks that you are not such
arrant sinners as these deservedly
most honored and revered teachers.

Consistency, it appears, is not the
jewel that belongs to this class of
men ; early last spring they issued a
■call for a National Convention, to
meet at Pittsburgh, to advocate an
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, making acknowledg-
ment _ (otherwise the world knew it
not) that Almighty God is the author
of National existence; that Jesus
Christ is the ruler of nations ; that
the Bible is the fountain of good
words and religion.

Assuming, as they do, to be the
representatives of Christ upon earth,
this was a shrewd attempt to be de-
clared infallible; to rule and govern
the world in his name. Now if these

ambitious — I was going to say amphi-
bious— water-drinkers sincerely main-
tain their devotion to the Bible, they
can not be faithful to the total abstin-
ence theory; if they believe no lon-
ger in the old teachers, they can not
be faithful to Christ, and should not
attempt to rule and govern in his
name, as his ministers; nor can they
be faithful to the American principles
of Freedom and natural rights. They
can not obey the Bible and fight
against it at the same time; nor can
the rank and file obey their politico-
religious masters without rashly and
wantonly striking at our Eepublican
institutions. They may take which-
ever horn of the dilemma they please.
There are few things that I can
regret not to have seen in this world,
3'et I shall always deplore the fact that
I was not present at the theatre when
a Eoman audience, in the first sur-
prise created by a noble but to them
new sentiment, came down in thun-
ders of applause to mark their admi-
ration and reward the poet; it must
have been an impressive sight worth
being dead centuries ago. Terence
lived about 160 years before Christ;
but this noble sentiment, "I am a
man, and hold nothing foreign to me
that relates to mankind, " sounds like
Christianity itself, and will eternally
live to do him honor. It rings as
fresh now as in the astonishment of
its first utterance. That sudden flash
and explosion of heart which it sent
forth in the unsusceptible bosoms of
his iron-hearted countrj'men, has been
felt in every age and clime, and con-
tinues to be thus felt in the breast of
eveiy man who reads it. In it we
have an insight of the soul's divine

Concerning Wine.

249

original. Would it not prove that
man is uttei"ly lost to virtue and hope,
were there no chords left to vibrate
fervidly in response to so lofty an ex-
pression of human sympathy ? It cer-
tainly would ! but such is not the fact j
"though dead Terence speaketh j'et!"
I am a man, and hold nothing for-
eign to me that relates to mankind,
therefore let none of my readers
imagine for a moment that m}^ pen,
in digging a few holes in the bushel
to let some of the hidden light out, is
a friend to intemperance; far from it.
Drunkenness, as a vice which lowers
man beneath the brute, has no greater
enemy. I am satisfied that it is an

evil with which society should grap-
ple, to reduce or to hide it, but never
forgetting that man should be dealt
with as we find him, not as a few of
us should wish him to be.

Friends of Temperance ! Soldiers
of a good cause ! I am one of yours ;
your desire is my desire. Whilst I
know that a glass of good wine will
sustain a man, I know that if he
drinks thirty, it will knock him down;
we are mutually striving at a result,
we simply differ on the means, let us
understand one another. My next
will make the attempt.

Dr. Ampelos.

Golden Hills Vineyard, Naiivoo, 111.

CONCEENING WINE.

By David M. Balcii, Salem, Mass.

[We copy the following excellent
article from the Journal of Horticul-
ture, and, we trust, need not saj^ to our
readers that we indorse every word
of it. We have long been convinced
that only bj' rational improvement of
the must can we hope to attain that
perfection in our wines, of which
they are really capable ; and if here,
as in Europe, the cr}- of " adultera-
tion " has been raised, it has only
been by men who either have not the
slightest idea of the nature and com-
ponent parts of wine, or who follow
the practice of '' improving the must "
in secret themselves, and only try to
detain others from it, because if it be-
comes general, they can no longer
reap the sole benefit thereof.

This article will show them, what
the most scientific wine-makers and
the highest authorities on the subject

in Europe, think of the practice. —
Editor.]

Of the immense breadth planted
with vines in the Northern, Middle
and Western States, between 1863
and 1867, thousands of acres are now
in bearing, and other thousands come
into bearing every season. As the
markets become fulh- supplied with
fruity and prices fall so that this
method of disposing of the crop ceases
to be remunerative, much of the
product will fulfil its ultimate des-
tiny, and be made into wine. The
art of propagating, growing and
training the vine is understood full as
well by us as by an}" other people ;
but with regard to wine making we
have much to learn, and need much
practice to arrive at the best results.

It is no very difficult matter to pro-
duce 2:ood wine in those rare seasons

250

The Grape Culturisi.

when N^ature furnishes fruit to our
hand in the best possible condition ;
but along the northern border of suc-
cessful grape culture (just where vines
have been most largely planted, and
where the best wines should be pro-
duced) there is a deficiency of heat
in most seasons, and the grapes conse-
quently have too much acid and too
little sugar to yield good wine. Art,
then, must assist Nature. The pro-
cesses of Gall and of Petiot, rightly
understood and applied, entirely pre-
vent the losses arising from insuffi-
cient ripening, banish flat, sour, and
undrinkable wines from the market,
check the production of brand}^, and
many ways work advantageously for
the producer of wines, and for hu-
manity. Yet mistaken and narrow
views have led to much opposition to
these methods; and have even caused
them to be decried as specious forms
of adulteration, by those who stand
forth as champions of what they are
pleased to call ''natural wines."

The question has been much de-
bated in Europe, and is likel}^ to be in
this country, as soon as increased
production of wine involves it. It is,
therefore, very desirable that this
matter should be examined in all its
bearings, and thoroughly understood.
There is a very readable chapter on the
subject in Dr. Mohr's excellent work,
Der Weinstock und der Wein, of which
I believe there is no English version
attainable. Dr. Mohr's scientific
reputation, surroundings, and pur-
suits give great weight to his opinion.

I translate the following from the
chapter entitled ''Verbesserung des
Weines " — The Improvement of Wine.

" The vine is not an indigenous

plant; its culture demands the kindly
unintermitted care of man. In our
district, moreover, in most seasons, its
fruit is of a quality that leaves much
to be desired. To us who dwell in
fifty degrees of north latitude Natui'e
often denies the requisite sunlight,
and therewith sugar in our grapes
and spirit in our wine. Add to this,
that in just these seasons acid is sure
to be present in excess, and a bever-
age is supplied us which ceases to
afford enjoyment. That which is
palatable to man is something quite
decided, and restricted to certain lim-
its. Wine with less than six per
cent, of alcohol we consider flat, and
with more than one per cent, of acid
unpleasantly sour. Now if, in a cold
season, Nature affords us a must con-
taining from twelve to fourteen per
cent, of sugar, and from one and
five-tenths to one and eight-tenths per
cent, of acid, we must of necessity
set aside as undrinkable the natural
wine resulting from such must, or
make good the deficiency due to cli-
mate in some way or other ; and in
this conjuncture arises the question,
Is the perfecting of natural wines ad-
missible or not ? This question has
been considerably agitated in the last
score of years, but has not been
treated with calmness or circumspec-
tion by either party, chiefly because
self-interest has mingled in the de-
bate. It is scarcely possible that
there should arise any doubt that one
may through art supply the failings of
Nature, for on this our whole mode
of life is grounded.

" Our clothing, our dwellings, our
furnaces, and gas lights are by no
means natural, but mere appliances

Concerning Wine.

251

for making good the deficiencies of
Xature in our country. And why, in
the case of wine alone, shall we sit
with idle hands^ while we permit our-
selves to convert it into an agreeable
drink that barley which Nature has
destined for bread. Yet we always
hear the word 'natural wine' given
with an intonation, antagonistic to
our processes for correcting the faults
of Nature. There is no natural wine
under the fiftieth parallel of latitude,
for the grape itself is not there a
natural product. When upon a de-
clivity wo first blast away rock with
powder, hoist to tho place basketfuls
of earth, and plant a vine there, can
we call its fruit a product of Nature ?
And so it is. Nature is true every-
where ; but who bids us cultivate a
plant of the south on our northern
hills? If we tviU have it, we must
also supply the requisite conditions,
and we jnay have it. Man is, of a truth,

'The lord of Nature, and she loves her chains,
Kxerts her strength in contests manifold,
And Irom her ^Yildness mounts all beauteous
at his call.'

"• Self-interest has given a sharp edge
to the debate. The owners of superior
vinej^ards fear that, aided by science,
every one will produce wines of as good
quality as themselves, and at a lower
price ; and that they will consequently
lose their monopoly ; and in this they
think rightly. We will not here dis-
parage men who are fighting pro do/no,
nor will we, on the other hand, retreat
from the great principle, that the wel-
fare of all is to be preferred to the in-
terests of the few. If these men are
right in producing from their wine hills
the best wine possible in the simplest
way, then are the possessors of inferior

sites also right in supplying the needs
of their harvest by proper treatment
and additions, and both are entitled to
just so high a price as they can obtain
in the open market. I do not reply to
the objections that these artificially pre-
pared wines are unwholesome, will not
keep, are not relishing : these are all
falsities. But that the natural wine of
1850 was sound, pleasant, and durable,
not even the advocates of monopoly
dare affirm. A wine with from one
and five-tenths to one and eight-tenths
per cent, of acid is not potable ; we
must either throw it away or improve
it. The need of improving wine in-
deed made itself known betimes, and
the champions of monopoly opposed
the idea even in antiquit}^ AYe are at
present acquainted with three essen-
tially diS"erent methods for bettering
wine.

" First. Chaptalizing : adding sugar
to the must.

'^ Second. Gallizing : reducing the
acid with water and adding sugar.

"Third. Petiotizing : treating the
expressed marc with water and sugar.

(A minute description of these pro-
cesses here follows, illustrated with
cuts ; after which the argument con-
tinues.)

" It is well known that the consump-
tion of beer was never greater than in
the series of bad wine years which lie
between 1847 and 1857. The wine in
its natural state was really undriuka-
ble, and the injury thus inflicted on the
prosperity of the country immeasurable.
The wine producing communities were
brought near to beggary ; distraint of
property, emigration, and, in some
places, famine-typhus, resulted. The
conversion of barley into beer is ca

252

The Grape Culturist.

lamitous, as regards national economy.
Barley grows like rye and wheat, and
affords elements of nutrition. It is
capable of nourishing men and fitting
them for labor. But in the brewing of
beer we separate its most valuable con-
stituents, in a form that is only service-
able for feeding cattle, while from the
far less valuable portion, the starch, we
prepare a drink, which to be sure has
its excellencies, but can very well be re-
placed by moderately good and light
wine. Where barley grows either
wheat or rye can grow, or we can use
the barley like these ; but where the
vine flourishes cereals can rarely be
cultivated. In the grape, the nutritive
elements which separate in the ferment
are unimportant ; but they form the
chief part of grain. The nutritive
powers of beer are fabulous. If it is
to nourish, we must at least take a crust
with it.

^^But it is quite certain that a man
will be perfectly satisfied with, and
supported b}', that quantity of barle^^
in the form of bread, which, as beer,
he tosses off contentedly, with the
wish for more. But I by no means
desire that men shall eat barley bread
and drink water with it ; let them
have white w^heaten bread for food
and wine to drink ; and this can be
easily compassed when our barley
fields are sown to wheat, and our
wines, unpalatable in the majoriij^ of
seasons, made pleasant by simple
modes of treatment. These processes
are neither so artificial or unnatural
as that of beer brewings indeed, there
was a time when the addition of hops
to beer was just as much decried, and
even made i:)unishable by law, as the
treatment of acid must with sugar is

now decried, and sought to be made
a punishable offence. But all this
can not mislead us to slight the o;en-
eral good for the whims of individuals,
especially when no actual difference
can be found between choice natural
wane and Avell-prepared sugar wine.
Soon after the publication of Petiot's
process, the opposers of the method
in Burgundy applied to the Minister
at Paris for protection against this
branch of industry. His Excellency
applied himself to the affair quite
seriously, and bade the complainants
furnish him with the exact difference
between natural and sugared wines.
'There is none at all,' was the natur-
ally despondent reply. And in fact
there is no difference whatever. No
judge of wine, nor any chemist, can
with certainty give the tests which
distinguish an imitated from a natural
wine.

"It is true that the opponents of
artificial wines affirm that they can
recognize them Avithout fail at the
first sip ; that they give one the head-
ache ; that one desires no more than
a single glass. But all these asser-
tions are empty falsehoods. I have
myself seen instances where prac-
tised wnne-tasters, in their fear of
being overreached, have declai'ed per-
fectly pure natural wines chaptalized,.
and been well laughed at for their
pains; and other cases where they
were not able to pick out the sugared
"vvine from among mixed samples.
But, as the Burgundian gentlemen
told their minister, there is no differ-
ence whatever, except that among na-
tural wines there occur man}^ sour, flat
and undrinkable, which in the case of
wines scientifically prepared is impos-

Temperance — The Zymotechnic Neios.

253

sible. Tbo opponents of methods for
perfecting wine and making it plenti-
ful, the monopolists or Puritans, are
often at the trouble of citing author-
ities. After correctl}' understanding
a subject I make very little of author-
ities. But I would call to the remem-
brance of these gentlemen, that not
only Liebig, who, like all other chem-
ists, is distrusted by them, has ex-
pressed himself for the admissibility
of the method, but that even the most
celebrated writers on wine — Mulder,
Maumene, Yon Babo, and Bronner —
have warmly taken the process under
their protection. These men, who
have a deeper insight into the essence

of wine, than all the so-called produc-
ers taken together, and are moreover
wholly free from self-interest, have
recognized in the properly conducted
method for perfecting wine, a step in
advance and a gain for humanity.
Now where rests the fancied wrongs
of the proprietors of choice vineyards?
Just here : that in bad years it is no
longer they alone who can produce
drinkable wine ; that they can no lon-
ger obtain the ridiculous prices they
demand for the object of their mono-
poly ; or, as they say themselves, they
can compete no longer.

{To he continued.)

From "Scraps" gathered from " Wiue and Fruit Reporter.'

TEMPERANCE.

Ovid gives the following prudent

advice !

"I own, I think of wiue the moderate use,
More suits the sex, and sooner finds excuse.
It warms the blood, adds Ulster to the eyes'
And wine and love have ever been allies.
But carefully from all intemperance keep
Xor drink till you see double, lisp or sleep."

Another poet sings in a similar strain !

Three cups of wine a prudent man may take
The first of them for constitution's sake
The second to the girl he loves tlie best
The third and last, to lull him to his rest
Then home to bed. But if a fourth he pours
That is the cup of folly, and not ours.
Loud noisy talking on the fifth attends;
The sixth breeds feuds, and foiling out with
friends;

Seven begets blows, and faces stained with gore;
Eight, and the watch patrol breaks ope' the

door;
Mad with the ninth, another cup goes round
And the swilled sot drops senseless to the

gi'ound.

The following piece of sound logic
was certainly compounded by "the
partaker of Avine as he should be,"
namely temperate.

Good wine makes good blood
Good blood causeth good humour
Good humour causes good thoughts
Good thoughts bring forth good deeds
Good deeds carry a man to heaven.

Ergo.
Good wine carrieth to heaven.

THE ZYMOTECHNIC NEWS.

Mr. Fring's informs us that he is
unable to continue the publication of
that monthl}^, as he found it a losing
business. To those who have remit-
ted their sitbscription, he offers either
to refund seventy-five cents, or send
them a receipt to make white wine
from red wine grapes. They will
please correspond with him, and let
them know which the}^ prefer. His

post office address is Centreton, Cen-
tre Township, St. Louis Co., Mo.

We are sorry that the enterprise
has met with so little success, but we
know from dear experience, how hard
it is to keep up a Journal devoted to
a specialty, and think that it would
have accomplished much good if con-
tinued. P^DITOR.]

254

The Grape Culturist.

EDITOE'S LETTEE BOX.

KiNSTON, N. C, July 23, 1870.

George Husmann, Esq.:

Dear Sir: I have received two
numbers of the Grape Culturist ;
am ah'eady more than compensated
for the price. Your article, "■ Wine
Cellare/' in the July number, is par-
ticulary interesting, as I had felt con-
siderable anxiety on that subject.
How do you build the ground floor
and foundation ? Do you press off
your wine in this cellar or store-house?
Or do you have a separate apartment
for pressing ? Do you mean by
''planting in holes," not entirely fill-
ing the holes ? If not, how do 3'ou
plant your vines without " planting in
holes?" I have some vines growing
on old land : vines grow luxuriantly,
but grapes rot. Would you advise
manuring with leaf-mould this winter
to prevent it? Is Norton's Virginia
easily propagated by grafting ? Is
Elsinburg good stock to graft into ?
Is golden willow the kind used in
making baskets ? Do you tie with
twigs or bark ? Please answer the
above questions in your journal, and
oblige, Yours very respectfully.
W. L. Kennedy.

[We have pressed our wine in the
same room, but that can also be done
in a separate building. We have left
the ground floor as it was, only scat-
tered gi-avol from a creek bed over it.
The foundation of the walls is made
of stone. By ''planting in holes" we
mean only making holes in the un-
plowed ground, without stirring the
ground all over by plowing or digging.
These form sinkholes for the water,

and give the vines " wet feet," as the
common phrase is. You will prevent
the rot by pruning longer, giving the
vines more to do ; and early summer
pruning, giving the vine better circu-
lation of air — not by manuring. The
very fact that your vines grow luxu-
riantly shows that tbey need no ma-
nure. It would only increase the rot.
Norton's will graft well on Elsinburgh,
or any of the Aestivalis class; but we
would advise you to graft Cynthiana
instead, as it makes a still finer wine,
of the same character, but more deli-
cate, and of finer flavor. Golden wil-
low is better adapted to tying than
baskets, as it makes numerous small
branches. The best basket willows
we know are the green and brown
osier. AYe tie the old canes in spring
with willows, the young growth with
pawpaw or basswood bark. Corn
shucks, pulled into strips and kept
moist, are also good tying material
for the young growth on trellis. — Ed.]

Derby Faum, Aikkn, S. C, June 22, 1870.

Geo. Husmann, Esq. :

Dear Sir : Inclosed please find
$5.00 (five dollars), for which send me
by mail to- this place addressed as
above. The " Grape Culturist " Vol.
1 and 2. " Ilusmann's Cultivation of
JSative Grapes." If the amount is not
sufficient I will forward the balance
on receipt of bill.

This is a great grape growing rC'
gion. I have forty thousand vines in
full bearing chiefly Catawba, Bur-
gundy, Warren, Clinton, Black July,
Concords ifcc, besides about one mile

Editor's Letter Box.

255

in arbox" of <' Scuppernong " Grape.
There is no rot or blight so far this
year, I reckon there is about a
quarter of a million of Catawba &c.,
and the question is what shall I do
with them ? We are in easy access
to Northern markets, and our grapes
will be ready for shipment in about
thirty days. Our wine of last years
vintage is much approved, and this
year we shall probable make five
thousand gallons, besides shipping
■grapes. I accidentally saw your June
number and hence this letter.

Yours truly, J. C. Derby.
[Thanks for your favor, and inter-
esting communication. You ask what
shall we do with the grapes ? Market
what you can get good prices for, and
make the balance into wine. It will
always find a ready market, if good.
Editor.]

El Dorado, August 2, 1870.
Ge0R(3E IIUSMANN, EsQ. :

Dear Sir — I notice what you say of
my article written in December, in
your last number. If you complain
of reading my writing, what would
you do with Horace Greeley's? But
then there might be some honor in
trj'ing to decipher his hieroglyphics !
I dont think you deal with my article
fairly. First in delaying its publica-
tion until all interest in the contro-
versy has subsided, and second, in
criticizing on it without publishing it.
It is certainly enough for you to take
a pull at it, after publication, and let
the world judge. I should like to see
it in 3'our journal j but if it is not
agreeable to publish it please return
it, as I did not keep a literal copy.

Every one of my bunch grapes, ex-

cept a few Isabella on one vine, has
rotted. So far as I can learn, it is a
general thing south, except at my
friend Col. J. C. Wright's. His
vines, however, are very young, and
he has been in one of those spots
which have had no rain. Owing to
the extreme w^et during the flowering
season the most abundant crop of
flowers I have seen for years failed
to fruit more than a moderate crop
this year, on the Scuppernongs.
Extreme wet weather pi-events fertil-
ization, in them as well as other kinds,
but never to the extent of a failure,
at the flowering season.
Yours truly,

John H. Carleton.

[We trust you are pacified by the
apjjearance of your article in July
number. Your article was dated
March 15, 1870, not Dec, as you sup-
pose. We reserve to ourselves the
right of choosing for our readers,
what we think the most useful and
interesting among our correspon-
dence, and we cannot say that we
consider your article in that light,
but thought it could well bear post-
ponement. We do not criticize your
article, in our remarks in answer to
your letter, but only the manner in
which all your communications are
written. In this letter, we had again
to dot almost every i, and put a
comma to every period, to prepare it
for the press, and we think this could
easily be done by yourself. Your
handwriting otherwise is plain enough,
this is simply a neglect, which you
can easily remedy.

We shall always be glad to hear of
your success, as well with the Scup-
pernong as otherwise. — Editor.]

256

The Grape Culturist.

Monmouth, 111., July 29, 1870

Mr. George Husmann :

Dear Sii — In the July number of
the Grape Culturist, you ask youi*
readers to report the condition of the
grape crop, in their respective locali-
ties. There is a number of small vine-
yards near this city. The leading
varieties are Concord, Delaware, Clin-
ton and Catawba. With a sprinkling
of various other kinds, such as Nor-
ton's, Ives', Alvey, Hartford, North
Carolina, Creveling, Eogers' Hybrids,
and others of the newer kinds not yet
in bearing. Last summer's excessive
wet, with the early freeze of October,
proved disastrous to many vines in
this region. The Delawares dropped
their leaves early in the season, and
failed to ripen their crop, or ripen
their wood ; consequently were killed
down to the ground, no bearing wood
and no grapes this year. Nearly all
the other varieties came through safe
or with slight injury, and we are hav-
ing a fair average crop.

There has been but little wine made
here us yet. We generally depend on
the home market for our grapes, and
the grape season is so short, that we
feel greatly the need of some plan by
which the season could be extended
two or three months. Could you give
us any instructions in the Grape Cul-
turist on the subject? Such a house
as you have for your wine, as de-
scribed in the July number, I think
would be just the thing to keep fruit
in, either grapes or apples. Please
direct to the best mode of boxing up
grapes, and what amount of ventila-
tion would such a house require to in-
sure the keeping of the fruit. Another
matter: please tell us how to bottle

our wine, to prevent the corks from
shrinking. Do you soak the corks or
use them dry ? Eespectfully yours,

J. FiNDLEY.

[Plant the earliest varieties, one of
which is the Mary Ann, for early
marketing, but above all things, plant
late varieties, such as will ripen after
the rush of common varieties is over,
and keep a month or so. Late grapes
are less subject to the attacks of birds,
and produce more and better fruit,
than early ones, and will bring even a
better price in market. With a house
such as we have for storing our wine,
well ventilated by windows near the
top of the wall, would be the thing.
Pack in small, shallow boxes, using
thin paper below and above, and the
Goethe and Eogers No. 8, as well as
Wilder, will easily keep until Christ-
mas, and could then be sold at good
prices. — Editor.]

Cleveland, Ohio, Aug 3, ISTO.

Mr. Husmann :

Bear Sir: The following I cut from
the Cleveland Herald of July 30,
1870. Please gives us your opinion,
through your valuable monthly, in
regard to what he says on summer
pruning and the black rot.

And oblige, W. S. B.

AMONG THE VINEYARDS.

Kelley Island is the largest of lake
Erie in American water, containing
twenty-eight hundred acres, about one
thousand inhabitants, and eight hun-
dred acres of vineyard. I find the
vines here, as at Put-in-Bay, loaded to
excess with grapes, and the fruit some-

Editor's Letter Box.

257

what affected with black rot. No
great fear is apprehended, however,
for if one-half of the present burden
of the vines should be removed^ which
is not probable, there will be enough
left to entirely satisfy the grape
growers. The question as to the
cause of black rot is somewhat moot-
ed hei'e, a fevv believing that the dis-
ease is not climatic, but caused by an
insect working at the stems of the
grape. Examinations under a glass
show the stems of diseased fruit to be
perforated, and sometimes girdled,
though no living insect has been dis-
covered which is believed to be the
cause of the injury. Although this
theory is not generally credited, there
is a possibility of there being some
truth in it, as affected and perfect fruit
are found in the same cluster. It will
be remembered that smut in wheat
was Ipnoe believed to be a fungus
growth, or climatic disorder.

As averse to the insect theory, black
rot appears in muggy weather, and
all stems perfoi'ated and girdled by
insects do not fall into decay. Scien-
tific investigation will develop new
facts, and determine actual causes, no
doubt, before many years more shall
pass.

Nearly all of the vineyards upon
this island are now in full bearing con-
dition, but few acres of new having
been set during the past three years.
Some of the old ones, upon thin
shelled soil, have been abandoned,
not yielding enough to pay the trou-
ble of cultivation. Three-fourths of
the vines ai-e Catawba, and nearly all
of them are trained upon trellises.
Summer pruning has gone almost en-
tirely into disuse, because it was

proven to be an absolute injury. In
the first place it was likely to produce
a late setting of fruit, the excessive
amount of sap developing buds which
nature designed for the following sea-
son ; and in the second place, the per
cent, of must was materially lessened
by exposure of the fruit to the strong
sunlight, which for wine-making very
much detracted from the value, but
for packing made no particular dif-
ference.

This island contains one of the larg-
est, if not the very largest, wine cel-
lars in this country. It was made by
excavating a hill-side, quarrying out
stone, and has a capacity for holding
one hundred thousand gallons of wine.
This cellar is owned by a stock com-
pany, composed of the heaviest vine-
^•ardists and wine makers.

[We believe that black rot is not
occasioned by insects, as it will not
appear in dry seasons. It is caused
by murk}^ weather and confined air ;
appears mostly on vines with an ex-
cess of wood growth and little fruit.
Longer pruning, giving the vines
more to do, and summer pruning,
early, are the best preventives. If
the old practice of late summer prun-
ing has fallen into disuse, so much the
better. But early summer pruning
should take its place; or, in other
words, rational summer pruning should
take the place of cutting, slashing and
maiming. Better not summer prune
at all than to follow the latter. The
first, which we consider indispensable
to bring the fruit to its highest perfec-
tion, has been explained in our pages
often enough. — Editor.]

258 Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

Cash Advertising Terms for 1870.

TWENTY CENTS PER LINE, AGATE TYPE, EACH INSERTION.

Cover Pages Twenty-Five Cents per Line.
BUSINESS CARDS, FIVE TO SIX LINES EACH, $15 PER ANNUM.

l^OOOjOOO

iii w@m i

Of all the Leading Varieties^ true to name.

As I am hound to sell, will sell lower than any one else.

CONCORD VINES, good two-year old, only $25 per 1,000.

Other varieties in proportion. Also, Currant, Gooseberry, Strawberry,
Raspberry, Blackberry, Rhubarb, Eoses, and other plants.

Apple Trees, one, two and three years, very cheap.

I will also take good Western Lands, at cash price, in trade.
Address, and send for Price List, and three new Essays on Grape Culture, to

Dr. H. SHRODER,

Bloomington, III.

Grape Vines! Grape Vines!

We offer our usually large and selected stock of all standard and new

varieties, including

SALEM, MERRIMACK, TONA, CYNTHIANA,

WILDER, GOETHE, HARTFORD, MARTHA,

LINDLEY, CONCORD, DIANA, EUMELAN,

AGAWAM, DELAWARE, HERBEMONT, WALTER.

SA.LEM A. SFECIA.LTY.

Our stock of plants will be unequaled, and quality of superior excellence.
Salem, with us, is bearing a fine crop of fruit, and must soon become one of
the leading varieties in cultivation. It fulfills all that has been claimed for it.
For circulars, etc., address

I. H. BABCOOK & CO.,

aug7o-3m Lockport, N. Y.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

WANTED — An industrious energetic man experienced in grape growings
to take charge of a young vineyard situated one mile and a half from
Little Eock, Arkansas. The location is a beautiful table land, on a bluff
elevation of some three hundred feet, on north bank of Arkansas river, over-
looking the city and railroad depots, convenient to both ; and is, all thinga
considered, the most desirable in the State for a large vineyard. A partner-
ship with responsible party of some means preferred, but this not essential.
Correspondence solicited. Address, J. W. MAETIN, Little Eock, Ark.

WANTED several active, enterprising salesmen, to sell wines and plants
for the Bluifton Wine Comnany. Parties wishing to engage, should
address, " WM. WESSELHOEFT,

Secretary Bluffton Wine Co., Bluffton, Mo.

WANTED — At the "Ouachita Vineyard," near Hot Springs, Arkansas, a.
competent man, to take charge of vineyard, orchard, small fruits, and
select market garden — an accomplished, sober, industrious man, one who can
give satisfactor}' testimonials of integrity and worth. To a suitable person
with famil3', who can furnish desirable help, an interest in the proceeds or
wages will be given. I would prefer a married man whose family fully
understand dairy operations, particularly the manufacture of butter and
cheese. Hot Springs always affords a good market for all supplies.
sep7o-2t GEOEGE W. LAWEENCE, M.D., Eeaident Physician.

I^UBLISHED j^NlD FOR S^^JL^E

BY

CONRAD ^W^ITTER,

ST. LOUIS, MO.

MuENCH, Frederick, School for American Grape Culture. Brief but thorough

guide to the laying out of vineyards, the ti-eatment of vines and the production

of wine in North America.
MuENCH, F., Amerikanische Weinhauschule unci JFeinbereitungslehre, etc.

Either one of these books will be mailed free of postage on receipt of one dollar.
Hlsmann, George, The Cultivation of the Native Grape and Manufacture of

American Wines.

On the receipt of $1 50 this book will be mailed to any address.
Schmidt, J. A., 2'he Diseases of Wine, how to prevent and how to cure them,

according to the doctrines of M. Pasteur.

This book will be sent, free of postage, on receipt of $2.

C. WITTER keeps a large assortment of books treating on the Culture ot
Grapes and Manufacture of Wines.

Catalogues sent on application. Please address letters,

CONRAD WITTER,

jan69-tf 122 S. E. comer Walnut and Second Sts., St. Louis, Mo.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

HENRY T^^ITCHELJl,,

(Late of firm of JAMES FOSTER, Jr., & CO.,)

JIAXIFACTUUEH OF

HYDROMETERS, THERMOMETERS and GAUGERS'

INSTRUMENTS, SACCHAROMETERS,

AND IN'VKNTOK OF

o

h

>

o

I— I

o
o

Price of ACIDOMETER FOR MUST OR WINE $10 00

Price of SACCHAROMETER (SILVER) 10 00

Price of OECHSLE'S MUST OR WINE SCALE 10 00

Price list of other instruments sent, on application to

HENRY TWITCHELL,

132 West Fourth Street,

sep70-3t CINCINNATI, OHIO.

Grape Vines, Strawberry Plants, Raspberry, Blackberry & Gooseberry.

Also, a few Peach and Cherry Trees, the fine&t orrowths. Particular attention
will be paid to small orders of plants to be sent by mail. For sale by

SAMUJEL, MIIiliER, BluCftoii, Mo.

Grape CuUurist Advertising Sheet.

missouri TKTines and Plants.

THE BLUFFTON WINE COMPANY

"^rOW ofters to the trade, and to the public generally, its first crop of wines, grown at
J^ BlufFton, comprising, of red wines, Concord, Norton's Virginia, Ives, and Clmton;
of white wines. Concord, Catawba, Hartford, Delaware, and Herberaont.

Onr wines are of excellent quality, and we are sure that they will give general satis-
faction to consumers. Onr motto is, "Low prices, good quality, and quick sales;" and
Wholesale Dealers in wines will find it in their interest to apply to us. Price lists sent on
application.

"We also call the attention of Grape Growers to our large and complete stock of plants
of all the leading varieties. We shall make it our aim, in our fall trade, to supply our
customers witli the best of plants, and at as low rates as any reliable firm.

Descriptive Catalogues sent, on application to

WM. WESSELHOFT, Secretary,

BLTJFFTON", MO.

Bushberg Vineyards & Grape Nurseries.

GREAT REDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF

AND SMALL FRUITS.

SEND FOR NEW PRICE LIST t OR FALL 1870.

Our ILLUSTE.ATED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE-" Mo: e useful to the Grape Grower
than some works of nuu;h greater in-eteiisioii.s.' ' — Am. Agriculturist ,— will be sent by Mail, post-paid, for
onlv 25 cents, either in the German or English Edition, as you may order.

iCj^'Agents Wanted to canvass for orders for Fall delivery. Terms liberal, profits handsome. Pos-
ters, Frice Lists, etc., gratis. Address,

ISIDOR BUSH & SON, BnsliTierg, Mo.

^r 3E^ jBl 3E^ 3S ^'^W ^ ^ JO^ t
TAV^EISTTY JKZINDS!

Immense Stock, especially of

Concord, Ives, Delaware, Hartford, lona, Catawba, Isabella,
Clinton, Rogers' Nos. 4, 15 and 19, etc.

Cut from Bearing Vines before hard freezing, and stored in frost-proof Cellars.

Very Low for Cash. Price List Gratis.

ALSO, LEADING VAEIETIES OF GEAPE EOOT IN" STOEE.
Can ship Sotith safely at any time.

feb69-tf M. H, LEWIS, Sandusiky, Ohio.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

CO OPEK,

1618 Jackson Street, St. Louis, Missouri,

Oifers his services to Wine Dealers, as manufacturer of all kinds of casks, fermenting-
vats and cellar apparatus. He g:uarantees satisfactorj^ work and lowest prices. Refers to-
some of the principal wine dealers in the State of Missouri, for whom he has made casks
and vats for a number of years, and especially to the Bluffcon Wine Company, No. 22
South Main street, where casks and vats of his manufacture can be seen by those interested
in the business. feb'69-tf

NO. 179 SMITHFIELD STREET, PITTSBURGH, PA.

Double-Shot Guns, $9 to $100. Single-Shot Guns, $3 to $'20. Eifles, $10 to $50. Re-
volvers $6 to $20. Discount to Clubs. Send stamp for price catalogue.

33= Army Guns and Bevolvers bought or traded for. June9-3m

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUITS.

[Nursery Established in 1857.]

A splendid stock of Vines and Plants are offered the coming Fall and Spring,
including nearly eveiy variety known to be of value. The popular and white Grape

MARTHA, OR {WHITE CONCORD,)

In large or small quantities. Also, Arnold's new Hybrids, Eumelan, Walter, Wee-
hawken, Christine, Hine, and all valuable numbers of Rogers' Hybrids; also,.
Delaware, lona, Israella. Concord, Hartford, Ives, Norton's Virginia, etc., etc., in
all about one hundred distinct varieties.

Kittatinny Blackberries and Clarke Raspberries in large quantities, Jucnnda
and Charles Downing Strawberries, Downing's Seedling Gooseberries, Cherry,,
Versailles, White Grape, and Black Naples Currants, etc., etc.

Send stamps for Illustrated Catalogue and Price Lists to

apr69-tf GEO, W. CAMPBELIj, Delaware, Ohio.

PATENTED AUG. Gth, 1S67, AND AUG. 3d 1869.

For TERMENTATION and GERMINATION, and for PRESERVING, PURIFYING
and IMPROVING of Organic Substances.

Exceedingly useful in Malting, Brewing, Distilling. Baking, Manufacture of Wine, Cider,
Fruit "Wines, Fruit Brandies, Vinegar, etc.; in Sugar Works, Oil Works. Manufacture of Ex-
tracts, Preserves; in Storehouses, Transportation of Grain. Produce, Fruit; Purification of
Watei', etc. , etc.

Rights for States, Counties, Districts, or Establishments, for sale. Apply to

P. 0. Box 6844. R. D'HEUREUSE, New York.

T h: E

GRAPE CULTURIST.

Vol. II.

OCTOBEE, 1870.

No. 10.

OCTOBEE.

WORK FOR THE MONTH.

This month will, to some extent,
be taken up bj wine making, of which
we have already treated in a separate
article in the August number. After
your vines have 3'ielded their crops,
and the first frosts have stripped them
of their leaves, give them another
plowing, throwing the ground well up
around the vines. Tender varieties
should be pruned first, then bent down
along the trellis, a few shovels full of
earth thrown on them to keep them
in their position, and then well covered
with the plow. This should be done
with all varieties which are even of
doubtful hardiness, and will richly
repa}' every season, as the vines gen-
erallj' suffer more or less ever}^ winter.
Plowing in fall has several advantages:
1st. All the leaves are covered up,
will rot under the vines, and are just
the kind of manure — in fact, in most
cases the only one which the vine
needs. 2d. It throws the ground well
up against the vines, thus being a
partial protection to them, leaving a
furrow as a surface drain in the midtUe
of the row, to carry off the water.
3d. It pulverizes the soil, leaving it
exposed to the influence of frost.

Ground maj' also be prepared for fall
planting, by plowing and subsoiling.
Even if it should be impossible to plant

it, it will be all the better in spring for
being exposed to the atmosphere.

In the latter part of the month
plants may be taken up from the
cutting bed and propagating grounds.
Be careful to get all the roots you can,
and especially not to burst them off
at their junction. By all the roots we
do not mean their entire length. If
they are cut off with a sharp spade a
foot from the vine they are abundantl}'
long. But we mean that they should
not be split or bruised.

Do not dig your plants, however,
before they are thoroughly ripe. The
brown color of the wood and droj)ping
of the leaves are the best indications.
Never allow the roots to get drv.
They should not be more than an
hour out of the ground, and, if the sur
shines, the roots should be covered
even during that time. Sort into first
and second class, and, if you intend
to keep them out of doors, choose a
dry, sand}^ spot, and heel them in
in rows, in a shallow trench, laying
them slanting, and thin enough so that
all the roots can be covered with
mellow earth. Cover up to above the
crown, and then throw some rubbish,
dry leaves, straw, etc., over them to
prevent their lifting by the frost.

Cuttings may be made, and the

260

The Grape Culturist.

vines pruned as soon as the leaves
have dropped. We will try and give
a few general rules about pruning in
a separate article. A friend tells us
that ho pruned his Herbemont vines
immediately after the first frost, made
the cuttings, and had much better

success with them than usual. We
advise our readers to try this, and
report. We shall certainly do so, as
the Herbemont is difficult to propagate
if the cuttings are made late in fall,
as usual.

CONCERNING WINE.

By David M. Balch, Salem, Mass.

{Concluded.)

" On this confession rests the con-
demnation of their position. If they
are inclined to pass over the valuable
husks of their grapes to the still or
the dungheap, why should their neigh-
bore be compelled to imitate so sense-
less a procedure? Can not the own-
ers of estates which yield wines worth
one thousand gulden the stiick, obtain
just as well from their residues a dou-
ble or threefold amount of wine, the
price of which may reach four hun-
dred or five hundred gulden ; and is
there not remuneration for the some-
what lower market price in the in-
creased production ? Have they not
also at command a means for ennob-
ling their acid must in bad seasons ?
Experience has already shown that
properly treated afterwines are un-
commonly agreeable, drinkable, and
permanent; that they are subject to
scarcely any wine distempers, and,
indeed, for the natural reason that
their small amount of ferment is more
completely separated.

"Maumene saj^s, expressivelj^, that
^ such wines seem more present a boire'
(an expression equivalent to our word
Soffig) ' here on the Moselle and Rhine.'

"Herr von Babo says, in a letter.

'I began my exjieriments with slight
confidence in their success, but soon
convinced myself of the worth of the
method by the brilliant results ob-
tained, so that I recognized in it the
means by which we are enabled to
avert the misfortunes of bad seasons ;
especiall}' the poor vintner.'

"Herr Bronner, Agricultural Com-
missioner at Wiesloch, says, ^I am
myself a producer of, and dealer in,
wine; but I do not hesitate, indeed,
I hold myself in duty bound to stand
forward publicly with the truth, be-
cause I can point to splendid evidence,
which speaks in favor of the process.
I have gone over the whole case, and
consequentl}' permit myself to pass
judgment.'

" The dispute assumed a form pecu-
liarly odious when the word adulter-
ation was introduced. A gratuitous
definition was first sought for the
word, and this applied to the method.
From this construction everything
was exempt which the}' practised
themselves. Selecting, pressing, rack-
ing, clarifying, sulphuring — all these
were natural processes, but the adding
of pure sugar was adulteration. In
this sense we adulterate our coffee
with sugar, and our beer-wort Avith

The Coining Man Will Drink Wine, etc.

261

hops. The ridiculousness of such

logic is plain enough.

'Thou cliiiin'st tlu' spirit in one souiulini;- word,
Tliat, freed from fetters, marches on in wine.'

"It is not !i iulteration, when one
adds in the purest form what is already
present, but ought to be present in lar-
ger quantity. With as good reason
one might say that by the use of too
little sunlight Nature adulterates our
grape juice with too much acid and
too little sugar. That is the fact, call
it what we may. Since the addition
of sugar could neither be prohibited
nor prevented, a law was called for
which should bind makers, by a fine
of one thousand thalers, or corres-
ponding imprisonment, to declare on
sale, whether their wine was natural
or perfected.

"Such a law would be a stillborn
child, if there are no tests by which
perfected wine can be distinguished
with certainty, and if these tests are
not so plain that the judge can give
judgment by their help. But a fine
of one thousand thalers for an action
not punishable, such as the adding of
sugar to grape must, was quite too
high; and so the joint directors of
the Rheinpreussischen Agricultural
Society, as well as the general assem.
bly at Kreuznach, laid their veto on
the afi'air, and dismissed it from the
order of the day. Bodily confine-

ment for adding sugar to weak must,
or for concealing the act !

"It was ill-natured enougli, but
stupid. If an action be not punish-
able, its concealment can not be pun-
ished; and should the wine be in
second or third hands, and should the
buyer by sample be satisfied with the
representations of the producer, there
would be no further possibility of
putting the law in force. The affair
moves steadily on its way. The only
way of protecting buyer, and seller,
and consumer from injury, is the
fullest instruction on the proper con-
duct of tlie process ; and here Ave
have the consolation, that the purer
the materials emjjloyo 1, so much the
better will bo tha wines produced.
Everything agrees in this, that re-
fined practice will lead to a i^esult
which will be beneficial to humanity,.
and to the vintner most of all, for his
crop is, and will remain, the basis of
all methods for improving wine. If
science ever so strays aside, that wines
are made from sawdust or coal tar,
then let these gentlemen meet again
and lament over competition.

' But the sun in our far north hind

Pours aslant his wealcened rays;
Forest leaves may glow; our vineyaixls

Lack the ripe grape's purple blaze.
' Yet the north will live , and ever

All who live to joys incline;
Let us, then, by skill and science.
Teach our grapes to yield us wine. ' ' '

THE COMING MAN WILL DEINK WINE; or, COMMON SENSE
vs. PROHIBITIVE LAWS.— lY.

For the thorough initiation of my
total abstinence friends with the views
of my mind, I will begin with, the be-
ginning ; that is, I will show that that
which their object and purpose is to

eradicate is not worth keeping; it is
the most pleasant, easy, and practica-
ble side of all undertakings. I will
settle the question that to be inebri-
ated is to be in a condition in no way

•-2G2

The Grape Uulturist.

(•f>mmendable or enviable. I will fur-
ther prove that human wisdom is
nothing but absurtl claptrap, a pre-
tenseful foUy ; that vices, intemper-
ance included, are Avorth more than
their reputation, and that the Al-
mighty Architect is neither wicked
nor a fool, notwithstanding the daily
attempts to ])rove hitn so from moral-
i-^ts — water drinkers or otherwise, and
all such like ])hiloso2)hers who have
gone before mo. Should any of my
readers be of that sort that are easily
scared,'! bog of them to consider all
this as pure jest, until having read my
last chapter they ma}' exclaim, like a
noted judge, after hearing the final
argument in a case before him : By
Jove, that man is also right !

A sad sight it is, indeed, to behold
the superb animal, man, so infinite in
faculties I the beauty of the vrorld !
the image of God on earth I bereaved
of his reason, his soul — as Milton ex-
pressed it, losing ''the divine prop-
erty of her first being," imbodied and
imbrutedl the fjice divine all distort-
ed I his nose, like a beacon, pointing
out too plainly the cause, and the body
too often become a repulsive mass of
disease I — it is certainly one of the
saddest pictures given to man to con-
template of his fellow man. The spec-
tacle of an inebriate always disposes
me to soliloquize, in the words of the
more or less immortal Shakespeare :
"0 thou invisible spirit of alcohol, if
thou hast no other name to be known
by, let us call thee devil I O that men
should put an eneni}' into their mouths
to steal away their brauisl that we
should with joy, revel in pleasure and
applause, transform oui-selves into
beasts. Drunk? and speak parrot?

and squabble? swagger? swear? and
discourse with one's own shadow?
What a preposterous simpleton this
same over-drinking makes a man. To
be now a sensible being, by and b}' a
fool, and pi-esently a beast. O strange I
Every inordinate cuj) is unblest. Thou
rememberest a mass of things, but
nothing distinctly ; a quarrel, but
nothing wherefore; till it pleases the
devil, di'unkenness, to give place to
the devil, wrath; one imperfectness
showing thee another, to make thee
frankl}' despise thyself." Such are
theeftects of drunkenness, and no man
can deplore them more than I do.

As the world moves along, new
scientific terms, with more light, are
ever making their appearance ; one of
the last is possibly Dipsomania — a
craving for intoxicating liquors which
partakes of the character of insanity.
Whether thirst, in the usual meaning
of the word, has anything to do Avith
the maddened pro])cnsity for drink-
ing, the moderate abilities conferred
on me by a wise Providence precludes
my giving an explanation ; but of this
T am too well aware : that it is one
of the most distressing forms of men-
tal derangement.

Tipplers, hard drinkers, men who
go off on a drunken ramble, as they
term it, for days or weeks^ are nothing
singular. We have all seen or heard
of such persons — an annoA'ance they
are to societ}-, a discredit to them-
selves. State or local laws ought to
take due care of such men ; a timely
punishment Avould bring many to their
senses. I have seen it succeed in for-
eign countries, not so wise as Uncle
Sam's (!); why not here? It is towards
such charactei-s that I should like to

The Coming Man Will Drink Wine, etc.

26?

see ;i display of the much-landed^ emi-
nently practical turn of mind of our
people, and in which, for raj part, I
have but a limited confidence. I grant
that where there is a dollar to be made
or saved, the e3'e of our people is then
very practical, for like the Jews of
old, their real and true worship is the
golden calf; but on this question of
temperance our "eminently practical "
people have shown a lamentable lack
of practical abilit}'. What would we
think of a doctor who uj)on a case of
yellow fever could find nothing tetter
than to order the drug stores to be
closed and the patient rubbed over
Avith chalk ? Would we not say that
he was nothing but a quack — a true
know-nothing? And yet this is the
only plan which our temperance men,
our common councils, our legislatures
have been, in their sapient wisdom,
able to devise. A truh' practical doc-
tor would first endeavor to find out
the cause of the disease, and having
found it, would wisely but fearlessly
dose his patient^ no matter how bitter
the physic; he would then, if not ar-
rest, at least circumscribe the spread
of the contagion. Closing drug stores
and w^hitewashing the sick will never
cure jaundice or j'ellow fever.

But these tipplers, however, are not
dipsomaniacs. The genus drinker con-
sists of two species : ho who with in-
tervals of common sense, relieved at
Avorst with short fits of delirium, still
puts a good face on aifairs, and con-
ducts himself on the whole pretty
tairly ; and he who, hy a peculiar con-
dition of brain, sinks under a chronic
and uncontrollable appetite for intoxi-
cants: this last is the dipsomaniac
proper, as I understand it. In my

rambles around this small ball of dirt,
so small that I forget the great quan-
tity that would be necessary to make
up the size of the gigantic lantern
around which it revolves, I have known
men, good-hearted to a fault, intelli-
gent, endowed with some of the best
gifts of nature; blessed with peace-
able, kind-heai'ted, handsome wives,
around whom Avere grouped numbers
of beautiful children, such as must
compose the kingdom of heaven; some
of them almost grown up, able to un-
derstand and see their father's weak-
ness : yet these men, possessed of a
warm heart, of an intelligent brain,
able to draAv burning tears from your
eyes when speaking of family, child-
ren, and the duties of a father, too
often forget their own duties whilst
speaking of those of others. They
lacked the essentials — firmness and
decision of character; their brains
were not complete. In the sincerity
of an earnest friendship, I could al-
most, had it been in my power, have
done anything to cure them of a crav-
ing that thus limited their manhood.
It is upon such men, I consider, that
the whole power and influence of so-
cieties like the Good Templars ought
to be brought to bear; in the per-
formance of such a noble task these
associations would remain within pure
and legitimate bounds, and no sane
man would object to their existence.
Thus limited, I do not know but that
to-day I would be read}- to confide a
few acquaintances to their brotherly
care; when the time comes I shall see.
Meanwhile, there is no doubt but so-
ciety has a dutj- to perform towards
those helpless beings, whilst at the
same time legislating for its own pro-

264

Tlte Grape Culturist.

tection. Should time permit, I may
at some future period hint some of
my views upon the subject, not with
the belief that they will prove practi- j
cable, but with the hope that they may 1
contain germs from which larger and
better disciplined intellects can raise j
the much needed edifice. j

I have said it : I am a man, and •
hold nothing foreign to me that re- j
lates to mankind! but while the indi-
vidual has my deepest sj'mpathies,
mankind claims the sensible and ra-
tional energies of the mind, I am
satisfied that in the grand conception
of the universe the suflerings of the
individual are ignored when the mass
is to be benefited.

Sailors may think it hard that to
punish a rebellious prophet like Jonas,
their vessel might be wrecked, and
the lives of many innocent victims in-
volved, and it may appear so. In the
pursuit of trade great are the suffer-
ings of those that follow the sea. The
tempest makes no distinction, and in-
numerable are the victims that are
yearly engulphed b}' the ocean, but
are the results of trade of greater im-
portance to the world than the loss of
these few lives — compared to the great
mass? Has any feeling heart yet
uttered its voice against such whole-
sale anguish and drowning? Light-
ning occasionally strikes a victim,
but who will dare say that the thun-
derbolt, in its I'apid and wonderful
passage through the skies, had no
greater purpose than to destroy an

innocent life. Man on the checker-
board of the world is like the soldier
on the field of battle — the general has
but one great object in view : victory
and results.

Love, the sweetest and grandest of
all human paseions, so deep and so
noble when coming from the soul, so
terrible in its effects when thwarted,
must yet be admitted as an evil that
does, at least, match with intemper-
ance. It overshadows the land. Most
other evils are circumscribed in their
influence both as it respects time and
place : having done their work of des-
olation they pass away. Not so with
sensual love. It prosecutes its work
of human undoing absolutely without
any restriction or limit whatever. In-
temperance alone never numbered so
many victims. It fills all lands with
weeping and wailing, despair and
death. Especially here, in this Chris-
tian country, who but sickens as he
contemplates its ravages ? Individuals
and families, in ever}' neighborhood,
can be found upon whose peace it has
made essential inroads : lust, rape, se-
duction, adultery, divorce, infanticide,
and murder are its daily attendants;
still we hear of no law wanted to pro-
scribe it. If total abstinence is worth
anything, this certainly is a proper
subject to exercise it. Where shall
we find the numerous hosts willing to
join the Shakers?

Dr. Ampelos.

Golden Hills \'i.\£yakd, Nauvoo, Ills.

Reports on Grapes.

265

EEPORTS ON GRAPES.

Blufftox, September 17 , 1S70.

According to our promise, we will
now report, in detail, on all the newer
varieties in alphabetical order :

Agawain. — (Roger's 15.) Unusually
healthy this season, moderate crop of
medium size, loose bunches, strong
Frontignan flavor.

AutrechoH — (Arnold's No. 5.) Very
good for its first season, berry below
medium, bunch long and loose. Looks
and tastes much like Clara, but seems
to be a better grower and more hardy.

Adirondac. — No fruit as yet, a very
tardy bearer.

Aliens' Hybrid — Had but little fruit,
fine quality, only fit for amateurs col-
lections.

Alvey. — This grape seems to suc-
ceed remarkably well on our hills, and
we know of none better in quality. It
is one of the best, if not the best, we
have tasted this season, but seems to
require rich limestone soil, and an ele-
vated position.

Anna — Good in quality, but too
feeble and delicate to be of any value.

Arrold — -So much like Cassad}^, that
it will not pay to cultivate it besides
this.

Barry. — (Roger's 34.) Very fine in
quality, but subject to both rot and
mildew.

i?ra?ii^.— (Arnold's No. 8.) Healthy
in foliage, Iruit the earliest of all we
have seen, sweet, good and sprightly,
but with slight Clinton scratch.

Baxter. — Good bearer of very long
large bunches, rather late, but may
prove a good wine grape here and fur-
ther south.

Berks' — Very fine in quality, su-
perior to its parent the Catawba, but
subject to disease like it.

Bloods Black. — Great bearer of hand-
some compact bunches, nearly as early
as Hartford, better quality, healthy,
somewhat foxy.

Blue Dyer — Has too much Clinton
blood to suit us.

Cassady — A fair crop ; holds its fol-
iage, but vines get too young here to
judge of its merits in this location.

Clara — Delicious, but too shy a
bearer. Only an amateur's grape.

Creveling — Very fine in quality, a
very good crop on the hills, consider-
ing the age of the vines, has been
healthy, and we think much of it, both
as a wine and table grape.

Cunningham — Suffered severely last
fall, by early frost, has but little fruit,
but the quality is fine, and the wood
mostly ripe now so that we are sure of
a fine crop next year.

Cynthiana — A very fine crop of very
perfect fruit ; as usual.

Delaware. — The crop was light, as
the wood did not ripen well last year,
quality good, and a fine growth of
wood.

Devereaux — Suffered from frost, rot
and mildew, quality very fine.

Diana — A poor crop of very felin
fruit. We do not consider it worthy
of cultivation, even where it will suc-
ceed.

Essex — (Rogers' 41.) Vines were
young yet, but very healthy, and the
quality of the fruit ver^;' fine.

Ewings' Seedling — A little better
than Isabella, but of same type.

266

The Grape CuUurist.

Goethe — Splendid in every respect.
Fine fruit, fine foliage, fine growth, a
perfect feast to the eye.

Hartford — A very abundant crop, as
usual.

Herhemont. — The crop is scant, for
the same causes which aftected the
Cunningham, but we hope to bring it
in next year.

Herbert. — (Eogers' 44.) Young yet,
vine healthy, quality of fruit very fine,
even better than Wilder, which it much
resembles. Very promising.

Hermann — A splendid crop of very
perfect fruit. The most promising new
"wine grape we know.

Hettie — Very indifferent, of the Isa-
bella type.

Huntingdon — Small bunch, small
berry, sets abundantly, but ripens un-
evenly, and drops badly.

Zona — Behaved better this season
than we have ever seen it. Has a
good crop of fair fruit, on the only
vine we have.

Israella — Also tolerably fair, but in
our opinion not equal to Creveling, and
certainly not earlier. — E^ditor.]

[Continued in our next.]

Editor Grape Culturist :

I see that you are publishing reports
from different localities on Grape
Growing and Wine Making. Perhaps
a few lines from Miami county, Kan-
sas, would be interesting.

I commenced dabbling in grapes in
1863-4, as you know, for I purchased
some of you. I planted mostly Clin-
ton and Concord, and have a speci-
men of about twenty other varieties,
but I have not given them as thorough
cultivation as I Avould like. I have
no horse, and I have to depend on

hiring, and consequently I cannot
have Avork done when it ought to be.
I have about six hundred Concords in
full bearing, and five hundred Clin-
tons planted, SxlO feet. I think that
about the right distance ; would plant
that distance if I were to plant one
hundred acres. Concord and Clinton
are bearing good crops ; Clinton
sheds the leaves and rots some. Most
of the fancy grapes are worthless
with mo. The AValter, I paid five dol-
lars for, has not made any progress
in two years; just as large now as
when I planted it. Adirondac — I paid
thirteen dollars to get a start at that —
it proves an entire failure Creveling
is not adapted to my soil. Catawba,
Isabella, and some other varieties are
doing better this year than usual. I
have a single specimen of lona grow-
ing on a fine sandy loam, on the top
of a hill, that appears to do Avell ; I
shall experiment further in that direc-
tion with other varieties.

There are growing, in Miami county,
about fifteen acres of grapes of vari-
ous kinds, and by as many persons.
Wo are not as enthusiastic as when
we first entered the arena, but we are
not entirely discouraged. I com-
menced with nothing, and had to
experiment and find out Avhat varie-
ties would grow and make good Avine.
I think if I had planted Norton's Vir-
ginia, in the place of so many Clinton
and Concord, 1 should have done
better.

I made about one hundred gallons
of wine last fall, as an experiment ;
mashed the grapes and pressed them
with one of Hiebek's apple mills;
fermenting on the lees from twenty-
four to thirtA'-six hours, and one lot I

Reports on Grapes.

267

let stand one week, and, friend Hus-
mann, that is the best wine. I consulted
Husmann in my operations, of course.
I had to contend with a great many
obstacles — first, I had no cellar, so I
could not control the temperature ;
then, I had to put the wine in a com-
mon room^ in a plank house, tho tem-
perature up to 60 and 70° during the
day and down to zero at night, but,
for all that, I believe I have some good
wine, at least it has kept here in the
same room, with tho mercury tip to
one hundred for a month, without
souring in the least.

I made forty gallons of Concord
gallized, twenty gallons petiotized,
ten of Clinton, ten of pure Concord,
from the ripest grapes, and a speci-
men of white wine froin Concord ;
also, a sample of mixed grapes. All
was a success. Indeed, I was happily
disappointed, for I expected a total
failure under the circumstances. I
am satisfied that I can make wine-
making and grape-growing a good
business, and I expect to follow it up.

We need organized capital to suc-
ceed. We have no market here for
wine, in lact, people do not know
anything about Native Wine j they
think if the wine does not appear like
commercial wine (whisky and log-
wood,) that it is no wine at all. The
temperance question, too, has a great
deal to do with the sale of native
wine. I think sometimes that our
wine ought to be called by another
name, people so abhor the idea of
intemperance — whisky, fermented
liquors, etc. — as though our glorious
native pure wines had any relation to
any of them, but this only shows that
people can be educated to an error

and superstition as Avell as to sound
philosophy and truth.

] will try and gather some statis-
tics as to the number of acres, num-
ber of vines planted, and the amount
of wine made in this county this fall.
Yours, A. Gove.

[Thanks for your communication.
We are glad to hear of your success
in wine-making, and not a little proud
that we hear of so many of our old
readers who have followed our advice
and made good wine. — Editor].

Glasgow, Scott Co., Ills., Aug. 22, 1870.

Mr. Husmann :

Dear Sir: — Seeing j'our request in
the Gra.pe Culturist for all grape
growers to give j^ou the No. of vines
each one has in cultivation and bear-
ing, I thought I would send yon the
No. that I have. My grapes are :
Concord 104, Delaware 102, lona S2,
Israella 21, Ives Seedling 24, Adiron-
dac 12, 12 of different No. of Roger's
Hybrids. These are ail in their second
3^ear of bearing, and I have one hun-
dred and eight more that will bear next
year for the first time. I have the first
named all planted out four and five
feet apart in the row, and the rows all
six feet apart ; the latter are eight feet
apart in the row, and the rows all six
feet apart. They are all trained to the
single arm and spur of the first, and
the others are ready to train on the
double arm and spurs. My bearing
vines are only carrying about a quarter
of a ciop, on account of the late spring
frost. There is also a little rot amongst
mine. Do you not think it would be
better for me to dig out every other
vine where they are planted so close ?
Would it be better to dig out every

268

Ihe Grape CuUurist.

other one of the close planted before
growing another arm, or wait until I
grew another arm to till the space
with? WJiich is the best wa^- to I'un
the rows, North and South, or East and
"West ? I have run mj^ vines rows East
and "West. I think I shall plant an
acre of vines yet, about a 3'ear from
this fall. Could you not give us 3'our
new mode of grafting the vine that you
had such good success with in the next
Grape Culturist. I wish to graft
some in the spring, and wish to be pos-
ted and ready for operations when
spring comes. I have grafted after
Fullers' plan with very poor success.
Respectfully yours,

Henry Harden
[Of course your vines are too close.
Dig out your vines first, and tlien train
over the empty space. Run your rows
parallel with the hillside, whatever the
exposure may be. "We will give our
new mode of grafting in due time, but
are too busy now. Suffice it to say
that it is done in May, therefore you
can well wait a little longer. — Editor.]

Oswego, Oregon, Aug. 29, 1S70.

Editor Grape Culturist :

I drop you a hast}'- note just to let
you know the progress of the grape
crop in the "Willamatte valley : Dela-
ware, Hartford, Allen's Hybrid, and
Black July, are fit to eat, and some of
the latter are in market ; I presume
some other kinds of foreign grapes are
about ripe, but I have not got them in
bearing yet. The Israella is coloring,
and lona and Concord just commencing.
Allen's Hybrid, Delaware, and some
others were very much damaged by a
heavy rain, which came just as they
were in bloom, preventing their proper

fertilization. We have had an ex-
ceedingly dry and hot summer, and I
don't think the grape crop will be quite
as large or fine as last year. I will
endeavor to make as full a report as
possible of the different kinds at the
close of the season.

Yours, very truly,

A. R. Shiplky.

[Please do so and oblige us and our
readers. — Editor. ]

Edgewood, September 13 , 1870.

Friend Husmann :

Our Concords have done well this
season, bei-ries larger than usual, but
the prices rather low, still it is a pay-
ing business, if tended to properly.
I sold eight tons of grapes, and have
about one hundred gallons of wine
fermenting in the cellar, or rather we
hope it will be wine, and we hope some
day that we will be able to send wine
to market, that will be deserving of a
name. And should you be traveling
through this part of the country, please
stop and see us, and try our wine, it
would be a great satisfaction to us, to
have your opinion ; we are all new l^e-
ginners at the business, and have to
grope along the best wa}^ we can,
hoping for the better, and we hope the
day is coming when we will be able to
treat a friend to some home made wine
that will cheer up the heart and enliven
the spirit. E. A. Hegeman.

[Thanks for your invitation. We
will try and profit by it some day. —

Editor.

Cleveland, Ohio, Aug. 25, 1S70.

I suppose 5'ou would like to know
how grapes are around here. I have
talked to a great many and they all

Reports on Grapes.

269

say the Catawba has rotted worse this
year than ever before; one man Mr.
Merton sa3's, out of two acres l-ie won't
have two hundred and fifty pounds ; Isa-
bella has not set well except in some
few places ; that is about a!l the kinds
are grown to any extent, some Dela-
wares and a few lonas are grown ; men
around Cleveland as general thing
seem afraid to plant any new varieties.

J. W. I. BARNkY.

[Sorry to hear that your people are
so far behind the times. You should
trv and wake them up. Lei them come
out West and see us and our grapes,
we will try and make converts of them.

Editor.]

Os«KGO, OuEGOX, July 28, 1870.

Editor Grape Culturist :

Since the date of ray last commu-
nication the weather has been favor-
able to the grape crop, except that
Ave had sevei'al dixys rain, just as
Allen's Hybrid and Delaware were
in full bloom, which prevented their
fertilization to some extent, so that
the bunches on those kinds are very
loose. Other kinds blooming later
were not so much afiPected. vSince
then we had some of the hottest
weather ever known in this valley.
The grape vines are looking splen-
didl}'. There is not the slightest
symptom of disease of leaf or berry
on any of my vines, either native or
foreign. The berries of Concord,
Diana, Hartford, Delaware, Israella,
loua, Creveling, Allen, and Black
July are almost full sized,'and I expect
to see some of them begin to color in
a couple of weeks at farthest. My
vines are all trained to stakes, except
a few which are pruned to a head some

fourteen inches from the ground — a
very popular method in California.
I think it will succeed here. I pro-
pose to experiment Avith various
modes. In the finest vineyard in
Oregon they grow two or three canes
from the ground and train them to a
stake. At the winter pruning they
cut all away but one cane, Avhich is
the lowest one. This they cut back
to eight or ten buds which bear the
fruit. This bearing cane is not tied
up, but is permitted to bend over to
the ground with its load of fruit.
Two or three of the shoots nearest
the ground are trained up to the
stake and permitted to grow to its
top, when they are checked. The
I'emaining shoots are broken off just
beyond the last bunch of fruit, and
so they continue from year to year.
The vines in this vineyard are about
three feet apart each way, and the
cultivation is all done by hand, and
consists of simply digging up the
ground in the spring with the vine-
3"ard hoe. The proprietors are French
vinedressers whose ancestors followed
the same business in " La Belle
France." They raise magnificent
grapes, and "■ lots" of them, and suc-
ceed in ripening them early. I should
think that some of our Grerman vint-
ners would find a good field for their
operations in this State, and I should
be glad to see them.

Yours, very trul}',

A. E. Shipley.
Aug. 13, 1870.— Not being able to
mail my letter till now, I open it to
say to you that Hariford Prolific is
coloring finely. No other variety
shows the color yet.

A. E. S.

270

The Grape Gultiirist.

Hagerstowk, Md., Sept. G, 1870.

Mr, Husmann :

I might as well now give you some
observations on our grape season here.
AVe have had a very warm and rainy
season. Our corn crop is very heavy,
and wheat grew rank and fell, and of
course the grapes suffered. Concords
are very abundant, although they
rotted much. Catawbas are a failure.
I find where high weeds grew or the
vines were on trees they are pretty
good.

We are growing in this neighbor-
hood nearly all the grapes that come
out. I will notice the time of ripening
of some of them in comparison Avith
Arnold's hybrids. On August 7th,
Christine, Koger's No. 3, and Brant
became elastic in the green state. (I
adopted this method in order to give
the white grapes a fair trial.)

August 10. Cornucopia and Canada
came with Adirondac, Eebecca, Ives,
etc. Then a few days after Autuchon.
Othello died the first winter. Brant
seems to have considerable sugar in
its composition, but tastes too much
like our little bird grape growing
wild here, to be pleasant. Cornuco-
pia has much the flavor and sugar of
the Alvey. Canada is the sweetest
and best flavored. Autuchon is not
yet ripe enough to pass sentence on,
but I fear it will lack sugar. These
vines grow well and stood this sum-
mer bravely. I believe the drawings
of them are correct. The Canada
has a beautiful compact bunch. The
Arnolds were grown by Dr. Harvey,
in town. I have several hundred
growing in an open poor field, and
they grow well, and I think they will
produce a better article than those

grown in a rich soil. My Marthas
are quite ripe, and they turn brown
and rot. We have still frequent show-
ers and sultr}' weather. If that should
be common to it, it will prove a very
serious thing, for I think it is the best
white grape. John K. IIeyser.

[The brown color which the Martha
sometimes assumes, is not rot, as the
berries still taste quite sweet, and it
does not injure them for wine mak-
ing. We think you will not find it pre-
valent nor very injurious. Your notes
about Arnold's Hj-brids are very in-
teresting, and correspond with the
experience here. — Editor.]

ROLLA, Mo., Sept. otli, 1870.

George Husmanx, Esq. :

Bear Sir: — The last cold spell in
April killed most of the buds on the
vines in our county, but still we have
a fair crop. The must is of much
better quality than last year. Concord
averaging 78° on Oechsle's scale. Of
the vines planted this spring, no more
died than last year, although we had
hardly any rains since April, not
one hoav}' enough to wet the ground
through. You advise deep planting
of the Norton's Virginia — at least
deeper than Concord. Now last year
Judge Periy, a neighbor of ours, set
out 100 Nortons no deeper than six
inches, and all grew but five. We
set out the same number deep, and
lost about 40. Our plants were very
well rooted, and had not suffered any
when we i-cceived and planted them.
This year we set out 100 more of
very poor plants, much inferior to
those of last year, no deeper than
six inches, and we lost about eleven.
Another neighbor who planted several

Reports on Grapes.

271

hundred this spring, and who also
planted shallow, states that he did
not lose five per cent. This spring I
grafted four Isabella, stocks J inches
through, wiih Martha, and not being
able to find a smooth place below
ground, I cut off the stock even with
the ground, and set in the grafts in
the usual way. Then I threw a few
handsfull of loose ground on the graft,
60 as to cover it. This was my first
attempt at grafting, but all four
started, and three are growing finely.
Very respectfully yours,

C. £. SOEST,

Of Soest & Bros.

Champaigx, 111.. .Sept. 5. ISTO.
Iteo. HusMANN, Esq., Editor Grape

Culturist, /St. Louis, Mo.:

(i rapes have done wonderfully well
here this year. No blight, no rot, no
mildew; few if an}- insects, except in
narrow districts, and the crop is at
least three weeks earlier than usual.
There are grapes, and grapes of the
finest, and to be had at the fine price
(to the consumer) of five cents a pound.

You say the Clinton is a failure in
Missouri, and a correspondent from
Texas says the same thing of the Con-
•cord there; an<! he says, too, the Clin-
ton dried up. Here the Clinton has
done Avell — ver}^ well, indeed, every-
where ; and where it has had liberty,
light, air, and sunlight, it has done
magnificently indeed. To be sure, in
•some lew places one may see that the
gall insect has done damage — a dam-
age, so far as I have seen*, confined to
that grape alone.

I was down to the great orchard-
ist's " Eural,'' the other da}-, where I
saw about 500 Concord trained on Dr.

Hull's "double and twisted" sj-stem,
which on this, the fourth year from
setting, were estimated to carry fif-
teen pounds to the vine. "Whether
this is a large yield or a small one I
do not know, but in the way of grapes
it was the noblest sight I ever was
witness to. No blight, no mildew, no
unripe or decayed grapes — nothing
but health, and strength, and vigor.
Every bunch purple with bloom, ever}'
one perfect, but none very large or
very small. "Eural" told me the
vines had not been touched in the way
of pinching or pruning this season.
I am anxious to see how long they
will submit to Dr. Hull's sj-stem, and
whether vines so health}' and vigor-
ous will consent to be tied to stakes
two or three years longer. ''Eural"
has not a great variety of grapes, but
they all looked well as to foliage, and
all promising as to fruit, but Taylor's
Bullett, on which the bunches were of
all sizes, and the berries in all stages
of growth, ripen and decay.

It is worth noting, that just the year
when the pear and apple appear to be
going down before the attacks of in-
sects and the blight, the peach and
the graT)e seem to take a new lease of
life^ and lead us to think that they
will suit themselves to our prairies as
successfully as corn and the whole
tribe of grains and grasses do.

Yours, truly, B. F. J.

[Fifteen pounds of grapes to the vine
is a fair, but not a large yield. What
would our friend Eural say to five
acres of Concord, ti'ained to ti'ellis, in
their fourth year also, which at least
average thirty-five pounds per vine ?
He could easily see them here if he
visited us — all large, perfect bunches,

272

The Grape Culturist.

well ripened, and no disease. The}"
were all properly pinched in May and
June. Grapes are fine everywhere,
nearly, throughout the West, except
the Clinton, which is a failure here,
though it may do better with you. —
Ed.]

Wasiiin'gton, Ark , Sept. 4, 1870.

Friend Husmann :

Notwithstanding the terrible frost
of last Easter our grape crop has not
been an entire failure. There was a
third of a crop of Concord and
Catawba, about half a crop of Herbe-
mont, and nearly a full crop of Nor-
ton's Virginia. As a general rule,
the earlier grapes suffer most. We
require for profit those varieties which
put forth sluggishly in spring, and
ripen late. Leaving out of view the
Scuppernong (to which most of the
grape-growers of our section specially
incline,) my experience, so far, has
indicated Norton's Virginia and Cj-n-
thiana as the best of the varieties
yet known upon which to base our
hopes of successful wine-making in
our latitude.

Usually our long summers, how-
ever, develop the highest qualities
of many other varieties for eating.
Martha has been eminently successful,
never having yet rotted nor failed to
ripen to a most luscious sweetness.
Indeed, this will turn out, I fear, to
be the only objection to the Martha.
It is perhaps too sweet, and may come
in time, after the novelty has worn
off, to be less estimated than the more
sprightly, but less cloying Maxa-
tawney. The Delaware has fully sus-
tained its original promise. It has
kept its foliage well, and the fruit has

been free from disease. Goethe has
not ripened well, never acquiring even
a pink color; besides having suffered
especiall}' from curculio, and losing its
leaves, more than I think wholesome.
It must be borne in mind, however,
that the season has been in every
respect an exceptional, and very
disastrous one. We have had no
drought — little weather, indeed, that
we could call dry even. It has rained
incessantly since May, and our grapes
went on to the last stage through
constant deluges of showers. This
was strikingly apparent in the must,
which was so weak that gallizing
became, a necessity, if we ai'e to have
anj'thing else than vinegar. I made
wine of the Catawba and Norton's^
but could not this year risk either
without a liberal supplj^ of sugar.
I suppose the same thing would have
been apparent in the Concords, but
being in demand, from their size and
appearance, I allowed them all to be
sold for eating at 25 cents per pound.
"The millions-" are governed hj ap-
pearances, and not over critical in
taste. They go in for a big things
and the Concord fills the bill.

I am this year thoroughl}' satisfied
of two things which I had cause to
suspect long ago. I have been all
my life planting too close, and prun-
ing too short. Our vines require the
treatment of the south of Europe —
barring the trees, which I cannot
think good for a vineyard. Our canes
will bear festooning along the tops of
the trellises, and show healthier and
finer fruit than if kept back to spurs
on arms, or short canes, fan fashion,
on the lower parts of the trellis.
This results from our loni;:; seasons

Reports on Grapes.

273

and vigorous growth, and is especially
the case with Norton's, Cynthiana,
Herbemont, Concord, and other
strong growing varieties. I think I
will not plant any more of them less
than sixteen feet apart, nor have trel-
lises less than six feet high. This
does not apply of course to weaker
varieties, such as the Delaware —
although it certainlj- does to the
Catawba on fresh gi'ound while the
vines are young.

I have written this in the way of
gossip, and to keep mj-self en rapport
with the Grape Culturist, although
I am not conscious that my observa-
tions this year can add much to the
common stock. Calculating upon
our usual summers, I think we must
look for profit to the later varieties of
grapes. Give ample room in planting
and prune longer than we have been
heretofore taught, and in view of this
season we must make up our minds
to abandon all prejudices against
using sugar in our must, or be content
occasionally to look to the vinegar
market for returns, and (where shall
I say ?) for our wine to drink.
Eespectfully,

Jno. E. Eakin.

P. S. — I receive inquiries from
many of your readers in this country
regarding trellises. Please allow me
to say to them all, that I have tried
stakes ver}' extensively, and every
sort of trellis. With present prices
of labor, even with wood at our doors,

a wire trellis, of No. 10 wire, ordered
from St. Louis, and freight included^
is cheapest and best. More is saved
in posts and laths and nails than will
pay for the wire. Our Scuppernong
raisers, who require horizontal trel-
lises, about ten feet above ground,
are also adopting wires, as cheaper
and more easily repaired, E.

[ Thanks for your very interesting
"gossip." Wish we had had some of
your showers in due time. We agree
with you about -wider distances and
longer pruning, but think ten to
twelve feet of trellis room amply suf-
ficient. We also agree with you about
the value of Norton's and Cynthiana.
for wine, but you also want ichite
wine, and for this 3'ou should grow
Herbemont, Cunningham, Eulander,.
Louisiana, Goethe, Martha, Maxataw-
ney, and above all, the Hermann. We
can learn to blend these so as to make
each supply deficiencies in the other.
Think you will be better pleased with
Goethe on closer acquaintance.

Your experience about trellis agree*
exactly with ours. We have long
advocated wire trellis as cheapest and
best, but we use No. 12, which is-
amply strong enough, and will reach
much farther.

Glad to see that your prejudice
against gallizing is wearing off. It is-
the same story everywhere, and all
rational wine-makers will jQi come to
adopt it. — Ed.]

274

The Grape Cnlturist.

TEMPERANCE vs. TOTAL ABSTINENCE.

Walla Walla, W. T., Aug. 27, 1870,

Dear IIusmann :

I propose at this time to discuss our
interests in and with the Grai'E Cul-
TURiST. As one of the great family of
grape growers, I look upon this publi-
<;ation as one peculiarly our own. Its
sanctum is our fireside. Wiierever it
is real is our famil}- circle. Its con-
tents are our food. Its lessons are lor
our benefit, and with its patrons I feel
that there is a bond of brotherhood,
and its fair fame as sacred as m}^ own.
With these expressions of my feelings,
I will now express my opinion in re-
gard to what I deem its proper avoca-
tion, and what not. To meddle in
politics^ except where legislation affects
our interests as grape growers, would
of course not be permitted. To dis-
cuss the prospects of the wheat crop
is out of its province. And so with
all other subjects not connected with
the one bare interest of grape culture.
These rules you laid down as funda-
mental at the outset. Now I wish to
ask, in all kindness : Has not your cor-
respondent at Nauvoo, Ills., led you
xistray in his very lengthy articles on
the " Coming Man," &c. I don't wish
to discuss this question, for I deem the
question of temperance to be one of
those subjects, which are not connected
with Grape Culture. And if I should
admit (which I am willing to do) that
we are acting a part in this great sub-
ject, I am far from connecting myself
with the champions of drunkenness. As
one of tlie famih' of Grape Culturists,
I demur from the principles of your
■correspondent. Dr. Ampelos.

I cannot consent to stigmatize that
great and intelligent class of reformers
who have organized under various
names against intemperance, as jack-
asses. (See Grape Culturist, page
213, second column.) I claim that we
are also doing a good work, and are
with them, not against them, and Dr.
Ampelos mistakes the mission of wine
in the world, if he places it as one of
the beverages, causing what we will all
admit to be the greatest evil, intempe-
rance. I claim that the Dr. in his at-
tacks upon temperance organizations
arraigns " us " as the champions of in-
temperance. I deny the position, and
will here assert, that, if I thought that
the raising of grapes and the making
of wine would result in the making of
one more drunkard in the human
family, I would at once destroy what
little start I had made in the business.
I may be mistaken in regard to the
influence of pure wine, in the matter of
drunkenness, but God forbid that I
should ever do aught that would assist in
leading one of mj^ race to a drunkard's
grave.

I say God bless those noble bands of
brothers, who are endeavoriag to save
a fellow man from the miseries of
intemperance, and if wine is one of the
auxiliaries of intemperance, I hope the}'
will succeed in banishing its manufac-
ture and sale from the land. But on
the other hand believing it to be a
saving beverage, a drink that is de-
signed to prevent drunkenness, I say
good speed the time when the whole
human family can drink pure, unadulte-
rated wine — to the exclusion of those

Temperance vs. Total Abstinence.

275

poisonous liquors that destroy' both
soul and bod3^

When such is the case, I believe in-
temperance will be principally driven
fi'om the land. I am lor temperance,
and I hope that none of our brother-
hood will ever show such an animus
against temperance men. I want none
of it in mine. I can not stand up in the
light of the present civilization, and
throw dirt at temperance reformers.
Let us have an expression as to your-
self. Yours, respectfully.

A. B. Roberts.

[We think friend Roberts mistakes
the views of Dr. Ampelos, and think
the present number will show him that
the doctor is also a temperance man in
the true sense of the word.

As to our own views we trust they
need no lengthy dissertation, or expli-
cation. We have advocated grape
growing and the moderate use of wine
for fifteen years, chiefly because we
thought it the best agent of true tem-
perance, and thought it would in time
banish drunkenness from the land, a
vice which we abhor and detest as
much as an}- man living. But while
we are for true temperance, in the
proper sense of the word, we confess
that we have no sj^mpathy with those
fanatical and bigoted advocates of total
abstinence, who, because some men
make beasts of themselves, and in-
dulge in intoxicating liquors to excess,
would fetter and enslave every one to
abstain from their use altogether, and
even go so far as to proscribe wine, the
most innocent and exhilarating of
them all. If they would confine their
labors to the conversion of actual
drunkards, if they preached temperance,
instead of total abstinence, we would

also say, God speed them ! But instead
of this, we have but too often seen,
that these apostles of temperance, as
they called themselves, would drink the
strongest liquors in secret, and would
themselves daily violate the pledge
they exhorted others to take. We
will in charity suppose that there are
a few, nay even many of them^ who
are mistaken but sincere believers in
their doctrines ; we will also grant,
there are others who because their
beastly appetite is stronger than their
better conviction, would do well to
take the pledge of total abstinence,
provided they would keep it. But if
the moral obligations of society — if
his family ties, which should be holy to
every man worthy of the name — will
not keep the drunkard from debasing
himself, will the pledge doit? Or will
he not, after a few days or hours of
abstinence, yield to the tempter again,
and perjure himself also? And must
others, who use wine and other liquors
in moderation, as they should be used,
be compelled also to abstain from
them because a few will abuse them?
Such a doctrine is not only ridi-
culous and absurd in the extreme,
but contrary to every republican prin-
ciple, unworthy to be entertained in a
country which calls itself the freest
upon earth, and the refuge of all the
oppressed and persecuted. We think
it worthy of the best attention of our
legislators, not to pass prohibitive laws
against the use of intoxicating liquors
— for this would be against the letter
and spirit of our institutions — but to
make drunkenness a crime, punishable
like every other vice, by the severest
penalties. For is not he who steals
the sustenance and peace of his family

276

The Grape Cultnrist.

a greater malefactor than the thief who
picks the pockets of strangers? Why
is he not held amenable to the law, and
punished as he deserves? Let drunk-
enness be made, before the law, what it
really is — a crime. Let it be punished
as such, and we will see less of it. But
let not the innocent suffer with the

guilty ; let us not trample our liberties
under foot because vice has transformed
the blessing into a curse.

These are our views. We think
that our correspondents both entertain
the same ideas, and have only misun-
derstood each other. — Editor.

THE FAIR AT HERMANN, ON THE 13TH AND 14TH OF SEPT.

Although orei'burdened with work,
we attended this exhibition, and can
truly say of it that we never saw a
finer exhibition of grapes any where,
both in variety of the collections ex-
hibited, and in the excellence of single
specimens. We give below a list of
the premiums given to grapes :

Best collection of grapes (60 varie-
ties), first premium Bluffton Wine Co. ;
second, Aug. Loehnig.

Best six bunches of one variety.

Best six bunches Catawba, 1st prem-
ium Mrs. Theodore Poeschel ; 2d, John
Mueller.

Best six bunches Concord, 1st prem-
ium Poeschel & Scherer; 2d, Bluffton
Wine Co.

Best six bunches Noi tons', 1st prem-
ium Mrs. Theodore Poeschel ; 2d, John
G. Mueller.

Best six bunches Herbemont, 1st
premium Mrs. Theodore Poeschel ; 2d,
Poeschel & Scherer.

Best six bunches Cynthiana, 1st
premium Michael Romeiser ; 2d, Chas.
Roemer.

Best six bunches Martha, 1st prem-
ium F. Langondoerfer ; 2d, Jacob Kuhn.

Best six bunches Goethe, 1st premium
Jacob Kuhn.

Best six bunches Perkins, 1st prem-
ium Henry Ilenge.

Best six bunches Ives, 1st premium
Henry Henge.

Best six bunches Delaware, 1st prem-
ium Henry Henge ; 2d, Poeschel <fe
Scherer.

Best six bunches Maxatawne}', 1st
premium Charles Roemer ; 2d, F. Lan-
gendoerfer.

Best six bunches Rulander, 1st prem-
ium Poeschel & Scherer ; 2d, J. G.
Mueller.

Best six bunches Taylor, 1st premium
Aug. Loehnig; 2d, John Mueller.

Best six bunches Hermann, 1st prem-
ium F. Langendoerfer.

Best six bunches Cunningham, 1st
premium Aug. Loehnig; 2d, Charles
Beckmann.

Best six bunches Minor's Seedling,
1st premium H. Henge : 2d, Poeschel
& Scherer.

Best six bunches Clinton,lst premium
H. Henge.

BEST BEARING CANE, ONE VARIETY.

Catawba, 1st premium H. Henge ;
2d, B. Petrus.

Concord, 1st premium J. Rommoll ;
2d, Poeschel & Scherer.

The Fair at Hermann on the 13th and IJ/ih of September.

'It I

Norton's, 1st premium C. Eberle ;
d, John Fleish.

Herbemont, 1st premium B. Petrus ;
2fl, H. llenge.

Cvuthiaiiu, 1st premium Louis Poe-
schell ; 2d, H. Henge.

Hermann, 1st premium August Loeh-
nig ; 2d, F. Langendoerfer.

Ives, 1st premium August Loebnig.

Martha, 1st prem. F. Langendoerfer.

Rii lander, 1st premium Poeschel &
Soberer.

Minor's Seedling, 1st premium Henry
Henge.

Cunningham, 1st premium Henry
Henge.

Delaware, 1st premium Henry Henge;
2d, Poeschel & Scherer.

Taylor, 1st premium Jacob Rommoll;
2d, John Fleish.

Mammoth Catawba, 1st premium
Henry Henge.

RED WINES.

Concord, best two bottles, 1st prem-
ium Jacob Doneier ; 2d, Poeschel &
Scherer; 3d, Aug. Loehnig.

Clinton, best two bottles. Diploma
Poeschel & Scherer.

Ives, best two bottles, 1st premium
Poeschel & Scherer.

Hermann, best two bottles. Diploma,
F. Langendoerfer.

Cynthiana, best two bottles, 1st
premium Poeschel & Scherer; 2d, Dr.
J. Feldmann.

Favorite, Diploma, Poeschel &
Scherer.

Norton's Virginia, 1st premium John
Mueller ; 2d, John Hoersch ; 3d, F.
Langendoerfer.

WHITE WINES.

White Concord, best two bottles, 1st

premium Poeschel & Scherer ; 2il, Mrs.
Theodore Poeschel.

Catawba, best two bottles, 1st prem-
ium Mrs. Theodore Poeschel ; 2d, John
Mueller; 3d, Poeschel & Scherer; 4th,
J. G. Mueller.

lona, best two bottles, Diploma,
Poeschel & Scherer.

Perkins, best two bottles. Diploma,
Henr}' Henge.

Herbemont, best two bottles, 1st
premium Poeschel & Scherer; 2d, B.
Petrus.

Delaware, best two bottles, 1st prem-
ium Poeschel & Scherer ; 2d, Mrs.
Theodore Poescliel; 3d, J. G. Mueller.

Taylor, best two bottles, 1st premium
Potschel & Scherer; 2d, B. Petrus.

Rulander, best two bottles, 1st prem-
ium Poeschel & Scherer.

We had the pleasure of serving on
the committee on white wines, a rather
arduous task. Among the wines de-
serving particular notice in this class,
were the lona and Rulander of Messrs.
Poeschel and Scherer, and the Catawba
of Mrs. Theodore Poeschel. The
Rulander and Catawba were as good
as we have ever tasted them, and we
doubt whether they could be excelled
in their class. The lona, a novelty to
us, was an exceedingly smooth, rather
sweet wine, of great body, and certainly
just the thing for the lunch of a dainty
lady. But we doubt whether it repre-
sented the true character of the grape.
Of the other white wines we can only
say of the three Catawbas which also
received premiums, that they were equal
to former seasons. We think the bal-
ance of the white wines did not come
up to former exhibitions ; this is easily
explained by the inferiority of the

278

The Grape Culturist.

vintage of 1869^ from which first quality
wines could hardly be expected.

We did not get a fair taste of all the
red wines, but some of them which we
tasted were very fine, others below me-
dium. Among the novelties in grapes
we noticed exceedingly fine Marthas,
by F. Langendoerfer; Hermann bunches
by same, weighing nearly a pound, and
a ne\v seedling by II. Henge, which he
>calls Mammoth Catawba ; it is a very

heavy, compact bunch, somewhat light-
er color than Catawba, and of ver3'-
good quality. We shall watch it
closely, although we do " not like the
source from whence it comes."

Tvvitchell's Acidometer was there
tested before a special committee, which
unanimously awarded it a premium as
the best and most reliable acidometer
they had yet seen.

THE GEAPE VINE LOCK.

Mr. Kdward F. Underbill, of Broc
ton, N. Y., has invented and patented
a very simple device for tying vines,
under the above name, M'hich we think
will serve the purpose of a cheap and
durable tie — can be left on the wire
and used for several years. It is made
of No. 15 wire, and we think even
smaller size would answer. The ac-
companying cuts will full}' explain it,
and if they can be manufactured for
sixty cents per 1,000, as Mr. Under-
bill claims, we think they will soon
come into general use.

No. 1 represents
the Vine Lock de-
signed for upright
or oblique shoots
or canes.
No. 2 represents it as applied to the

wire, with one hook closed that it may
remain permanently on the trellis.
Nos. 3 and 4 represent it w^ith the

shoot or cane inclosed and secured to
the wire.

Slaughtering the Vines.

279

Where vines are trained to stakes,
wooden trellis, or on the sides of build-
ings, a nail or staple is used as a sub-
stitute for the trellis wire. Where a
nail is employed, the closed hook is
placed towards the head of the nail.

For securing horizontal shoots or
canes, the device has a different form.

The inventor claims for the use of
the Vine Lock the following advant-
ages :

1. Three acres of vines can be se-
cured to the trellis in the time required
for tying one acre.

2. Labor less skilled than is required
for tying can, by its use, do the work
as efficiently.

3. In cold weather the work can be
performed w^th more comfort, as the
hands may be protected with gloves.

4. By it the vine is securely fasten-
ed to the wire ; whereas ties are in-
secure, and during high winds fre-
quently break and let the vine fall.

5. It is made of sufficient dimensions

to avoid the liability of the vine being
girdled.

6. When once placed upon the trel-
lis, it will remain for use for many
years ; w^hereas ties must be replaced
each season.

7. It is cheaper than any material
now used for tying. Whether twine,
bass bark, willow, rye straw, corn
husks or rope yarn bo employed, either
will cost in money a?id labor from ten
to twenty-five cents for each thousand
ties, and they will last but a single
season. The price of the Vino Lock
will not exceed sixty cents a thousand,
and they will last for many years.

8. The increased rapidity with which
the w^ork of securing the vines can
proceed by the use of the device is so
great, that three days less of labor
will be needed during the season on
each acre of vineyard; and at the
present prices of labor, its adoption
will result in a saving of from three
to five dollars annually on each acre
of land planted with vines.

SLAUGHTERING THE VINES.

" We have noticed with much interest
the change coming over the minds of
our grape growers in regard to the
operation generally known as " summer
pruning."

It is an opinion held by many close
observers, founded upon facts that can
be tested by any one, that leaf growth
is essential to plant development ; that
in proportion as the leaves are impaired
in their action, disease in the plant is
induced.

The Hon. W. J. Flagg, in a paper
on the '' Sulphur Remedy," read before
the Ohio Horticultural Society, says in
describing the condition of his vine-
yard, weakened by the mildew : "Some-
thins must be done to restore the vigor

of the vines. For this purpose, I
devise the following plan, which I have
since carried out." *****
" Sixth — No summer pruning." Show-
ing that he regarded summer pruning
an exhausting, wasting, disease-indu-
cing process.

We visited a vineyard of strong
Concord vines bearing a crop of a ton
to a ton and a half per acre. The
vines were very rampant, and the later-
als and main shoots had had it much
their own way till the fruit was nearly
coloring, when it was found that the
space between the rows of trellis was
quite matted up and entangled, so that
passage was impossible. Large knives
were then taken, the spaces were

2«'0

The Grape Culturist.

trimmed out, and about half a ton of
leaves and young shoots cut off, and
this was denominated summer pruning.
What wonder that the functions of the
plant become disturbed, and a diseased
condition induced.

In the youno- vineyard of a gentle-
man of considerable order and taste,
the two-year old vines had not been
regularly tied up. In the beginning of
August time was taken to touch up the
vineyard. The leading shoots were
tied up to the stakes quite trim and
neat, but two thirds of the leaves and
young growth was lopped off, and still
the vines were held up as models of
neatness. Is it any marvel that the
Concord is exhibiting indications of
disease ?

It seems so hard to got men to
fully comprehend what is meant by
pruning at all, and ^vhat is meant b}^
summer pruning in ])articular. In
mistaken ideas upon this point there
is much danger, and care must be
taken to discriminate between that
timel}' control and direction of the
young growth that is, perhaps, mis-
takenly called summer pruning, and
that merciless destruction of the most
active workers in the economy of the
vine, of which we have given illustra-
tions.

Just think of a vine engaged in
perfecting a ton of grapes, and we
must conceive of a vast drain on its
resources; then, while in the act of
completing the task, a half ton of
the organs that elaborate the mate-
rial composing the fruit is at once
removed — and Ave can not fail to com-
prehend that a great and most unnat-
ural disturbance must be the result.

In the case of young vines, as with
young animals, the}' require all the
aid possible to ensure their full devel-
opment. Do not let them run wild
the largo portion of the season, and
then destro}' their limbs to bring them
into order at the end. The vine, as
everything else, must be attended at
the right time and in the proper man-
ner, or punishment will most surely
follow transgression. Of the two

evils — absurd, ill-considered pruning,
and no pruning at all — we take the
last as the least."

PRUNING THE GRAPE VINE.

" From this time forward to frost
the thumb pruning of the grape vine
should be abandoned. All the sur-
plus wood now made will be removed
at the annual knife pruning in Feb-
ruary or March. It is a theory, in
many places practically illustrated,
that we prune our native vines too
much. In several instances, gentle-
men have written us that they are ex-
perimenting with the Concord, Dela-
ware and Clinton, in letting the vine
make all the growth it will, giving
all the room needed, and not pruning
at all. There are those who believe
that by this method entire health will
be secured ; a long and varied series
of experiments alone can determine."

[We clip the above articles, re-
lating to the same subject, from
Colman's Ttwra^ World. We endorse,
upon the whole, the idea given therein.
Our readers know that no one can be
more averse to the slaughtering j)roces8
than we are. But if the writer in con-
clusion says, ^'Of the two evils, absurd,
ill-considered pruning, or no pruning
at all, wo take the last as the least," we
are like the Irishman, and " take nei-
ther of them." If the grape-grower
is not able to work at the proper time,
and in the proper manner, our advice
to him would be, quit at once ; do 7iot
grow grapes, for you do not deserve
to have them in perfection. We fol-
low the old maxim, " What is worth
doing at all, is worth doing right."
And we consider it absurd to speak
of discontinuing "from this time (20th
of Aug.) to frost" the thumb pruning
of vines. Had the writer said ''from
1st of July on," he w^ould have been
nearer right. No thinking grape-
grower would or could thumb-prune
his vines in August. — Editor.]

Editor's Letter Box.

281

EDITOR'S LETTER BOX.

OsPAWATTAJiiE, Miami Co , Kans., )
August 15, 1870. \

Friend Husmann :

Enclosed I send you a leaf of a
grape vine that has been sold here for
Norton's Virginia. The fruit resem-
bles the Clinton, but is larger and very
black, and fully colored at this time.
We are at a loss what to call it. Tha
flavor is like the Clinton. Thin skin
with a large amount of coloring mat-
ter. Please give us your opinion of
it. Very respectfully,

A. Gove, P. M.

[The leaf was much shriveled, and
hard to identifj*. We are inclined to
believe it the Franklin, from your
•desci'lption. — Ed.]

Bridgeport, August 15, 1870.

Mr. George Husmann :

A few words how grapes are doing
here with me : Hartford Prolific and
Ives grapes, were pretty well colored
the first of this month here, and are
now getting pretty good. They are
a little earlier than usual, I think,
owing to a dry spell of weather at
that time ; but now it is plenty wet
here. Concords are doing well; Nor-
ton's Virginia are doing well. I left
some of the vines tied to the trellis
last winter, and they were not frozen
any in the least. I have a few vines
of Herbemont and Cunningham. They
are doing well. I left one vine of
Herbemont tied to the trellis last win-
ter. It did not freeze any, but I had
pruned the unripe wood off.

There is no rot in any of my gra2)es.
The soil of vineyard is slate, mixed
with sand and some small sand stones.

Have about one acre planted, and
only part of it bearing its first crop.

Mr. Husmann, in your Book on
Grapes and Wine, page 169, in regard
to making gallized wine, I can not
fully understand it. There you do
not say whether joxx dissolve the
sugar in the water before you put it
on the husks, or whether you dissolve
the sugar in the water after it is
pressed from the husks. You claim
that the must should be weighed with
the saccharometer before fermentation
sets in. I would think that this is
right. But if the water is put on the
husks, and left to fqrment for a time,
it would then appear that fermenta-
tion being so strong the saccharome-
ter could not give the correct weight
of it, and therefore by j)uttingin the
sugar after being pressed, to bring it
up to the normal, still might not be
exactly right on account of the fer-
mentation being somewhat in the
way. But again, on the other hand,
to put in the sugar to the water, and
then afterwards put it on the husks,
I would think would bo entirely
wrong, as I think there would be a
considerable amount of sugar left in
the husks, and as this sugar is a dif-
ferent kind of sugar from that con-
tained in the grape.

You will please write me a few
lines and let me know how you man-
age to get at the right strength of the
gallized must. 1 suppose by what I
can understand, you say it takes
about two pounds of sugar to bring
it up to 80 degrees. I suppose you
come at it in this way : that you put

282

The Grape Culturist.

into every gallon pressed for gallized
wine two pounds of sugar.

Eesj^jectfully yours,

Henry Etter,
[We do not see how you can be in
doubt as to the proper way of adding
water and sugar. Dissolve your sugar
in the water, two pounds to the gallon
of water, weighing your must before
hand to see whether it has the neces-
sary specific gravity; then ferment
the whole together. You are mis-
taken in regard to the sugar — fermen-
tation with the grape juice and husks
changes cane sugar into grape sugar
and all into alcohol. — Editor.]

PiTTSiJUEG, Texas, June 20, 1870.

Mr. Husmann, St. Louis :

Dear Sir — I have quite a number of
vines growing this year of the Concord
and Clinton varieties, some of which
have fruited. I am much pleased with
my success thus far, though I am some-
what perplexed as to the most judi-
cious course to pursue with the Clin-
ton vine. It is such a rampant and
straggling grower that I greatly fear
I shan't be able to keep it pruned in
proper shape, or within proper bounds,
BO as not to destroy its productiveness;
therefore suffer me to ask a few ques-
tions relative thereto. You recom-
mend poorer soil. I have a small
pebbly plat of gi*ound, not as fertile
as where they are now growing — that
I think of transferring them to, if
practicable. What think you of it ?
and what distance would you plant
them? Would you prune and train
them as the Concord ? How would
the horizontal arm system suit this
variety? If not presuming too much,
please answer through the columns of
the " Grape Culturist."

I hope you will have much success
in your journal undertaking — that
your subscription list may soon double
the present, and that no cause may
ever arise to prevent its publication.
I am much pleased with it, and would
not be without it for double the price.

I have gathered some of the finest
grapes this summer from the woods
that I have ever seen — equaling in
size the largest of the cultivated vari-
eties. They commence to ripen about
the same time of the Concord. If you
would like to test the virtues of some
of this wild growth, I will send you
by mail a few cuttings this winter for
your experimental garden, if you will
advise how they should be packed.
Yours, very respectfully,

J. Dozier Bass.

[The best plan of training the Clin-
ton is to prune long, leave the old
wood, and prune to sjDurs on the young
groAVth. We would not advise remov-
ing, hai'dly think the variety is worth
it. We think but very little of the
grape or vine ; it may, however, do
better with you. If you will leave
three to four arms to every vine, hor-
izontal arm training may do well
enough. Give them plenty of room,
at least ten feet in the row.

We would like to try a few of the
best of your wild varieties, if you will
send them. Wrap in moss and oiled
silk, and send by mail. — Ed.]

Cincinnati, August '29, 1870.

Friend Husmann :

I have three acres of Dianas in full
bearing, with a heavy yield. Last
year I made the wine pure juice, but
it has such a musty flavor — aroma —
that I can't sell it. It has a feline taste.

Editor's Letter Box.

283

and they call it cat wine. I had thought
of selling the grapes this year, but the
price is down too low. Cannot this
strong flavor be reduced by sugar and
water? Tell me the proportions you
use. Cannot Agawam, Eogers, Clin-
ton, and other high flavored grapes be
treated in the same way? Will the
same treatment improve Taylor's Bul-
litt? How long should they stand on
the skins with the sugar and water?
My grapes are getting ripe — things
are pushing — shall have to commence
the vintage in a few days. I know
you are busy, but a few lines in reply
will greatly oblige

Yours, truly,

E. A. Thompson.

[We did not expect, after the spicy
controversy we have had with you on
the subject of gallizing, that you would
ever ask advice from us about "that
vile adulteration which was ruining
the reputation of our native wines,"
and other like expressions. But truth
and reason are mightier than preju-
dice, and will prevail, and we are glad
to welcome you among the converts.
Better late than never, and we will
give you as good advice as we can.

The Diana has a very strong /e^i'ne
flavor, and the pure juice will certain-
ly not make a pleasant wine. You
should have gathered them early, when
not too ripe, and to every gallon of
must add a gallon of water, bringing
it up to 80'^ by Oechsle's scale, with
the addition of sugar. The whole
mixture should show 80°, and if the
must does not come up to it^ sugar
must be added to it. You can ferment
on the husks for four or five days,
and then press. The same rule will
apply to other strong flavored grapes.

The stronger the peculiar aroma, the
less ripe the grapes should be allowed
to become, and the more water and
sugar used.

Try and experiment, you will soon
find the proper proportions, and do
not forget to report results to Grape
CULTURIST. — Ed.]

ToLONO, 111., August 25, 1870.

Mr. Geo. Husmann, Bluffton :

Dear Sir~I send you by express^
pre-paid, some gi*apes for you to iden-
tify, if they arrive in condition for do-
ing so. You can see from them how
much I have been swindled. You
can report in Grape Culturist or by
letter, as you think best.

No. 1 is what I have for Wilder's.
No. 2 for Merrimac. No. 3 for Cas-
sad}'. No. 4 for Perkins'. No. 5 for
Black Hawk. No. 6 for Eulander.
No. 7 for Concord Seedling. No. 8
for Concord Seedling.

If No. 3 is Cassad}^ I don't like it.
Its leaves are tender and fruit not very
good. No. 5 is worst of all. I know
it is no Black Hawk ; it is the poorest
I ever raised. The Concord Seedlings
are hard}-, healthy, good growers
(with me), not showing any signs of
disease in the six years I have had
them. If you think either of them
worth testing, you can have one of
each. I am not increasing them.
Yours, trul}', John Baker.

[No. 1 is Wilder 3 No. 2 is Merrimac;
No. 3 is not Cassady — we are unable
to identify it, seems to us worthless j
No. 4 is Perkins ; No. 5 we think
Blood's Black; No. 6 we think Clin-
ton. We hardly think the Concord
Seedlings are good enough to warrant
propagation . — Ed. ]

284

The Grape Cullurist.

Liberty, Bedford County, V'a , >
Sept. '), 1870. \

Mr. George Husmann,

Dear Sir : — My vino-
yard, composed mostly of Catawbas,
is infested by a small insect which has
in man}' instances corapletel}' denuded
the vine of its leaves — the leaves and
vines having the appearance of a heavy
frost having fallen upon them. The
fruit (of which there is a fair crop,
notwithstanding the rot from the
early rains), seems as yet uninjured
by this destruction of the leaf, and is
ripening verj' evenly. The Concord
vines are not so much injured as either
the Catawba or Isabella. I observe
that all the vines in this section, of
every cultivated variety, are more or
less attacked by this voracious little
leaf sucker.

The insect when first seen appears
upon the under side of the leaf and
bears some resemblance to a louse ; is
of a palo green color, and very torpid
in its movements ; in a very short
timCj however, it becomes very active,

flies, and jumps from leaf to leaf upon
the approach of any one, and is very
shy ; is still of a pale green color, and
when fall grown is between a gnat
and mosquito in size. I have never
seen any reference to this depredator
in your journal or any other work on
the subject. Can you give me infor-
mation and a remed}' ?

I tried an application of a solution
of carbolic acid with no good result,
and being ignorant of the peculiari-
ties of my enemy determined to let
him have his own way for the present.
Eespectfully,

T. M. BOWYER.

[We think it is the thrips or leaf-
hopper you have to deal with. Some
have tried sulphur as a remedy ; others
recommend to go through the vine-
yard at night with torches, one person
bearing the lighted torch, another
beating the vines when they will fly
into the light and get scorched.
Whether these remedies are reliable
or not we are unable to say. — Editor.]

We acknowledge the receipt of man-
ifold invitations to fairs and horticul-
tural gatherings, so numerous, indeed,
that we cannot name them all, and
only regret that it is out of our power
to attend them. We can assure our
friends that it is not for want of in-
clination ; we have always found pleas-
ure as well as instruction in these
gatherings of the lovers of horticul-
ture, and would like to visit them all,
but we have a task before us here

which sometimes is almost beyond our
strength, and as these fairs and the
vintage always come together, we can
only choose between duty and pleas-
ure, and our choice is the first. Thanks,
nevertheless, to all our friends for
their kind remembrance. We hope
they will all have a good time, and
send us a report of what they have
seen and learned, for the columns of
the Grape Culturist.

Grape Cvlturist Advertising Sheet.

Cash Advertising Terms for 1870.

TWENTY CENTS PER LINE, AGATE TYPE, EACH INSERTION.

Cover Pages Twenty-Five Cents per Line.

BUSINESS CARDS, FIVE TO SIX LINES EACH, $15 PER ANNUM.

The Croton and Senasqna.

THE Crotou is a white grape and is acknowlt'djTfd by all who have tasted it to surpass, in quality and
beaut}', any white grape yet introduced that will succeed In the open air, and it is in delicacy of flesh
^ud llavor fully equal to the linest foreign varieties. The vines have always ripened a large crop of
Splendid fruit since their lirst season of fruiting, although the Isabella and Delaware vines growing near,
"nder equally favorable circumstances, have occasicinally failed to do so.

The Senasqua is a black grape — the vine a healthy, vigorous grower, with every ajipearance of a pure
native, but its fruit more closely resembles the fleshy foreign grapes than any variety that has as yet been
introduced, it is considered by some of our best poniologists as the flnest hardy grape they have tasted.

For further description, histoiy of origin, reports of success in various localities, list of premiums
awaided, etc., etc. , send for circular.

ear/,. doz.

Croton , extra 2 year $^ 00 $4S 00

" " 1 y<»- $3 00 $30 00

Senasqua, extra 2 ytar $3 00 S30 00

All the above are flrst-class plants.

STEPHEN W. UNDERHILL,

Croton Landing P. O.,
oct70-1t. Croton Point, N. Y.

AND FLORAL MAGAZINE.

An Illustrated Monthly Magazine devoted to the culture of Fruits, Flowers,
and Vegetables. Illustrations of

NEW THINGS IN HORTICULTURE

Will be given in each number.

Subsci'ljJfion Pflce $1.50 per annutu. Ten Copies $1 each*

The remaining numbers of this year will be sent Free to Subscribers for 1871. Elegant
Tremiums given for making up Clubs. Among the contributors for the Journal ai-e

MARSHALL P. WILDER, MASS.

John A "Warder, Ohio.
Geo. W. Campbell, Ohio.
Francis Parkman, Mass.
Joseph Beck, Mass
B. ManninK, Mass
Peter Henderson, N". Y.
Charles Downing, W.Y.

Henry Ward Beecher, W. Y.
Ed F. Underhill, N Y
Georse Such, W. J.
W G. Strong, Mass
William C. Flagg, Illinois.
James P C. Hyde, Mass.
Parker Earle, Illinois

Charles M. Hovey, Mass
Fearing Burr, Mass.
William Saunders, D. C
S. Miller, Mo.
C. B. Denson. W C.
Wm Parry, W. J.

J. E. TILTON «fe CO., Boston,

Pubtlshers.

A Sample Copy. Club and Premium List will Ijc sent to any addrcs:
oct70-3t.

upon receipt of 15 cents.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

SMALL FRUITS A SPECIALTY.

STKAWBBRRIES, BLACKBERRIES, CURRANTS and GRAPE VINES
of all the leading varieties, at the LOWEST RATES.
Send for Price List. Address JOHN COOK,

(Nurserj' 2 miles from Baltimore, on old Frederick Koad,;
oct70-lt Carroll P. O., Baltimore Co., Maryland.

1,000,000

Of all the Leading Varieties^ true to name.

As I am bound to sell, will sell lower than any one else.

CONCORD VINES, good two-year old, only $25 per 1,000.

Other varieties in proportion. Also, Currant, Goosebeny, Strawberry,
Raspberry, Blackberry, Rhubarb, Roses, and other plants.

Apple Trees, one, two and three years, very cheap.

I will also take good Western Lands, at cash price, in trade.
Address, and send for Price List, and three new Essays on Grape Culture, to

Dr. H. SHRODER,

Bloomington, III.

Grape Vines! Grape Vines!

F'.A.ll.JL. OF' 1Q"70!

We offer our usually large and selected stock of all standard and now

varieties, including

SALEM, MERRIMACK, TONA, CYNTHIANA,

WILDER, GOETHE, HARTFORD, MARTHA,

LINDLEY, CONCORD, DIANA, EUMELAN,

AGAWAM, DELAWARE, HERBEMONT, AVALTER.

S^LEM A, SPECIALTY.

Our stock of plants will be unequaled, and quality of superior excellence.
Salem, with us, is bearing a fine crop of fruit, and must soon become one of
the leading varieties in cultivation. It fulfills all that has been claimed for it.
For circulars, etc., address

I. H. BABOOCK & CO.,

a«g70-3m Lockport, N. Y.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

(Lute of firm of JAMES FOSTER, Jn., & CO.,)

manifactl"i:eu of

HYDROMETERS, THERMOMETERS and GAUGERS'

INSTRUMENTS, SACCHAROMETERS,

AND INVENTOR OF

X

(J

h

h

>

o

I— I

O
O

w

w

Price of ACIDOMETER FOR MUST OK WINE $10 00

Price of S ACCHAROMETER 'SILVER) 10 00

Price Of OECHSLE'S MUST OR \\riNE SCALE 10 00

Price list of other instruments sent, on application to

HENRY TWITCHELL,

132 West Fourth Street,

CINCINNATI, OHIO.

sep70-3t

OBEOIOE "V^^^:E?.IETIES OIF
Grape Vines, Strawberry Plants, Raspberry, Blackberry & Gooseberry.

Also, a few Peach and Cherry Trees, the finest growths. Particular attention
will be paid to small orders of plants to be sent by mail. For sale by

SAMUEL, MILLER, Bluffton, Mo.

Grape Galturist Advertising Sheet.

COOPER,

1618 Jackson Street, St. Louis, Missouri.

Offers his services to Wine Dealers, as manufacturer of all kinds of casks, fermenting'
vats and cellar apparatus. lie guarantees satisfactory work and lowest prices. Refers to
some of the principal wine dealers in the State of Missouri, for whom he has made casks
and vats for a number of years, and especialh' to the Bluttcon Wine Company, No. 22
South Main street, where casks and vats of his n'lanufacture can be seen by those interested
in the business. feb'69-tf

NO. 179 SMITHFIELD STREET, PITTSBURGH, PA.

Double-Shot Guns, $9 to $100. Single-Shot Guns, $3 to $20. Rifles, $10 to $50. Re-
volvers $6 to $20. Discount to Clubs. Send stamp for price catalogue.

53" Army Guns and Bevolvers bought or traded for. June9-3m

i3:j^"ve "^oxj oot i\Cj^i^th:^?

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUITS.

[Nursery Established in 1857.]

A splendid stock of Vines and Plants are offered the coming Fall and Spring,
including nearly every variety known to be of value. The popular and white Grape

MARTHA, OR {WHITE CONCORD,)

In large or small quantities. Also, Arnold's new Hybrids, Eumelan, Walter, Wee-
hawken, Christine, Hine, and all valuable numbers of Rogers' Hybrids; also,
Delaware, lona, Israella, Concord, Hartford, Ives, Norton's Virginia, etc., etc., in
all about one hundred distinct varieties.

Kittatinny Blackberries and Clarke Raspberries in large quantities, Jucunda
and Charles Downing Strawberries, Downing's Seedling Gooseberries, Cherry,
Versailles, White Grape, and Black Naples Currants, etc., etc.

Send stamj)s for Illustrated Catalogue and Price Lists to

apr69-tf GEO. W. CAMPBELJj, Deluware, Ohio.

PATENTED AUG. 6t/i, 1S67, AND AUG. 3d 1SG9.

For FEEMENTATION and GEBMINATION, and for PRESERVING, PURIFYING
and IMPROVING of Organic Substances.

^jit Exceedingly useful in Malting, Brewing, Distilling, Baking, Manufiicture of Wine, Cider,
Fruit Wines, Fruit Brandies, Vinegar, etc. ; in Sugar Works, Oil Works. Manufacture of Ex-
tracts, Preserves; in Storehouses, Transportation of Grain. Produce, Fruit; Purilioatiou ol
Water, etc., etc.
^!fW Rights for States, Counties, Districts, or Establishments, for sale. Apply to

P. 0. Box 6844. R. D'HEUREUSE, New York.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

WANTED — An industrious energetic miin experienced in grape growings
to take charge of a young vine3^ard situated one mile and a half fx-om
Little Eock, Arkansas. The location is a beautiful table land, on a bluff
elevation of some three hundred feet, on north bank of Arkansas river, over-
looking the city and railroad depots, convenient to both ; and is, all things
considered, the most desirable in the State for a large vineyard. A partner-
ship with responsible party of some means preferred, but this not essential.
Correspondence solicited. Address, J. AV. MARTIN, Little Rock, Ark.

WANTED several active, enterprising salesmen, to sell wines and plants
for the Bluffton Wine Comnany. Parties wishing to engage, should
address, ' WM. WESSBLHOEFT,

Secretary Bluffton Wine Co., Bluffton, Mo.

WANTED — At the <' Ouachita Vineyard," near Hot Springs, Arkansas, a
competent man, to take charge of vinej-ard, orchard, small fruits, and
select market garden — an accomplished, sober, industrious man, one who can
give satisfactory' testimonials of integrity and worth. To a suitable person
with famib', who can furnish desirable help, an interest in the proceeds or
wages will be given. I would prefer a married man whose family fully
understand dairy operations, particularly the manufacture of butter and
cheese. Hot Springs always affords a good market for all supplies.
sep7o-2t GEORGE W. LAWRENCE, M.D., Resident Physician.

PUBLISHED ^ND FOR S^LE

BY

CONRAD T^^ITTEii,

ST. LOUIS, MO.

MuENCH, Fredekick, School for American Grape Culture. Brief but thorovigh

guide to the laying out of vineyards, the treatment of vines and the production

of wine in North America.
MuENCH, F., Amerikanische Weinbattschule und Weinhereitungslehre, etc.

Either one of these books will be mailed free of postage on receipt of one dollar.
HusMANN, George, The Cultivation of the Native Grape and Manufacture of

American Wines.

On the receipt of $1 50 this book will be mailed to any address.
Schmidt, J. A., The Diseases of Wine, how to prevent and how to cure them,

according to the doctrines of M. Pasteur.

This book will be sent, free of postage, on receipt of $2.

C. WITTER keeps a large assortment of books treating on the Culture of
Grapes and Manufacture of Wines.

Catalogues sent on application. Please address letters,

CONHAD WITTER,

jane9-tf 122 S. E. corner Walnut and Second Sts., St. Louis, Mo.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

IKEissouri IKTines and Plants.

THE BLUFFTON WINE COMPANY

"^rOW offers to the trade, and to the pubUc generally, its first crop of wines, grown at
_i^ Bluffton, comprising, of red wines, Concord, Norton's Virginia, Ives, and Clinton;
of white wines, Concord, Catawba, Hartford, Delaware, and Herberaont.

Our wines are of excellent quality, and we are sure that they will give general satis-
faction to consumers. Our motto is. ''Low prices, good quality, and quick sales;" and
Wholesale Dealers in wines will find it in their interest to apply to us. Price lists sent on
application.

We also call the attention of Grape Growers to our large and complete stock of plants
of all the leading varieties. We shall make it our aim, in our fall trade, to supply our
customers with the best of plants, and at as low rates as any reliable firm.

Descriptive Catalogues sent, on application to

WM. WESSELHOFT, Secretary,

BLUFFTON, MO.

Busliberg Vineyards & Grape Nurseries.

GREAT REDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF

AND SMALL FRUITS.

SEND FOR NEW rUICE LIST 1 OB FALL 1870. ..^ff

Our ILLUSTRATED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE— " Moie useful to the Grape Grower
than some works of much greater pretensions.' ' — Am. Agriculturist, — will be sent by Mail, post-paid, for
onlv 25 cents, either in the German or English Edition, as yon may order.

33= Agents "Wanted to canvass for orders for Fall delivery. Terms liberal, profits handsome. Pos-
ters, Price Lists, etc., gratis. Address,

ISIDOR BUSH & SON, Bnshlerg, Mo.

^i" 3E^ jBl 3E^ 3S ^f?P^ <0> ^ 30^ t

TA^EISTTY KINDS!

Immense Stock, especially of

Concord, Ives, Delaware, Hartford, lona, Catawba, Isabella,
Clinton, Rogers' Nos. 4, 15 and 19, etc.

Cut from Bearing Vines before hard freezing, and stored in frost-proof Cellars.

Very Low for Cashi Price List Gratis.

ALSO, LEADING VAEIETIES OF GKAPE EOOT IN STOEE.
Can ship Sonth safely at any time.

feb69-tf M. H, LEWIS, Sandusky, Ohio.

THE

GRAPE CULTURIST.

Vol. II.

NOYEMBEK, 1870.

No. 11.

NOVEMBEE.

WORK FOR THE MONTH.

This will be a continuation of the
work of last month; therefore we need
not say much about it. Fall planting
should be done in this month, about
which full instructions have been given
in former numbers. The rows for the
planting should be slightly elevated, so
that the water will not settle and freeze
about the young plants during winter.
Tender and half tender varieties, such
as Herbemont, Cunningham, etc., etc.,
should be slightly covei'ed with earth.
And here let us say a few words about
this great bugbear of so many grape-
growers, winter protection,which o/ten
detains men who are willing to do any
work during summer, to plant such va-
rieties as Herbemont, etc., which is, in
the proper soil and with winter pro-
tection, a sure crop every year. We
can assure them that it is not half as
laborious as they suppose. If pruned
a,t the right time, the canes bent down
along the trellis, and a few spadefuls
of earth thrown on them to keep them
in position, the principal part of the

covering can be done with the plow,
and the whole labor to cover an acre
and take it uj) again in spring, will
not cost ten dollars. Is this an ob-
ject, when a certain crop of such
delicious grapes as the southern divis-
ion of the Aestivalis family yields,
can be gained by it ever}- year ? We
have practiced it with the Herbemont
and Cunningham for the last eight or
nine years, and they never failed yet
to reward us by a heavy crop. How
much patient toil has been expended
on the Catawba without success, to
save it from mildew and rot during
the summer, by the same men who
begrudge this slight labor in the fall,
when they have much more time at
their disposal, and are sure of a rich
reward for their labors.

Cuttings should be made in time,
and the wood never be allowed to get
in the least dry; but they should be
packed away every day, if possible,
tied in bundles, in dry, sandy soil,
and covered with earth.

286

The Grape Oulturist.

PEUNING THE VINE.

As most of this important oj^eration
should be performed this month, we
will try to give a few general hints
about it, which, we trust, will be of
service to those of our readers who
may be new beginners. We can hardly
call them rules, for fixed rules can
hardly be given for an operation which
requires so much thought and close
acquaintance with the growth and
bearing habits of the different varie-
ties. We will first try to tell you
what you should not do, and then
come to what we think may assist
you in what you should do.

Do not go to work like an automa-
ton, without forethought, nor employ
an}^ one who is not willing to think
while he works. If 5'ou have closely
observed your vines during the sum-
mer, the habit and growth of each
vai'iety, pruning will be plain enough
to you. You will easil}' sec what
part and how much should bo cut
away. Any workman who is not wil-
ling to observe and think while he
works, has no business in the vinej'ard.

You will have observed that some
varieties will bear more readily and
larger bunches upon the latei'als of
the young canes, some upon the spurs
of a few eyes on old bearing branches,
and some will fruit readily upon the
principal canes. This should govern
you in pruning. The Concord, Cun-
ningham, Goethe, Hartford, Ilerbe-
mont^ Ives, Louisiana, Maxatawney,
Martha, Mary Ann, North Carolina
Seedling, Perkins, Eulandei", Tele-
graph and Wilder, will all fruit best
on the laterals of the young canes of

last summer's growth, provided they
are strong enough, which the}^ will be
if they have been pinched according
to our directions in the article on
summer pruning. They are all strong
growers, the fruit buds at the base of
the principal canes are seldom well
developed, and will not bring much
fruit. We therefore grow the fruit
on the laterals, which can be shortened
in to from two to six eyes each, accord-
ing to their strength. All these rank
growers should have plenty to do; that
is, they should be pruned long, much
longer than is generally done. Let us
presume that j'our vine is four years
old, therefore in its full-bearing vigor,
has three principal canes, each with
four laterals. If you prune these to
the average number of four buds each,
you will have forty-eight buds on all
the laterals. These can produce dou-
ble the number, or ninety-six bunches,
which would of course be rather too
much. But some of the buds will
generally fail, some bunches will be
imperfect, and j-ou can easily reduce
this number to about sixty at the first
pinching, should more have appeared.
We have made the observation re-
peatedl}', that the Concoi'd rotted
most where pruned short, as the rank
growth of wood and leaves would not
allow the free cii'culation of air.

Another class we have which pro-
duces best on spurs on old bearing
arms or canes. The Clinton, Cynthi-
ana. Golden Clinton, Hermann, Hunt-
ingdon, Norton's Virginia, and Taylor,
belong to this class — strong growers
also, and especially those belonging to

The Management of Young Wines.

287

the Cordifolia class. They will also
bear better oa spurs on laterals than
on main canes, but do not produce
their best or handsomest fruit until
they can be " spurred in " on old arms.
For this purpose select for your spurs
only strong, well ripened shoots, cut
out all the small and imperfect ones,
and cut those back two to three eyes
each. You ma}- leave the same num-
ber of buds, say from thirty to fifty,
according to the strength of your
vine, and always bear in mind that
3'ou can reduce the number of bunches
when summer pruning.

A third class produces readily and
abundantly from the main canes. These
comprise the varieties which do not
grow verj^ strong — the Alvey, Cassady,
Creveling, Catawba, Delaware, Ion a,
and Eebecea. They will produce best
on short canes of sa}' six to eight
ej'es, and the old renewal plan may
be as good as any for them. From
twelve to twenty-four buds are gen-
erally enough for a vine. The num-
ber must again vary with strength
and age. There is much more dan-

ger of overtasking this class than
both of the others, and they should
never be allowed to bear too much.

Do not prune too close to the bud,
as it is then apt to be injured by the
cold. Leave from one and a half to
two inches of wood above the eye.
Old, dilapidated arms or stubs should
be cut out clean and close, and if the
Avound is too large, it may be covered
with grafting wax or shellac.

The rules, of course, will not apply
in all cases, and may be modified ac-
cording to circumstances. For in-
stance, if you have no suitable young
canes with laterals on vines of the first
olass, they will also bear well on
healthy arms of old wood, as recom-
mended for the second class, and vice
versa. The intelligent vintner will soon
learn how far they are applicable. Nor
do we pretend to assert that there are
not other methods equally well adapted
— perhaps better — than ours. We
should be glad to have this subject,
fully discussed in our columns, and
hope our readers will give us their-
views freely about it. Editor.

THE MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG WINES.

If left on the husks in the ferment-
ing vats, these should be closed air-
tight as soon as fermentation has
ceased. This can be done by nailing
strips of cloth on the rim of the vat;
then screw down the cover, and close
the whole with tallow. If pressed
and put in casks, they need not be
completely filled until violent fermen-
tation is over; then fill with wine
kept for that purpose, up to the bung.

and when the wine has become per-
fectly quiet, drive the bung perfectly
tight. In December the wine should
be clear, and should then be racked
off in clean casks, well fumigated with
sulphur.

In racking wine, do not quite open
the faucet, so that the wine, in run-
ning, will make a circle, and thus
come into contact with the air. This,
and frequent rackings, will do much

2S8

The Grape Culturist.

lo hasten its ripening. Wo hope much
•in this respect from the air treatment
of Mr. R. d'Heureuse.

It is a mistaken and long exploded
})rojudice that the ^' lees are the mother
of the wine/' and that, consequently,
the wine should remain on them until
spring. The lees arc the excrements
or impurities contained in the Avine
which settle at the bottom during fer-
mentation and immediately following
it. How wine can, then, be benefited
by remaining on these impurities we
j-an not see, and wo think we have all

the authorities on our side. The more
complete this purifying process, the
riper and better, consequently purer
and healthier, must be the wine. An}-
remnant of the ferment or lees still
suspended in the wine must, necessa-
ril}-, be disagreeable to the taste, and
injurious to the system. We would
therefore advise frequent rackings as
one of the best means to ripen and
purify the wine.

We shall return to this subject again
in a future number.

Editor.

DR. WYLIE'S HYBRID GRAPES.

"Since the publication in The Rural
Carolinian for September of Mr. Kave-
nel's letter and our appended remarks
on some of Dr. Wylie's grapes, we
have received from him specimens of
many others ; and, much as we were
pleased with those sent us by Mr.
llavenel, we were not fully prepared
for the pleasure reserved for us. We
confess to being astonished, as well as
delighted, in view of the results ob-
tained ; and cannot find words to ade-
quately express our appreciation of the
value of Dr. Wylie's labors.

To describe properly all of Dr.
W^ylie's hybrids that we have had the
pleasure of tasting, nearly twenty-five
in number, would require more time
and space than we liave now at com-
mand ; besides, we are not (lualified to
do it. In tasting and comparing so
man}' varieties, we found ourselves
losing the power of nice discrimina-
tion, and therefore confined ourselves,
in our critical examination, to a few.

Of these, and others which ma}' bo
equally good, we hope in future num-
ber's to present full accounts, from the
pen of Dr. Wylie himself, with illus-
trations from nature of some of them.

Of Janie Wylie (Clynton Hybrid.
No. 1), we have already spoken. The
specimens since received more than
confirm our high opinion of it, and we
agree with Mr. Ravenel in placing it at
the head of the list, and take pleasure
in endorsing the name he has given it.
In point of fiavor, merely, it is not the
best, though excellent ; I)ut, consider-
ing its size, beauty, productiveness and
freedom from disease, it is unequalled
by any grape witli which we are ac-
quainted.

We are not prepared to say which
should come next in order, considered
as a grape for general cultivation, but
will name Halifax Hybrid, No. 55^ (F.
Halifax, M. Delaware). This is truly
a magnificent grape. Bunches, medium,
long, shouldered ; berries, medium or

The Coming Man Will Brink Wine, etc.

289

large ; color, dark purple, approaching
to black, with a purple bloom ; skin,
firm ; flesh, tender, juicy, sweet, spright-
ly ; quality, best. Some gentlemen
who tasted it pronounced it the best
grape in tlie collection.

Halifax Hybrid, No. 38 (F. Halifax,
M. Delaware), is another grape of
great beauty and promise. It is of a
dark red color, with a purple bloom ;
but, having mislaid the notes we made
on it, we cannot describe it in detail.
It is one of the most promising of all
for general cultivation, being perfectly
hardy, free from disease, and apparently
suited to all kinds of soil where any
grape will grow. Its foliage is that of
the Labrusca t}'pe.

Halifax Hybrid, No. 30 (F. Halifax,
M. Delaware), a black grape of a fine
delicate flavor ; and Halifax Hybrid,
No. 49 (F. Halifax, M. Delaware), also

a black berry of high vinous flavor, are
both grapes of great promise, of which
we shall publish detailed descriptions
in future numbers."

[We clip the above from that valu-
able monthl}", The Rural Carolinian.,
and hope to hear more of these very
interesting seedlings from Dr. Wylie
himself, and may present our readers
with some illustrations of them. There
is room for improvement still, and we
welcome with delight every new seed-
ling of superior merit over any of the
older varieties, may it come from the
south or north ; although we warn our
readers not to be too hasty in planting
any new and untried variety on a large
scale. There is no reason for adding
to our already large list of varieties,
unless we can add something realty
better, in some respect, to the varieties
we already have. — Editor.]

THE COMING MAN WILL DEINK WINE; or, COMMON SENSE
vs. PEOHIBITIVE LAWS.— VI.

My theme might further be illus-
trated with that crying evil and shame
of civilized society, the prostitution
of great cities ; a shame and an evil
of so vast a magnitude, involving in
itself 80 much of misery and degra-
dation for women, so much of heart-
lessness, coarse-mindedness, and cru-
elty in men, and permeating societ}^
at large with such a mass of hypoc-
risy, that but for faith in freedom and
progress, it might be doubted ^vhether
oriental or mormon polygainy, or sav-
ageism itself, were not a preferable
state to that where a large jjortion of
society seems offered up as victims to

the rest. In fact, it must appear evi-
dent that an endless comparison might
be made of the necessary use of all
things, and the unnecessary abuse that
prevails amongst some; but let what
I have said thus far be sufficient for
to-day ; it is plain that everything
upon the face of God's earth has a
design^ some good purpose to fill,
which by man can be carried to
excess, but is that a valid reason
to deny even the moderate use of
things?

" But why do you laugh at total-
abstinence men V wrote to me lately,
in a fit of hateful anger, a corrcspon-

290

The Grafe Culturist.

dent who had become acquainted with
my right name.

There are people who get angrj'
when oddities arc assailed, not because
it concerns them in any way, or be-
cause it touches them individually,
but because they believe such criti-
cisms to be a cut and thrust aimed at
their enjoyments.

They say : w^hy do you tight, why
do you wish to destroy, follies that
are fine sport for those Avho look on ?
Without its silly whims the world
would be awfully tame and tcrribl}'
tiresome. Consequently let all such
live in peace.

I agree completely with those who
talk thus, except on one point. To
criticise and to destroy are two very
different things. I have much respect
for those who are temperate in all
things. I can not but laugh a good
hearty laugh at all such extravagan-
cies as TOTAL ABSTINENCE I Such hair-
brainod notions richly deserve the
cudgel of censure. These gentlemen,
in spite of all raillery, will stick to
the white neck-tie, to short, flat hair,
a smooth, shaven face with sober, sor-
rowful looks, and will forever con-
spire to make us dress, look, think
and drink as the}- do. Oddities are
tenacious of life, sarcasm may restrain
them within bounds, they can not be
destroyed.

It is the same trouble that ails me ;
am I not tiresome and ridiculous
enough to Avrite as I do — moreover,
do I not possess the deep conviction
of my conceit — a fact that can not be
said of the great majority of those
who are ridiculous — and j'ct does this
conviction stop my pen ? Does it
keeji me from sending you, now and

then, a quantity of blackened paper
where conceit breaks through every
line? in each word I Not at all I

In one of my former letters I hinted
at the whim I once had to try likewise
my hand at reform, and how I came
to drop the fanciful notion. Let me
now further explain ; perhaps a word
to the wise will be sufficient.

The basis of the society I wanted
to establish would have been founded
on common sense. You perceive at
once that my first disciples would
essentially have required, of neces-
sity, the protection of the most abso-
lute secrecy, otherwise they would
have incurred the risk of being com-
pletely discouraged from the start
through sneers and derision ; few,
very few, would have been audaciou~
enough to profess openly tlie new
principle. This new principle would
have had for foundation a certain
number of bold truths which I would
not have dared to advise the initi-
ated to utter in public even in our
free country'.

You may judge for 3-ourself from
the following aphorisms and articles
of faith : "Twice two are four. A
straight line is shorter than a crooked
one. Gas is not light. Hypocris}- is
not virtue. Might is not right. All the
days are the Lord's as well as Sunday.
Total abstinence is no more temper-
ance than avariciousness is econora}'.''

I am perfectl}' aware that light
minds will luugh while reading these
rules of Vt'isdom ; but let the serious
and thoughtful ones reflect how many
vanities, prejudices, passions, interests,
acquired and established positions in
the world would be vrounded, broken,
destroj'ed by a severe application of

The Coming Man Will Drink Wine, etc.

291

only these few rules, and the}' will
see as I did the almost invincible diffi-
culties of the undertaking, and the
amount of daring that would have
been indispensable to profess my doc-
trine, aware as I was that this daring,
like all honest darings, would be ex-
posed to receive a good many hard
names, should it fail to meet with
success.

To set up the standard of common
sense would have been to declare one's
self a public enemy, and, to express
it mildly, almost a dangerous animal.

Long and frequent meditations in
the great solitude of coffee-rooms,
while quietly smoking my cigar and
drinking a glass of wine, have brought
me to put up with things as they are,
while teaching me at the same time
possible remedies or palliatives to the
existing evils; on the question of in-
temperance it is the judicious remedy
which I have endeavored and will
still attempt to whisper, if my readers
are not alreadj^ afraid and tired with
the length of my demonstration.

Those who think for themselves (a
very limited portion of the human
race, I grant), are aware that amongst
the civilized communities of the world
national prosperity is founded u]3on
agriculture. Whatever may be the
triumphs of science, of art, of com-
merce or invention, they know that
agriculture with its several branches
must take precedence; some richly
endowed minds deeply imbued of this
fact, and with a well of sympath}- for
their fellow man, have made it a life
duty to find the best means to aug-
ment or vary the products of the
fields, in order to increase the resoui'ces
a,nd the wealth of the countrv.

In a domain of such extent as that
of the United States, with an abun-
dant variety of soilSjpossessing almost,
we might sa}', all the difl:erences of
climate pertaining to our globe, the
great desire of a mind who takes
pride in the welfare and progress of
his country should be to see that soil
used to its utmost advantage; upon
it should be naturalized, so far as
practicable, the productions of other
countries, thus furnishing an endless
variety of food and occupations for
the people, whilst at the same time
reducing that much their dependence
upon foreign productions. No sane
mind doubts but that the culture of
fruits and the manufacture of a por-
tion into a mild drink like cider or
wine, whenever it can be carried on
with profit, is of great benefit, not
only in a hygienic jDoint of view, but
also commercially speaking. There
are hills and valleys enough in this
uutrammeled part of our sjjhere to
plant thousands of orchards and many
a sound vineyard, the fruits and the
juices of which could be produced at
a price within the reach of all classes.
No article of diet, properly used and
taken in moderate quantities, is more
conducive to health, every thing said
to the contrar}' notwithstanding. We
have our authorities, besides my own
experience, which is of no value here
for assertion, and they shall be pro-
duced in time, if I am allowed the
favor.

And if I am permitted to glance for
a minute at the question in its bear-
ings upon trade and commerce, I
know that the majoritj' of my readers
will agree that no one, except a mind
non compos mentis, a fit subject for the

292

The Grape CuUurist.

tender hospitality of the State in a
quiet retreat like that at Jacksonville;
will deny its importance and vast in-
fluence on the general welfare of the
nation, especially when we take into
consideration the many trades and pro-
fessions which are directly and indi-
rectly furnished employment through

its means, a fact of such importance
that it should never be lost sisht of
though a few men maj' need a brick
in their pockets to balance the turkey
they hold in their hats.

Dr. Ampelos.

Golden Hills Vineyard, Nauvoo, Ills.

PEOPAGATING VINES.

Manhattan, Riley Co., Kansas.

Geo. Husmann, Esq.:

Dear Sir: — While binding volume
1 of the Grape Culturist, to-day, I
happened to look through it and saw
an essay by A. E. Traube, a commu-
nication by Samuel Miller, and some
of your editorial remarks about pro-
pagating grape vines.

I must confess that I could hardly
believe that a man of your sense and
intelligence would have penned such
an article as appears on page 79, it is
so much different from my experience,
although undoubtedly it is yours.
You compare a layered plant to a
child taken from its " mother's breast
and feeding it on meat and bread."
Notwithstanding, you say " it has
drawn a large share of sustenance
from " the mother jilant ; while the
cutting, you say, has made '' all its
growth by its own intrinsic and inde-
pendent vigor."

Now I take it from my own tests,
as well as from my 'reason, that the
layer has some " independent vigor,"
besides the great advantage of "suck-
ing " its mother until it becomes a full
grown man. It is not taken from its
" mother's breast " and fed " on meat
and bread " until it has arrived at

manhood's prime, when it Avould be a
shame to let it tug a' the teat any lon-
ger. The layer not alone draws nour-
ishment from the atmosphere through
the action of the leaves, as well as
food from the soil, but in addition it
is fed all it can eat or " suck " from
its "mother's breast," while the cut-
ting has not this advantage. Why,
then, should it not be a better plant
by far than a " cutting root "? When
I speak of layers, I mean those pi'op-
erly propagated, by the mode I pro-
pagate all my plants, and which I will
presently explain.

The objection you make against
layers because they must be put
deeper in the soil than they were in
the nursery, is again contrary to my
experience, as well as that of others
in this neighborhood. I cannot con-
sume space in giving many instances,
but will give one. Wm. Phillips, of
Manhattan, last sj^ring procured 75
layered vines from me — 71 of them
lived. At the same time he planted
50 " cutting roots " of No. 1 from

nursery, and only five lived.

The 50 were bought from a dealer of
Manhattan.

My experience as well as my reason
teaches me that by layering vines some

Propagating Vines.

29S

varieties will produce plants that can-
not be obtained from cuttings. Is not
this strong evidence that it is the mode
to produce the best plants of any
species or variety ?

If by layering a vine we can ob-
tain a root that cannot be grown b}^
cuttings, because it requires the aid
of the parent vine to nurse and sup-
port it, is it not reasonable to suppose
that those varieties that " take root "
easily from cuttings would be far su-
perior if assisted by the mother vine
in its growth the first year ? I admit
it takes some vigor from the parent
vine, and roots ought to be propaga-
ted from it only every alternate year.
I admit that poor layers are produced,
but there is one mode of propagating
laj'ered roots that cannot be surpassed
by any other method that is known
to me, and I think I have tested every
mode.

In producing roots by cuttings, you
throw down a summer's bunch of
" bread and meat," and the child must
help itself. Is this the natural way
of rearing children from their birth
until their adult pei'iod ? If so, it is
unknown to me. I have seen mothers
mature their children by giving the
milk provided for them by nature, the
same as I would give the layered root
the milk (sap) of its parent vine, pro-
vided for it by one of the most beau-
tiful laws in nature, for the produc-
tion of fruit or enlargement of the
vine, either or all of which is in ac-
cordance with natural laws. But
some say that it costs too much to
produce plants in this wa}", where it
can be done with the wood taken at
the pruning, that otherwise Avould go
on the brush heap. My experience

accords with what a " chap " '' away
down" in Maine, says in speaking of
plants, that '' the best are the cheap-
est in the end.". If you ever read
that excellent book, " Grapes and
Wine," you have seen this before.

I have planted the best roots that
could be obtained from those who are
reputed to be the best of propagators^
and I never yet saw a " cutting root "
to compare with the best layers, al-
though there are some very good cut-
ting roots sometimes produced. It is
a deplorable fact that our country
is flooded with the most inferior plants
that mortal eyes have ever looked
upon, and are readily purchased by
those who are inexperienced, merely
because the}' are cheap.

I hold that the fruit of a vine, the
roots and cane of which are perfectly
developed, is less liable to rot and
mildew than the unripe wood of the
cheap plants hawked around by ped-
dlers.

I started out to speak of propaga-
ting plants, but if I would commence,
my paper would be too long. In my
next I will give j^ou the mode that my
experience has taught mo b}' whick
the best possible plants are propaga-
ted. Trul}', &c.,

A. M. iiURNS.

[If the object of the above com-
munication was only to tell our read-
ers that a good layer is better than a
poor plant raised from cuttings, we
fully concur in that view, but do not
think it is "■ anything new or strik-
ing." Otherwise we cannot see that
our correspondent has made a point
or proved it. Long experience has
taught us, that a good plant grown
from a cutting, will generally grow

294

The Grape Culturist.

and flourish better than the best layer.
Our correspondent quotes an instance
where a purchaser saved nearly all of
a lot of layers he obtained from him,
while he lost nearly all of another lot
grown from cuttings, although pur-
chased from a nursery and called No.
1. Had they really been No. 1, and
not damaged in transit, we can assure
Mm that they ought all to have grown.
But perhaps they were damaged or
dried out before the}- were planted.

He also quotes' the varieties that do
not readily grow from cuttings, as
proof of his doctrine. We can tell
him that nearly all the old planters of
Norton's Virginia would rather plant
even that variety, if grown from cut-

tings, than those grown from layers.
Every propagator of that variety
knows that it is one of the most diffi-
cult to grow from cuttings ; yet some
succeed in propagating it in that man-
ner to a certain extent. Will he deny
that a layer must of necessity receive
a severe check, if separated from the
mother vine, and suddenly deprived
of all the sustenance it has so far
drawn from it ? We can assure him,
if the layers he grows are no better
than we received from him about six
years ago, we would rather be excused
from calling them plants at all. That
poor plants grown from cuttings are
sold, does not detract from the value
of the good ones. — Editor.]

NEW havp:n wine company,

New Haven, Mo., Sept. -Ith, 1870.

Editors Journal of Agriculture:

At the last meeting of the New
Haven Wine Co., held July 27th, Mr.
John Vallee, of this place, displayed
seventeen varieties of grapes from his
extensive vinej^ard ; the names I give
as follows : Concord, Hartford Prolific,
Rebecca, To Kalon, Anna, Creveling,
Australia, Clinton, Miner's Seedling,
Franklin, Naumkeag, Marion Port,
Norton's Virginia, Meade's Seedling,
Kingsessing, Taylor or Bullit, Golden
Concord. The last-named grape is a
white seedling of the Concord, grown
b}^ Mr. Valle, and is worthy of atten-
tion by all grape growers. The vine is
a strong grower, healthy, with foliage
somewhat lighter than its parent ;
bunch, medium, compact and shoul-
dered ; berry same as Concord, of a
beautiful liglit-3'ellow color, approach-

ing almost to a golden ; skin, thin ;
flesh, juicy ; few seeds, often not over
one or two ; and of a remarkably fine
flavor, losing much of that foxy flavor
so prominent among our principal
varieties. It was justly favored by all
as being '^ very fine."

Mr. Valle deserves to be honorably
mentioned among grape growers, as
well as his seedling, for his indefat-
igable efforts in the cultivation and
improvement of the native grape. He
has several other seedlings which we
have not as 3'et seen, but they are also
said to be "• very fine," and we trust he
will reap the fruit of his labors, when
he offers plants from his new seedling
for sale.

S. C. W. Miller, Pres.

CiiAS. A. Bragg, Sec.

[We clip the above from the Journal
of Agriculture as we think it of general

Neic Grapes.

295

interest to our grape growers. We
could only wish that the secretaries of
Grape Growers' Associations would
send such communications to us direct,
for while we do not begrudge our
Agricultural Journals such items, we
can not help but think that a Journal
devoted specially to grape culture,
would be the most proper medium for
such communications. "VVe are labor-
ing in theh' interest only, and think we

are entitled to all such intelligence
from them, first and foremost.

We know Mr. Valle as a very intelli-
gent and industrious grape grower, and
would like to hear more about his seed-
lings, especially about the " Golden
Concord," and wish the New Haven
Wine Company success. They have a
good location, and a number of intelli-
gent grape growers, two of the princi-
pal elements of success. — Editor.]

-^►-»- ♦ » ^

NEW GRAPES.

Dklawarr, Ohio, Sept. 23, 1870.

Friend Husmann : — I send you,
to-day, herewith, a little box of grape
samples. The black grape is a cross
between Delawai'o and Concord; the
red grape is a cross between Taylor
and Grizzly Frontignan; and the few-
berries of a white grape, are the very
last I have loft of the first fruits of a
cross between Concord and Chasselas
Musque; these last are not in best
condition, as they were picked the
9tb, two weeks ago. The leaves are
from the Taylor Hybrid vine. I do
not think the Taylor Hj'brid is quite
ripe; but the birds had commenced
taking them, and I thought I must
send them now, or not this season.
The vine is a small one, single cane
tied to a small stake ; has borne one
3'ear before, and had some dozen or
more bunches, and about the same
this year.

Marthas have ripened admirably
this year ; and the vines are as nearly
perfect in health and hardiness as one
could ask or desire. It is, so far, the
white grape for the people. In qual-
it}" it is certainly an improvement

upon the Concord; and many persons
pronounce the grape " better than
Delaw^are." This is not according to
my judgment; but it is an evidence
that Martha is acceptable to the pop-
ular taste, and at least " very good."
Eumelan, I am soi'ry to say, has mil-
dewed very badly, although in the
early part of the season it made a
good growth.

Walter has also utterly failed here ;
lost all its leaves before ripening any
wood. The Croton, Mr. Underhill's
new seedling white grape, a cross be-
tween Delaware and Chasselas, has
made a very satisfactory growth, and-
though not absolutely exempt from
mildew, has held its foliage veiy well,
and is ripening its wood finely. It
has held its foliage much better than
the Eumelan, and as well as many of
Eogers' Hybrids. In this respect, it
has done better than I expected from
the foreign appearance of its foliage.
It will, doubtless, be a splendid ama-
teur or garden grape; and I am not
without hopes it may succeed in vine-
3"ard in favorable localities.

The Senesqua, Mr. Underhill's black

29G

The Grape Culturist.

grape has made somewhat stronger
growth, has heavier foliage than the
Croton, and has done well in every
way. It is also very promising.

The season has been unusually dry,
and grapes have not attained their
usual size here, but they have ripened
better than before for some years.

Reports are favorable, especially
from the Northern Ohio vineyards,
and the grapes and wines will proba-
bly exceed in quality, if not in quan-
tity, the produce of any former year.

We had the finest show of grapes
at our Ohio State Fair last week, that
I have ever seen in this State, princi-
pally brought from the Lake Shore.
As ever, yours trul}",

Geo. a. Campbell.

Geo. Husmanx, Esq., Bluffton, Mo.

P. S. Both the black and white
grape are from Concord seed. The
white grape is, I think, rather stronger
in growth than Concord, and has
heav}^, coarse foliage, quite woolly on
the under-side.

The black grape has foliage in sub-
stance like Concord, but much the
shape of Delaware. In growth, not
much stronger than Delaware.

Campbell.

[Thanks for your favors. I am
sorry to say, though, that the grapes
arrived a week after sending, and in
such a dilapidated condition that it
would be unfair to judge them from
it. These expressmen do not deliver
as 25i"omptly as we could wish. The
black grape did not impress us very
favorably, but it maybe owing to the
partial decay. The Taylor Hybrid
seems to us to be of good quality,
pale red, bunches and berries about
size of Delaware. Wo think it would
be a valuable wine grape, if it proves
hardy and productive. But the best
in quality is undoubtedly the white
grape, which as far as we could judge
from one berrj', is very fine indeed.
We should like to try them all here,
where we think they will improve in
quality. — Ed.]

For Grape Culturist.

Nauvoo, IlL, October 10th, 1S70.

Friend Husmann: — I have just
read 3-our Walla Walla correspon-
dent's letter on the province and du-
ties of our beloved "Grape Cultur-
ist," and I agree with him thus far;
but I must add that I know him to be
hugely mistaken when ho calls Dr.
Ampelos a champion of drunkenness(!)
Let him read again the Doctor's arti-
cles, without passion or prejudices,
and he will no doubt see that the
Doctor's pointed shafts are directed
against hypocrites and fanatics who
affect to legislate against the interests

of grape growers. Did j^our corres-
pondent live in our county and State,
he would meet much of that absurd
legislation which denies to a man his
God-o-iven right to drink w^hat he
pleases, whilst it compels him to send
his grapes to market, often when he
has no market near at hand. I be-
lieve the Doctor is doing a good work ;
I admire his bold and witty way of
pulling the masks from the faces of
the hypocrites at whose hands we
have often suffered. I like it in muie
and want more of it. After reading
the sober, pi-actical lessons of the

Reports on Grapes.

29-;

-Grape Culturist, I am thankful for
something that relaxes my nerves and
causes me to laugh at the expense of
my enemy. This, no doubt, must be

the feeling of most of your readers en-
gaged in grape culture and -wine-
making. Yours trul}^,

Edw. C. Baxter.

EEPORTS ON GRAPES.

{Continued from Odoher Number.)

Ices. — We were not so well pleased
with this variety this season. It
3'ielded abundantly, but the must was
light, and the grapes ripened unequal-
ly. It will not yield the same quan-
tity as Concord, and needs more ad-
dition of sugar to the must. Still, it
is reliable, and will succeed nearly
everywhere.

Lindley (Rogers' 9). — Did very well;
produced a heavy crop of fine fruit,
which will make a superior white
wine. Still, its foliage is rather thin,
iind not quite as sound as we could
wish.

Louisiana — Bore a very tine crop
of superior fruit; will, we believe,
make the finest white wine in our cel-
lars ; very healthy fruit and foliage.

Marion — Produced a very heavy
■crop of handsome, compact clusters,
iind may be valuable for red wine;
has a very dark juice and a good deal
•of the "scratch" of the Cordifolia
class, to which it belongs.

JIartha — Very fine, free from dis-
ease, and gave an abundant crop.

JIary Ann — A very heavy crop of
handsome bunches, earlier than Hart-
ford, and at least as good ; valuable
for early market.

Massasoit (Rogers' 3) — Very fine;
better, we think, than Delaware; ri-
pens earlier,shows better; was healthy

and bore an abundant crop. We value
it highl}', both for table and wine.

Maxatawney — Bore a fine crop of
superior fruit ; healthy, hardy and pro-
ductive, and not at all late, as it ripens
much earlier than Catawba.

Merrimack (Rogers' 19) — A beautiful
fruit, but has been somewhat subject
to rot. We would prefer Wilder, as
of better quality and more healthy.

Miles — Very early, but a very small
bunch and rather indifferent quality.

Mottled — x\ very pretty grape, of
the Catawba type ; handsome, compact
bunches; seems to be healthy and of
good quality.

North Carolina Seedling — Produced
an abundant crop, although it showed
a little rot; makes a good wine, if
properly managed, and is very reli-
able.

Northern Muscadine — Always relia-
ble and productive, but very fox}-.

Norton's Virginia — An immense
crop of the finest quality; one of the
most reliable of all.

Perkins — Verj' productive, but too
foxy for our enlightened age ; will do
for those who laud the Dracut Amber,
as it is a good deal better, though of
the same tj'pe.

Rebecca — Small crop of small bunch-
es, and not as good as Maxatawney.

Rentz — An abundant bearer, healthy
and hardy, and may do as a wine
grape. We would prefer it to Ives.

298

The Grape Cvltnrist.

Requa (Eogers' 28) — Fine quality,
and the vine seems to be healthy. It
bore its first fruit on young vines,

Rogers' Hybrids not named. — No. 2
is a fine, late, black grape, with mag-
nificent bunches, of very good quality,
rather late. We are inclined to think
much of it, as it seems to be produc-
tive, healthy nnd hard}^; will make a
good wine.

jVo. 8 — Very good for our location ;
ver}" productive ; late, resembling
Goethe very much ; a fine late market
grape ; healthy.

No. 12 — Very good quality', but
rather loose bunch, and deficient in
foliage.

No. SO — Very large berr}', but loose
bunch, of good qualitj', with Frontig-
nan flavor; may improve with age of
vines.

Rulander — Of very fine quality^
healthy; produced a handsome crop,
and, as it makes a very fine wine, we
can recommend it for Southern loca-
tions as a reliable grape.

Salem — Fruit of very fine quality,
but vine a "slow grower here, and, so
far, a poor bearer, with tender foliage.

Taylor — Had a very fine crop of
compact, nice bunches, and may re-
claim its character for imperfect bear-
ing, when the vines become older and
are properl}^ pruned and trained.

Telegraph — A very abundant crop
of handsome, medium-sized, compact
bunches ; valuable as an early market
grape, and w^ill make a nice red wine.

To Kalon — A poor, unequal crop of
fruit, as usual ; of no value here.

Union Village — A big thing; im-
mense bunches and berries, but rots,
and ripened unequall}'. We would
much prefer the Wilder.

Weehawken — Made a good growth,
and held its foliage ; has shown but
little fruit so far.

Wilder (Rogers' 4) — Splendid in
every respect — large bunches, large
berries, fine quality, very productive,
and holding its foliage well, without
disease; one of the most valuable for
table and market. Editor.

Mt. Sterlix«, Ky., Sept. 25th, 1870.

George Husmann, Esq. : — Permit
me to give you a few items in refer-
ence to the gtape in this country.
Montgomer}' count}-, Ky., is in the
Blue Grass region and approaches
the mountain range on the east. The
soil is limestone, with comjjact clay
subsoil, some locations being porous.
Manj' varieties of the grape grow
vigorously, with health}^ foliage and
well ripened wood. I am of opinion,
that the best improved varieties would,
under proper culture, bring an ample
return. But few vines are planted
and these receive little or no atten-
tion, but, nevertheless, produce fine
crops of grapes. The Catawba, with
a few other varieties, are the only
ones grown here.

Dr. Jeffries, a resident of our
county, and whose gardens I visited
in August, is cultivating Hartford
Prolific, Concord, Catawba and Dela-
ware. I never witnessed a more
splendid exhibition of fruit. The
Concord, Hartford Prolific and Ca-
tawba, were loaded with bunches —
large, well set and perfect — averaging
ten ounces in weight. Some of the
large bunches weighing as many as
twenty ounces, each. The whole, the
most pleasing sight that a lover of
fine fruit would wish to see. The

Reports on Grapes.

299

Doctor's Delawares, of Avhich he has
but two vines, were loaded Avith
grapes ; bunches large, well grown
and set thick on the stem — so close
you could not run a cambric needle
through the bunch without piercing
the fruit. A most beautiful grape
indeed. The Doctor's Catawbas are
perfect, large bunches and free from
disease.

I am a subscriber to the " Grape
CuLTURiST," a reader of your valuable
work on the Grape, and something of
an amateur grape grower, and am
now putting out a vine3'ard in Kan-
sas, near the Capital.

Give us 3'our opinion of grape cul-
ture in Kentucky. There are no less
than three or four varieties of wild
grapes growing here — one of which
is a white grape — but not having seen
it, cannot speak of its qualities.
Another, a purple grape, same size of
Catawba, but very acid and not good.

At some future time, I will give you
an account more at length, with ref-
erence to soil, climate and varieties
tried.

Yours very respectfully,

J. M. Bent.

[We know but little of Kentucky
climate and soil, but would think that
section of the State Avoukl certainly
be adapted to the culture of grapes.
—Ed.]

LoNK Jack, Mo., Sept. 20th, JS70.

Mr. Husmann,

Dear Sir : — Perhaps my experience
in grape culture will not be out of
place. I set my first vines three j^ears
ago last May, with 1,000 second class
plants to begin with. I now have five

acres in grapes and three in bearing,
from which I gathered 10,000 pounds
this season. I set the first vineyard I
ever saw, and from the instruction I
received from your writings I have
progressed so far. I have thirty-two
varieties, only a part in bearing. Va-
rieties in bearing : Concord, Hartford
Prolific, Isabella, Clinton, Ives, Rulan-
der, Cunningham and Delaware. Isa-
bella and Clinton not worth cultivation
here ; both rot badl}-. The Delaware has
dropped all its leaves, except those that
are grafted on Concord roots. My
Norton's, Catawba and Herbemont, are
not bearing yet, but all look well. The
rest of my varieties are grafts on Con-
cord and Isabella stalks. Those on
Isabella roots all show mildew, and
those on Concord roots are healthy.

I have grafts of the Peggy, Her-
mann, Weehawken, Black Hawk,
Brant, Autuchon, Massasoit, Wilder
and Goethe. I have one vine each of
Black Malaga and White Malaga. I
got them from California; they have
not ripened their wood ; won't do here.
The Brant sunburns very badly. I
have Perkins, Maxatawne}-, Martha,
and Cynthiana grafted on Isabella, and
they all show mildew. I shall graft no
more on Isabella.

My Peggy and Hermann which were
grafted in April last, shows fruit. I
think they are in a hurrj*. I shall set
two acres more this fall of the Martha
and Goethe. Am I right ? I put out
one hundred thousand cuttings last
spring, but some varieties failed en-
tirely ; I will get 10,000 vines, per-
haps. This is on account of dry
weather.

I commenced without 820 in money,
and I have not got that much now. I

300

The Grape Gulturist.

bold my own as well as could be ex-
pected. Yours truly,

Isaac Martin.
[We think you have done remark-
ably well under the circumstances, and
certainly deserve to succeed, for your
industry and perseverance. You are
all right with Martha and Goethe, thej'^
are safe and reliable. — Editor.]

Alubjiakle County, Virginia.

Also here, a good year for vines,
wine and grapes, though for a time it
looked as if the fairest pi'ospect for
grapes we have had, so far, would have
been entirely ruined, when, during the
month of June, just as the vines were
in full bloom, wet weather set in.

Spring opened very favorably here
— severely cold weather in March ;
April mild and pleasant. The Clinton,
Concord, etc., showed expanded buds,
and in some instances fully developed
leaves, about the Easter holidays ;
while Delaware, etc., showed such not
before the last week of April. By
the 8th of Ma}", shoots w^ere from six
inches to three feet long, and every-
thing had been thinned out to from
one to three shoots, tied up as needed,
and the blossoms, wherever they
showed, taken off. If the thinning-
out had to bo done over again, I
should leave to Delaware but one, and
to all other varieties one or two
shoots, according to strength. As it
is at present, the best Delawares, hav-
ing grown fully twelve feet, are such
where but one shoot was leftj while,
whenever two remained, a growth by
far inferior to the first Avas arrived at,
notwithstanding that these plants at
time of thinning out looked the
strongest. As for Clinton, I noticed

about the first of May some extra
strong plants with four or five shoots,
those nearest the ground one-third of
an inch strong. For an experiment, I
left three. These to-day are scarcoly
half an inch, while where but two
were left they sometimes exceed an
inch in diameter neai'est the ground,
and have by far the best laterals.
That some of these laterals show fruit
already, even, does not surprise me so
very much, as I have noticed the same
thing on the year's laterals of bearing
vines before now, though never before
have I seen fruit on laterals of vines
in their second year, main cane and
laterals of the same second year.

At this date only Diana has lost
most of its foliage ; all others look
strong and healthy. Delaware, and,
above all, Norton's are growing on,
which, I think, ma}' strengthen the
Delawares, and cannot hurt the Nor-
ton's. Norton's, Concord, Clinton,
Hartford, Alvey, Diana and Ives made
satisfactory growth to bear at least
half a crop in '71. Only Delaware
averaged a rather puny growth, and
of 3,600 vines I do not expect one-
third to bear next year.

In the quantit}' produced by bearing
vines in the vineyard of my neighbor,
W. Hotopp, there was a great im-
provement this year, thanks to the
longer pruning advocated by The
CtRape Culturist. Concords, which
last year hardly produced 7 lbs., bore
from 25 to 30 lbs. of fine grapes, while
one of the same age on same soil,
pruned in old style, yielded less than
10 lbs.

Mr. Hotopp cut above amount from
his vines, though he had given up all
hope almost of any grape crop when,

Reports on Grapes.

801

just about blooming season, the rain
kept pouring down.

Delaware, and, above all, Diana pro-
duced more than over before ; but
both lost most of their loaves about
two weeks ago by the ravages of cat-
erpillars, both largo and small kinds.
The health and strength of the vines
showed very forcibly by many young
loaves bursting forth in place of those
destroyed.

Mr. Ilotopp is now making wine,
commencing with Concord and Dela-
ware. Having found no difficulty- to
dispose of last year's vintage advan-
tageously, he prefers this to shipping
his grapes to a rather poor market
this year. Ho has about nine acres
in bearing. There are several others,
also, who have from one to three acre?
each in bearing tliis year.
Respectfully,

Frdk. Hildebrand.

Charlottesville, Sept. .)th, 1870.

[We do not think it advisable to
grow such very strong canes, and pre-
fer three to every strong-growing
vine. For Delaware and other weaker
growing kinds, two canes will be
enough.

AVe are rejoiced to hear that our
advice has done some good. — Ed.]

Town- Point, CecU Co., Md., Oct. 10th, 1870.

Mr. George Husjiann, Editor Grape

Cultnrist :

Dear Sir : Our report for this j'oar
i.s rather less favoi-ablo to our own
success than would have pleased us,
could we have had our own ruling.
The severe hail of May 10th was suc-
ceeded with a spell of wet weather
before the Concord vines had recov-

ered their vigor, and as a consequence
mildew, followed by rot, set in strongly
upon them, and our loss was severe.
We can only report an average of
rather less than one pound to the
vine — from fully established vines —
and the fruit very straggling and
about ten days later than should have
been in ripening. Our markets were
glutted with line fruit, selling at from
four to ten cents per pound, and as a
consequence we turned our entire
crop into wine, and have now in our
cellars as the result of the year's
labor about 1,000 gallons of young
wine, about one half white and one
half red. So far as the result will
justifj', wo are very much pleased
with the Concord as a white wine
grape, and should it taste when ripe
as well as it looks now, we are very
well satisfied with our 15-acro vine-
yard of it, even should wo never be
able to sell a single pound of fruit.

The vines generally are in fine con-
dition for a full crop next year, should
the hail spare them.

Our Clinton, Creveling and Diana
vines we consider as cumbering the
ground, and will take them up this
fall. They were all planted live years
ago next spring, at the same time
with our Concords, yet we have not
had ten pounds of fruit from the 2500
vines in that time, and we will waste
our ground and time on them no longer.

Our spring planting of Salome,
Goethe and Nortons have done well,
the Salems suffering somewhat from
mildew during the wet spell before
alluded to. The foliage of the Goethe
with us is the hardiest of the Wilder,
Salems or Goethe, keeping their leaves
green and fresh the whole season iu

302

21ie Grape Culturist.

our cutting patch, while both the
others lost theirs from mildew.

We received from Messrs. Ferris k
Cay wood in the spring two fine plants
of the Walter for trial ; also from S.
W. Underhill single plants, each of
the Crotoi); Senasqiia and Large White,
all of which we planted in a favorable
location in our Salem vineyard then
planting, giving them, however, no
other advantage than selection of sit-
uation as regarded the ground.

The Walters, I am sorr}' to sa}',
have done nothing, making, perhajDS,
six inches of wood — losing their
leaves from mildew and remaining
nude uU the season. Ho]ie they may
do better next year, as I am in love
with the fruit.

The Croton and Senasquahave done
finelj' — if anything, the Croton rather
the best. The}' withstood the mildew
bravely, and although closeh' watched
every day, failed to show the first spot
of blemish on their leaves, and have
ripened up a nice lot of wood. The
Large White did well, but received
a check in mid-season, stopping the
growth, but is perfectly healthy.

I hold to the Croton as a grape that
will occupy the foremost position at
some future day, both on account of
its quality and healthiness.

Please excuse length of communi-
cation, but I could not stop sooner.
Yours truly,

Edward P. IIipple.

[We are sorry to hear of your bad
luck. Ilail is not a very welcome
guest, as we know from dear experi-
ence, and will reduce the crop materi-
ally. But ^* better luck next time'"'
was one of the wise saws of Jacob
Faithful's sire, and we ti'u<t it will
hold good with you.

('reveling does well with us, but Clin-
ton and Diana are decidedly "poor
sticks" here also, and the sooner they
are discarded the boUoi'. Your ex-
perience with the Goethe corresponds
with ours. If the vine and grape is
not quite perfection, as a producer of
cheap and good white wine for every
body, it comes nearer to it than any
thing we have yet.

Walter is no doubt very fine, ichen
you can get it^ but wo are tilraid that
will be seldom. Your experience cor-
responds with ours of last year. Cro-
ton and Senasqua have grown well
and healthy here also, but it is alto-
gether too soon to form an opinion
about them j^et. " One swallow will
not make summer."

You need no excuse, as your report
is a very interesting one. — Editor.]

THE 8T. LOUIS FAIR— October 3d-8tii, 1870.

The lateness of the season, tlie
prominence given to stock and other
interests, both in the premiums and the
space allotted to them, and other cir-
cumstances, made Horticulturists and
especially Fruit-growers, little inclined
to participate, much less to take a

livel}' interest in the great St. Louis
Fair. But their attempts to have
separate " Floral and Horticultural
Exhibitions " did not prove so far suc-
cessful, and as the managers of the
St. Louis Fair Grounds had this year
finally corrected one of the great evils,

The St. Louis Fair.

808

the want of proper space, by convert-
ing the old arena into a spacious well
adapted hall for the exhibition of flow-
ers, fruits, and the products of field
and garden, the disphiy in these de- i
partraents was, this year, far better j
than heretofore ; and but for the fact
that peaches and pears were an entire
failure and the apple crop very poor,
tliroughout the "West, the space allotted
to fruits would still not have been
sufficiently large.

But our special branch, the grape,
was well represented. There we saw !
the first exposition of California fruit.
The grapes were named (some incor-
rectly, we think.) as ''Purple Damasc," ;
*' AYhite Muscat," '' Flam Tokay," and j
especially the famous "Mission Grape."
In size of both bunch and berries they
were fully equal to the best specimens of
grapes grown under glass, we ever saw,
but they were more fleshy than juicy —
and even considered as table grapes, are
more ornamental than useful ; none of
them should be called wine grapes.
These, together with some pears of
enormous size, especially Vicar of
Winkfield, weighing one and a half
pound each, and also some pome-
granates, were from 11. M. Crandall,
Auburn, Placer county, Cal.

There were but two bunches of grapes
grown under glass on exhibition, and we
have seen finer specimens before, though
these were very creditable, the more
so, as they came Irom Wisconsin ; a
loud rebuke to our wealthy St. Louis
men, who either have no graperies, or
else deem the public not worthy of see-
ing the fruit the}' raise, or the fruit not
worthy to be seen. In Missouri grapes,
grown in the field, the exhibition was
much inferior to that at the Hermann

fair. The prineii)al exhibitors were
Messrs. Isidor Bush & Son, 1<> whom
nearly all the first premiums in this de-
partment were justly awaided, for the
largest and best collection of grapes ;
for the best six bunches of Norton's
Virginia grapes ; the best six l»unche&
of Catawba ; the best and lai'gest num-
ber of bunches on one vine; the best
collection of pears, etc. Tiie earlier
varieties had been kept in the fruit
house (Nice's patent,) for that pur-
pose, but we think that they would
have preserved better on the vines.
The largest six bunches Concord ex-
hibited, the finest specimens we have
ever seen, wei-c i-aised by Mrs. Chas.
Beardslee, (Mr. Kuhle, gardener,) on
Dr. Claggett's farm, near Kirkwood.
Mr. Mason, of same place, had even a
larger number of varieties on exhibi-
tion than Busli i!t Son, but they were
inferior in specimens, and less valuable
varieties and thus were awarded the
second premium. Tiiere was not a sin-
gle variety on exhibition that we did
not see before. In vain did we look
for the Croton, 8enasqua, or any of
Arnold's Hybrids. This may be partly
due to the fact that no premium is
offered for the best new grape seedling,
and j'Ct the directors of the JSt. Louis
Agricultural Association dare to say
they "feel assured it is the most com-
plete and thorough list of premiums
ever devised." They may probably also
leel assured that their awarding com-
\ mittees are selected with the greatest
I care from among the best judges for
the respective branches ; but we beg
leave to dirter, so much so that their
j awards have but little value. It is this
bad selection of awarding committees
which has justly caused our friends,.

304

The Gh-ape Culturist.

Michel & Kern, who had, doubtless,
the very finest display in the floral de-
partment to withdraw from competition
before the awards were made. In na-
tive wines, IMessrs. Bush & Co. had the
largest and best collection, and were
awarded several premiums. The Amer-
ican Wine Company took the first pre-
miums for sparklinii' wines, while the

Pleasant \'alley Wine Company (Bush
& Co., agents.) obtained the second
premium for same. Messrs. Poeschel
& Scherer, of Ilermanu, Mo., also took
several premiums for still wines. In
our next number we will give a de-
tailed list of the premiums awarded, if
we can obtain it from the Secretary,
of which we have no doubt.

THK IJKSULTS OF THE GEAPE CROP AT BLUFFTON.

The vi)itage is at last over, and we
have found leisure time enough to sum
up results and draw conclusions, which
Ave will ti*y to give to our readers in a
condensed form.

We had 27^ acres in bearing this sea-
son, of which 17 may be called estab-
lished and bearing a full croj), lOj acres
liearing their first, and thus only a par-
tial, crop. Of these, about 12 acres are
located in the river bottom, Xb'k on the
bluffs. The latter were twice struck
by hail, and the Concords also severe-
ly touched by frost in April, by which
the crop was diminished at least one-
third, while the bottom vineyards es-
caped both hail and frost. The vari-
eties were divided about as follows:

Nortons, 11 acres, 0 in full hearing,
2 bearing first crop, 70,000 pounds.

Concord, 0 acres, 5 in full bearing,
4 bearing first crop, 50,148 pounds.

Goethe, 2 acres, bearing first crop,
0,366 pounds.

Creveling, 1 acre, bearing first crop,
420 pounds.

Delaware, 1 acre, ] in full ncaring,
I bearing first crop, 477 pounds.

Clinton, I acre, in full bearing,
1,234 pounds.

Ives, \ acre, in full bearing, 3,ol6

: pound.s.

Taylor, 1 acre, in full bearing, 602

I pounds.

i Herbemont, 1 acre, in full bearing,

; 489 pounds.

j Telegraph, h acre, in full bearing,

; 798 pound.'j.

Hartford, i acre, in lull bearing,

i 1,615 pounds.

(^ther varieties, 2 acres, 1 in fall
bearing, 1 bearing first crop, 3,050

' pounds.

i Total, 27] acres, 17 in full bearing,

I lOJ bearing first crop, 137,715 pounds ;

, or an average of about 5,000 pounds
to the acre.

This does not include the amount
consumed on the place, taken to e.v-

I hibitions, etc., which may safely be
put down at several thousand pounds
more, so that the crop has been over
140,000 pounds. Of these, about 125,-
000 pounds were made into wine by
the company-, the balance being used
by the tenants for wine, marketed, etc.
If we take into account the vicissi-
tudes mentioned before, which dimin-
ished the crop on the hills to a con-
siderable extent, the manifold ravages

Editorial Courtesy.

305

of birds and animals, which are una-
voidable in a new settlement, and by
which fully one-half of the earlier va-
rieties Avere destroyed, and also that
a great part of these vineyards bore
for the tirst time, we think we have
reason to be proud of, and feel thank-
ful for, such a crop. In some of the
vinej'ards the yield was really enor-
mous. One of our tenants, Mr. George
Schneider, who holds two leases in the
bottom, of which about 6 acres were
bearing, gathered over 64,000 pounds,
more than 10,000 pounds to the acre.
From 2 acres of Concord he gathered
something like 31,000 pounds, from 3
acres of Norton's 23,600 pounds, and
from 1 acre of Ives 3,516 pounds, and
part of these were only bearing their
first crop.

Of the newer varieties, the Goethe

and Wilder especially have surpassed
our most sanguine expectations. The
Goethe has even sui-passed the Con-
cord in productiveness and health}',
vigorous growth. From 350 vines,
planted 6x10, in their third summer,
consequently bearing their tirst crop,
on the hills, we received 3,127 poiinds
of splendid fruit. And besides this
heavy crop, they made an enormous
growth of wood, which is now ripe to
the very tips, the foliage hanging at
present date (Oct. 19) on the vines
green and fresh.

But we are afraid to wear}" our
readers. Let us hear from them about
their crops. In our next number we
will give them a table of the specific
weight of must from over thirty vari-
eties, from v^'hich we made wine this
season.

EDITORIAL COUETESY

" The Grape Culturist and the
Farmers' Club. — We have heretofore
spoken in commendation of the Grape
Culturist, edited by Geo. Ilusmann,
St. Louis, Mo., but we fear that we
shall be obliged to retract. It (quotes
a talk on the Scuppernong grape at
the N. Y. Farmers Club, and then
says: 'It is certainly amusing — but at
the same time disgusting — to see men,
who have not the faintest perception
of vegetable life, who know nothing
about the influence of grafting, but
only know that the word hj-bridizing
is in the dictionary, and that it means
some horticnltural operation, persist
in trying to force this grape upon
Northern planters,' etc. — Mr. Grape

Culturist, this wont do, at all. The
'Farmers' Club' is a peculiar New
York institution ; it embodies wisdom,
science, experience, modesty, and elo-
quence, in a maimer that no other in-
stitution ever did before, and probablj'
never will again; and Ave simply de-
}nand that you show it that respect
which it merits. Please keep on your
own side of the Mississip])i. Hoav can
you know anything about grapes so
far from New York ? "

[We clip the above from the columns
of the Am. Afiricvlturiat, and must say
that we at first felt humbled, in fact,
dumbfounded and overwhelmed, by
this very gentle and dignified admoni-
tion, given in such a truly condescend-

306

Jhe Grape Culturisi.

ing manner. Hut wo have got over
our first scare, and trust that, after
explaining things, our mighty col-
league will let us live a leetle longer.

We do not know that ^xQ■■ have at-
tacked the Xew York F'armcrs' Glub^
or an}' of its members. We are even
willing to concede, for the sake of
peace in the family, that they are all
our colleague claims for them, Solons
in wisdom, and as eloquent as Demos-
thenes,, or Petroleum Y. Xasby, al-
though Ave confess that we have never
seen the agricultural or horticultural
society yet, which had not some rather
l^ale lights among its members. But
New York is a wonderful place, and
so may its Farmers' Club be a w'on-
derful institution. But we take it for
granted, that they are as courteous as
other societies, or the American Agri-
culturist, and some Limes admit out-
siders to their deliberations, nay even
allow them to talk, though it be non-
sense. This may have been the case
in that part of their deliberations, and
indeed we supposed so, therefore our
remarks. For we ask in all simplicity,
is it anything but nonsense to advo-
cate planting the Scujopernong at the
North for the purpose of grafting the
Catawba on it, to prevent mildew and
rot, or that a new variety might be
obtained by grafting some of our best
grapes on it, and when the speaker is
not sure whether ho means hybridiz-
ing or grafting ? It was this to which
we referred in the remark commented
on so severely by our colleague, and
it appears plainly from the article it-

self, that Messrs. Fuller, Carpenter
and others were of the same opinion
with us. Indeed, it was Mr. A. 8.
Fuller himself, who sent us the article,
and wished us to comment on it. We
know the Scuppernong, because we
have tried it long ago ; wo know it
will not ripen here, much less in New
York, and therefore know that it is
utterly unfit for cultivation at the
North.

We fail to see how any passage in
our remarks could be so construed as
to mean disrespect for the Club. As
to the kind hint given "to keep on our
side of the Mississippi river," we trust
we have as good a right to travel East,
in this fi'ce country, as our high and
mighty colleague has to travel West.
Wo profess to know a little about
grapes, even at New York, and so, we
think, does Mr. Fuller. We can only
say, if the Agriculttirist knows any-
thing about them, he very seldom im-
parts that knowledge to his readers, as
the word grape is seldom mentioned
in his columns. Ours is a paper exclu-
sively devoted to it, and therefore we
claim the right to expose grape hum-
bugs wherever wo find them, even
should they be perpetrated in the
Farmers' Club. Our colleague claims
to be so severe upon humbugs, does
he feel bound to cover this with the
mantle of Christian charity, simply
because shown at his peculiar home
institution y We are sure none of the
sage members of the Club could take
anv offense at our remarks. — Ed.]

Wine — ,1 New Fertilize) — Kapnophite.

307

WINE.

Wine. wine, wine, soul-inspiring- wine 1

A rnl)y ixcm

From the purple .stem,
Culled on tlie beautiful Rhine.

Wine, wine, wine! wineof those irood old diiys.

When love Wiis vounji',

\Micu Sapho Suny,
And <)lymi)us rang- with thy praise.

Wine, wine, wine, the spirits of gay old Home,

From the orystal cu]i

Comes bul)bling up
And dance in thy sparkling foam.

Wine, wine, wine I the nectar deities loved,

When Orpheus sung

And the sweet lyre rung
To the nymphs in Arcadia's grove.

Wine, wine, wine! come to the festi\e hall.

When the fair young bride.

And the groom in hisi)ride,
Drinks health and pleasure to all.

AVine. wine, wine 1 the hygeian nectar sip,

And feel in thyfheart

The young blood start,
Though age hcas witlieretl thy lii).

Wine, wine, wine ! to uiortals a gift di\ine !

'Tis no unclean thing

Of which we sing,
For Christ turned wafer to wine.

James Gordox.

[We gladly give room to the above,
and only wish the writer would give
us an American Avine song. Perhaps
he has not experience enough in our
native wines to be inspired in their
praise. We hope he will forthwith
make their closer acquaintance, and
give us the result of it in verso. — En,]

A NEW FERTILIZER— KAPNOPHYTE.

We have received from Messrs. E.
Whitley it Co., Murfreesborough,
Tenn., their circular relating to the
preparation of this fertilizer, Avhich
they have discovered and patented.
They say of it, " It is prepared by the
slow burning of pine, straw, leaves,
and other vegetable matter, under a
layer of earth, by which the mass be-
comes impregnated with the smoke
and gaseous products of combustion,
producing a manure of remarkable

strength and efficacy. It not only
stimulates vegetation, like guano, but,
unlike guano, it permanently benefits
the soil. Its cheapness, and the fa-
cility with which it is made, commend
it to ever}' landowner."

We are inclined to think well of the
process, for fertilizing old worn-out
vineyards, as we think the ashes of
vegetables the best manure for the
vine we know.

308

The Grape Gulturist.

EDITOE'S LETTER BOX.

Little Rock, Akk., Sejit. :;()tli, ls70.

Geo. Husmann, Esq.:

Dear Sir — I have nothing to say of
my small beginning in grape growing,
except that of over one thousand vines
planted only some twenty-five failed
to grow. They have done finely this
season, though troubled a good deal
by the leaf-folders. Mr. Hough, some
six miles west of this place, fruited the
Ives this year, and is highly delighted
with it ; thinks it much superior to the
same grajie grown fiirther North.
What fruit he had vras grown from
secondary buds, as the primary were
killed by our unprecedented frost in
middle of April last. In the main,
his description of it agrees with yours
in the July number of the Cdlturist,
except that he reports it a much
sweeter, richer grape than the Con-
cord, and without the foxy taste you
ascribe to it. He has a ver}^ sweet,
pleasant wine, of fine flavor, made
without any cellar in the hot weather
of August, and that without the addi-
tion of any sugar. Mr. Hough, who
has had a long experience in grape
growing in Ohio and States farther
north, is enthusiastic as to our future
prospects in that dii*ection. lie recog-
nizes a peculiar adaptability in our
climate and soil to the vine. His ex-
perience, so far, indicates that the
Ives has a fair prospect of being the
grape of the State, though Col. Eakin,
whose opinion is entitled to much
weight, does not coincide Avith him.
Very truly, yours,

J. W. Martin.

[We think if Mi-. Hough experi-

ments further, he will change his no-
tion that the Ives is the best he can
plant. Here it is certainly not sweeter
than the Concord. If his wine is
sweet yet, rest assured it is not wine,
and will not remain so. — Ed.]

Reidsvillk, X.O., Aug. 12th, 1870.

Mr. Husmaxx :

Dear Sir — I trust you will excuse
me for intruding on 3'our valuable
time. I wish to ask you a few ques-
tions respecting the making of wine.
You do not mention in your book
about sugar, except for the galized
wine. I should be glad to know if it
is necessary to put an}' sugar, and
what quantity, in Catawba wine ; also
Concord, Clinton, and Delaware. I
made some of each last year, and put at
the rate of a pound to the gallon. The
Catawba has a sharp taste, which is
not generally liked. What can I do
to rectify it? I have been told by
several persons that sugar is not need-
ed, but 1 would rather have your ad-
vice, knowing you to be a man of
experience in these matters. I have
planted a vineyard of the above kinds,
and they are making good progress,
both in growth and bearing. I would
like very much to see your vineyards,
but the distance is too great.
Yours, respectfully,

Gr. T0MK.INS.

[You overdid the thing, evidently^
put in more sugar than could ferment.
If your wine has a sharp taste, acetic
fermentation has set in, and you will
have very good vinegar after a while.
Whether Catawba must needs an addi-

Editor's Letter Box.

:]01)

tion of sugar depends on circum-
stances. Good Catawba must gener-
alUy contains sugar enough to keep,
but very often a superabundance of
acid, tannin, and flavor, all of which is
ameliorated by adding water and su-
gar. If your wine once contains
acetic acid, (as 1 suppose, from your
description,) you can do nothing with
it but make vinegar of it. — Ed.

\iN£i,\M), Xii«' Jehsky, Oct. rilh, 187U.

Gr. HusMANN, Esq.:

Dear Sir — For the benefit of the
grape growing fratornit}^ I send you
an article on '• Grape Culture in Na-
ples A'alley," which please publish in
the JSToveinber Grape Culturist, with
your own criticism on the new sys-
tem, ^'ours, respectfully,

J. LOEWENDAHL.

[If our friend will refer to January*
and February Xo. of Grape Cultur-
LST,1870, he will find an article, ^'Treat-
ment of the American Grapevine/' by
the same writer, and embodying about
the same ideas, with our comments on
it.— Ed.]

CilAKi.ui lESVil.LE, N':'. , Sept. lltll, l.srO.

Mr. Husjiann :

Excuse my liberty in addressing you,
but information is wanted, and I must
ask it from such as I suppose can give it.

Since 1865 the culture of grapes has
engaged the attention of this section,
which promises to be a success. We
have now in tliis neighborhood some
100 acres growing, most of which will
bear next year for the first time, and
more is ):)eing planted evej'y spring.
This requires a stock company for
building a wine cellar, and here is
where I desire information. We want
to start Avith a cellar of at least ;")0,000

gallons capacity. What is the best
plan, considering economy, permanency
and ability to enlarge? — from what
source can I learn what is required for
such a cellar, form, substance and plan ?
— what the probable cost of construc-
tion and outfit ? — what laborers will
it require to manage it properly? —
what is a fair or the usual salary or
hire for each of these in their respec-
tive capacities ? — where can they prob-
ably be gotten from ? Are the above-
ground wine-houses desirable, or do
they answer the purposes of a regular
cellar ?

These are the leading points on
wliich I would beg you to inform me.
If there be books published which
would answer iny purpose, give me
their titles ; but I should prefer, besides
this, to get your personal and practical
answers on the above points as well as
any other points which you know from
experience would aid me in mj^ under-
taking. I again beg your lenient judg-
ment for addressing you, and trust you
will favor me witli an answer at an
early date. Yours truly,

Oscar Reierson.

[We send you the Grape Culturist,
which we trust will give you the infor-
mation you want about cellars. If you
want to make annually about 50,000
gallons of wine, it would take four
good hands regularly to rack and man-
age them, with additional help during
wine-making time. You should have
one competent man to manage it ; he
can soon teach good common laborers
to do the rest of the work. You can
probably obtain one for about SI, 000
to $1,500 annuall}-, and should adver-
tise for him in the Grape Culturist.
— Editor.]

310

The Grape Cultnrist.

Macon City, Mo., Sept. Hfli, 1870.

Me. Geo. Husmann, St. Louis, ^^o :

Dear Sir : You will excuse me for
iutrudiug on 3'our time when you under-
stand m}' motives. I wrote j'ou last
Februar}" on grafting the vine. The
method described is a success. The
only diflicult}^ in grafting the vine is in
keeping down the suckers, or wild
shoots. In m}' opinion the mild days
of February is the time with us. The
present season has not been as favora-
ble as was 1868. We have had too
much dry weather, yet I see by the
papers the crops are splendid in some
sections. We are but beginners, and
that on a small scale. I think that in
1863, from recollection, there was not
more than a dozen vines growing about
Macon. Since the close of the war
there has been more interest taken,
but the nu'nber set now will amount to
eight or ten thousand vines with various
results. Some are doing finel}', while
others are doing poorl}", just according
as they have been set and handled.
For my part, after reading all the dif-
ferent works on grapes, I arrive at the
following conchisious : 1st, a thorough
preparation of the soil, which means
subsoil two feet deep, all the ground
not trench ; 2d, well grown yearling-
plants propagated from two years that
have made a growth of at least six
feet, set 16x16, then with proper after-
treatment we may look for some fruit.
I am in favor of the broad gauge, clear
through, in preparations of the soil.
In planting and pruning, in my opin-
ion, a good many of the popular theo-
ries must be abandoned for the follow-
ing reasons : I pruned a Catawba vine
for a neighbor this spring that was 12
years old, and was over SO feet in

length, and has fruited over 200 lbs. of
grapes the present season. I know
another Concord covering one end of a
story and a half house, from ground to
gable, carrying at least 300 bunches of
well developed fruit. I have an Isa-
bella vine on trellis carrying 250
bunches and occupying 20 feet of trel-
lis. I also planted 20 fine vines in
May, 18(U», that made an average
growth of 25 feet to the vine : trained
to two horizontal arms ; layered one
arm in April, 1870 ; had an average of
2 1-2 to 3 lbs. of fruit on the layered
cane, but not a grape on the opposite
arm ; pruned from 6 to 10 e3'es ; some
tell me that was wrong,to let layers fruit.
1 put out some 3,000 cuttings this
spring that have made an average
growth of (> and 7 feet, and have sev-
eral Concords bearing a nice little
bunch of grapes. I take it for granted
that nature don't make any mistakes.
I also differ with some of ni}"^ grape
growing friends about summer prun-
ing (or summer slaughtering, as Dr.
Warder terms it) ; but to the point — I
see in the August number you talk of
abandoning the CuLXURi.'iT at the end
of the year. We can not think of letting
such a valuable work go J)y the board,
but will do our best to sustain it.

J. E. McL.A.UGHLIN.

[We think you are decidedl}' on the
" broad guage" system, and are running
that "• into the ground."' You are right
in preparing your ground thoroughly,
but it does not follow because planting
4x4 is too close, the vines should be
planted 16x16. Generally the true
course between two extremes lies in
the middle, and we think you will find
it there also, after experimenting some
more. Try 6x10, or 8x10, a while, and

Editor's Letter Box.

311

we are inclined to think j'ou will find
it snflicient. Nature sometimes does
make mistakes : if she did not. how
could we account for the many poor
seedlings brought forth. It is for us
to observe nature, correct tliose mis-
takes where we can, and profit by our
observation. We think if only such
plants wei'c to be used for viucyards;
which made from six to seven feet of
growth from cuttings the first year,
there would be but few planted. Two
feet of healthy growth will do Just as
well.

Thanks for your kind intentions
toward the (iuAPE Culturist. If our
readers think tliey need it, why, let
them support it, and get others to do
so ; they may rest assured that we do
not intend to sacrifice our money as
well as our time on it any longer with-
out an adequate recijnipeuse. VV'e have
been trying to keep it up for tkeir ben-
efit for the last two years. Let us see
whether they are willing to do some-
thing in return. — Editor.]

Savaxnah, M(p., Oct. o<l, 187(1.

Geo. Husmanx, Esq.,

Dear Sir : — Will you be so kind as
to give me a little information con-
cerning grape trellising? I have been
reading j'our Grape Culturist about
two A'cars, but cannot get the infor-
mation that I want, at present.

I have 4^500 grape vines that I wish
to trellis this fall and winter. I wish
to know if old telegraph wire, No.
!•, will answer for trellis. If it will, I
have a chance of getting all I want,
cheap. I thought it would be stout
enough hj using four strands on good
posts.

How will Xo. 10, new iron wire, do ?

How long does iron wire last before
being affected by rust '.

You will very much oblige myself
and other friends by answering the
above, ^\'o expect to be governed
by your instructions, as heretofore.
Yours truly,

Tjtomas Nance.

[Old telegraph wire, (which is gen-
erally No. 8) will do well enough, but
it is much heavier than necessary,
and unless you can buy it very
cheap, will he more expensive than
No. 12 wire, new, which Ave use, and
of which three strands are enough.

We cannot inform you how long-
new wire will last, but we know of
trellis eighteen years old, on which
the wire is perfectly sourxd 3'et. We
think you will have to live a good
while, if it does not outlast you. If
we live as long as the wire will last on
trellis we have put up the last three
years, we will get older than we now
calculate on. — En.]

Cash Advertising Terms for 1870.

TWENTY CENTS PER LINE, AOATE TYPE, EACH INSERTION.

Cover Pages Twenty-Five Cents per Line.
BUSINESS CAUDS, FIVE TO SIX LINES EACH, *lo PER ANNUM.

312 Grajic CuUurist Advertisiruf !Sheet.

Grape Vines! Grape Vines!

J' AT .TL. OF" IS'T'O!

We offer our usually larii;e and selected stock of all standard and new

variotie!*, includinir

SALEM, MEERLAIACK, TONA, CY^sTHIANA,

WILDEPv. GOETHE, HAETFORD, MAETIIA,

LINDLEY, CONCOED, DIA:NA, EUMELAN,

AGAWA^r, DELAWAEE, HEEBEMONT, AVALTER.

S^LEM ^ SPECIA^LTY.

Our stock of plants will be unequaled, and quality" of superior excellence.
Salem, with us, is bearing a tine crop of fruit, and must soon become one of
the leading varieties in cultivation. It fulfills all that has been claimed for it.
For circulars, etc., address

I. H. BABCOOK & 00.,

aug70-3m Lockport, IS. Y.

AND FLORAL MAGAZINE.

An Illustrated Monthly Magazine devoted to the culture of Emits, Flowers,
and Vegetables. Illustrations of

NEW THINGS IN HORTICULTURE

Will be given in each number.

Subscription Price $1.50 per aniiutn. Ten Copies $1 each.

The remainin;^' numbers of this year will hi' sent Free to Suhserihcrs for 1871. Elcgani:
rremiunis given for making up'Cluli-^. Among the contrihutors for the Joui:xai. are

MARSHALL P. V^ILDER, MASS.

John A. Warder, Ohio. Henry Ward Beecher, N". Y Charles M. Hovey. Mass

Geo. W. Campbell, Ohio. Ed. F. Underbill, N. ST. Fearing Burr, Mass.

Francis Parkman, Mass. George Such, N. J. William Saunders, D. C,

Joseph Beck, Mass. W. G. Strong, Mass. S. Miller, Mo.

R. Manning, Mass. William C. Flagg, Illinois. C. B. Denson. N" C.

Peter Henderson, N. Y. James F C. Hyde, Mass. Wm Parry, N. J.

Charles Downing, NY. Parker Earle, Illinois.

J. E. TILTOIST & CO., Boston,

Publishers.

A Sample Copv, Club and Premium List will be sent to anv address upon receipt of l.'> oeut-.
oct70-3t.

OHIOIOE -VJ^I^IETIES OIF
Grape Vines, Strawberry Plants, Raspberry, Blackberry & Gooseberry,

Also, a few Peach and Ciierry Trees, the finest growths. Particular attentiou
will be paid'to small orders ol" plants to be sent by mail. For sale by

SAMUEl, I«IL,L,ER, Bliit'ttoii, Mo.

Grape CuUurist Adi'crtlslng Sheet.

WANTED — An iiuhistrious energetic man experienced in gi*apo growing,
to take chai'ge of a young vineyard situated one mile and a half from
Little Eock, Arkansas. The location is a beautiful table land, on a bluff
elevation of some three hundred feet, on north bank of Arkansas river, over-
looking the city and railroad depots, convenient to both ; and is, all things
considered, the most desirable in the State for a large vineyard. A partner-
ship with responsible party of some means preferred, but this not essential.
Correspondence solicited. ' Address. .T. W. ^rAETIN, Little Rock, Ark.

IIT'ANTKD several active, enterprising salesmen, to sell wines and plants
• f T foi- tiie Bluffton Wine Comnanv. Parties wishing to engage, should
address, ' WM. WESSELIlt)EFT, "

Secretary Bluffton Wine Co., Bhiffton, Mo.

WANTED — At the '^Ouachita Vineyard,"' near Hot Springs, Arkansas, a
competent man, to take charge of vineyard, orchard, small fruits, and
reelect market garden — an accomplished, sober, industrious man, one who can
give satisfactory testimonials of integrity and worth. To a suitable person
Avith family, who can furnish desirable help, an interest in the proceeds or
wages will be given. I would prefer a married man whose family fully
understand dairy operations, particularly the manufacture of butter and
cheese. Hot Springs always affords a good market for all supplies.
^'p7o-2t GEORGE W\ LAWRENCE, M.D., Resident Physician.

PUBLISHED ^lSrr> FOR S^LE

BY

CONRA_D AVTTTEH,

ST, LOUIS, MO.

MrExcii, Fi.'KDKiacK, School for American Orape Culture. Brief but thorough

guide to the laying out of vineyards, the treatment of vines and the production

of wine in North America.
Mt.-F.NXii, F., Amerikanische Weinbauschule und Weinhereitungslehre, etc.

Either one of these books will be mailed free of postage on receipt of one dollar.
flrsMANx, Gkorgk, The Cultivation of the Native Grape and Manufacture of

American Wines.

On the receipt of $1 50 this book will be mailed to any address.
.SrmfiDT, J. A.. The Diseases of Wine, liow to prevent and how to cure them,

according to the doctrines of M. Pasteur.

This book will be sent, free of postage, on receipt of $2.

C AVITTER keeps a large assortment of books treating on the Culture of
Grapes and Manufacture of Wines.

Catalogues sent on application. Please address letters,

CONRAD WITTER,

j&no-tt 122 S. E. corner Walnut and Second Sts., St. Louis, Mo.

Grape Cidturist Advert tshuj Sheet.

(Liiti- (ifnnii .if.lAMKS FOSIKl!, .In., A: CO..)

>1 \M 1 A( I IKM: 0|

HYDROMETERS, THERMOMETERS and GAUGERS'

INSTRUMENTS, SACCHAROMETERS,

A\I> IN \ I.N Tol: IIK

h

h

>

o

d
O

Price of ACIDOMETER FOR MUST OR "WINE $10 00

Price of SACCHAROMETER (SILVER) 10 00

Price of OECHSLE'S MUST OR W^INE SCALE 10 00

Price list of other instruments scni, on itpplicatiun to

HENRY TWITCHELL,

132 West Fourth Street,

sei)70-3t CINOIVNATI, OHIO.

SMALL FRUITS A SPECIALTY.

STEAWBEEEIES, BLACKHKJUilES, CUr.RANTS and GllAPE VINES
of all the leadinir varieties, at the LOWEST EATES.

Send for Price List. Address JOHN COOK,

(Nursery '2 miles frDiii r>:iltimoi'c, cm c)kl Fredorick Road,.
oct70-U Carroll P. O., Baltimore Co., Maryland,

Grape Culturist Adcertisuuj Sheet.

ssouri ¥irin®s and Plants.

THE BLUFFTON WINE COMPANY

Now oflers to the trade, and ro the public generally, its first crop of wines, o-rown at
Bluffton, comprising-, of red wines, Concord, Norton's Viroiuia, Ives, and Clinton;
of white wines. Concord, Catawba. Hartford, Delaware, and Herbemont.

Our wines are of excellent qualit}-, and we are sure that they will give general satis-
faction to consumers. Our motto is, "IjOW prices, good quality, and quick sales;" and
Wholesale Dealers in wines will find it iu their interest to apply to us. Pi-ice lists sent on
application.

We also call the attention of Grape Growers to our large and complete stock of plants
of all the leading varieties. We shall make it our aim. iiu our fall trade, to supply our
ctistoniers with the best of plants, and at as low rates as any reliable firm.

Descriptive Catalogues sent, on apiilication to

7M. WESSELHOFT, Secretary,

BLUFFTON, MO.

Biislikrg Vineyards & Grape Nurseries.

GREAT DEDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF

AND SMALL FRUITS.

SEND FOlt NEiy PRICE LIST I OR FALL 1870. „^ff

Our IliLUSTHATED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE-" Moi« useful to the Grape Grower
than some works of much greater ])i'.tensioiis. ' ' — Am. AcjricuUurist ,—\\i\\ be sent by Mail, post-paid, for
only 2o cents, either in the German or English Edition, as you may oriler.

5Cf^ Agents "Wanted to canvass for orders for Fall delivery" Terms liberal, pmlifs handsome. Pos-
ters, Price Lists, etc., gratis. Address,

ISZDOR BUSH Sc SON, Bush'aerg, Mo.

"^r 3E1. Ml JE^ ^ '^^J' ^0> <0> 30 I

Immense Stock, especially of

Concord, Ives, Delaware, Hartford, lona, Catawba, Isabella,
Clinton, Rogers' Nos. 4, 15 and 19, etc.

Cut from Bearing Vines before hard freezing, and stored in frost-proof Cellars.

Very Low for Cash. Price List Gratis.

ALSO, LEADING VA1METIE8 OF GEAPE ]{00T IN STORE.
Can ship South safely at any time.

feb69 tf M. H. LEWIS, Sandusky, Ohio,

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

1,000,000

^1j
Of all the Leading Varieties, true to name.

As I am hound to sell, will sell lower than any one else.

CONCORD VINES, good two-year old, only $25 per 1,000.

Other varieties in proportion. Also, Currant, Gfoosebevry, Strawberry,
Raspberry, Blackberry, Ehubarb, Eoses, and other plants.

Apple Trees, one, two and three years, very cheap.

I will also take good Western Lands, at cash price, in trade.
Address, and send for Price List, and three new Essays on Grape Culture, to

Dr. H. SHRODER,

Bloomington, III.

n^-^TE urojj GOT :m[-A.k.tkcjl?

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUITS.

[Nursery Established in 1857.]

A splendid stock of Vines and Plants are offered the coming Fall and Spring,
including nearly every variety known to be of value. The popular and white Grape

MARTHA, OR {WHITE CONCORD,)

In large or small quantities. Also, Arnold's new Hybrids, Eumelan, Walter, Wee-
hawken, Christine, Hine, and all valuable numbers of Rogers' Hybrids; also,
Delaware, lona, Israella, Concord, Hartford, Ives, Norton's Virginia, etc., etc., in
all about one hundred distinct varieties.

Kittatinny Blackberries and Clarke Raspberries in large quantities, Jucunda
and Charles Downing Strawberries, Downing's Seedling Gooseberries, Cherry,
Versailles, White Grape, and Black Naples Currants, etc., etc.

Send stamps for Illustrated Catalogue and Price Lists to

aprti-tt GEO. W. CAMPBELL, Delaware, Ohio.

WWmBMmlM. "TEElTMNf .

PATENTED AUG. Gth, 1867, AND AUG. $d 1S69.

For FERMENTATION and GERMINATION, and for PRESERVING, PlTRrFYING
and IMPROVING of Organic Substances.

Exceediusily useftxl in Malting, Brewing, Distilling, Baking, Manufacture of Wine, Cider,
Fruit Wines, Fruit Brandies, Vinegar, etc.; in Sugar Works, Oil Works. Manufacture of Ex-
tracts, Preserves; in Storehouses, Transportation of Grain. Produce, Fruit; Purification ol
Water, etc., etc.
Jgf" Rights for States, Counties, Districts, or Establishments, for sale. Apply to

P. 0. Box 6844. R. D'HEUREUSE, New York.

THE

GRAPE CULTURIST.

Vol. II.

DECEMBEE, 1870.

No. 12.

DECEMBEE.

WORK FOR THE MONTH.

Pruning may still be continued, if
not finished in November, cuttings
made and stored SLway. This will also
be a good time to manure vineyards,
where needed. The best fertilizer we
have used is fresh surface soil from the
woods, especially where the soil has
been washed away from the vines. If
animal manures are used, they should
be well decomposed, mixed with vege-
table matter, etc. We have found but
little use for manures here, in the rich
virgin soil of our hills, and would pre-
fer a surface dressing of surface soil,
leaf mould, etc., to all others.

Trellis can also be rejDaired and
made, and even planting may be con-
tinued when the ground is open and
works well. Eemember that every
days' labor now done, is so much
gained in spring, when you will have
work enough any way. A thorough
grape grower should always rather
be ahead of his work, thar^ pushed b}'
it, and the slovens, who always have
time enough, and spend the fine win-
ter days idling around the stove, or
worse still, in bar rooms and country
stores, spinning yarns for the edifica-
tion of the idlers, will find in spring
that their work is driving them, and
that the}^ cannot make up for lost time.

If you have a collar full of wine,
you will find plenty to do even in bad
days, when you can do nothing out of
doors, as this is pre-eminently the

month for the first racking. See
article on management of Avines in
November No.

Eveiy vinter should have an outdoor
cellar, kept rather moist, for his grape-
wood, roots, etc. It can be easily
made by digging a hole, setting posts
inside, with boards behind them to
make the walls, then put rafters on
the posts, cover them with boards,
and throw ground over the whole.
With very slight cost, you will thus
have an excellent place to keep your
grape wood fresh. Prune the vines
in fair weather, bundle up the trim-
mings, and store in your cellar ; when
bad weather sets in, you can trim and
but them into cuttings, and always
have work on hand. By thus taking
advantage of every day and hour,
much work can be done in the winter
which is generally done in the spring,
you need not be driven by your labor,
and will feel all the easier and happier
for it.

Clearing can also be made, and
ground got ready for spring planting.
Those who have not tried it do not
know how the diligent workman can
enjoy the winter evenings ai'ound the
family hearthstone, when a well spent
day lies behind him. He may be
tired, but it will be u healthy exercise,
and his rest will seem all the sweeter
to him, because he knows he has justly
earned it.

mi

The Grape Culturist.

Correspondence of the Detroit Free Pi'ess.

GEAPP: - GROWING IN THE YICINITY OF MONEOE.

A LARGK NUMBKR OF ACRES UNDER CULTIVATION — THE LARGE AND INCREASING
IMPORTANCE OF THE BUSINESS.

Monroe, Oct. 24.

There are few people in the State,
if indeed in our own county, who
have any adequate idea of the extent
ai\d importance to which the cultiva-
tion of grapes and the -manufacture of
wine has attained in and around Mon-
roe. Although yet in its infancy, the
business has assumed no mean propor-
tions, and it is no more thaa a reason-
able prediction to saj- that it must
within a few years overshadow in vol-
ume that of the Lake Islands, whose
products have become so widely
known, while the qualities of fruit
and wine already produced here ai*e
acknowledged to be without superiors
in any part of the West, except Cali-
fornia alone.

Seven years ago last spring the first
vines were set, and an experimental
vineyard started by J. M. Sterling,
Ksq., who subsequently obtained a
large tract of land and organized the
Point au Peau Wine Compan3^ This
experiment of seven years ago con-
sisted of only five hundred roots, one-
half being Isabellas and one-half Con-
cord. But one year was necessary to
show that the Isabellas were a failure
and the Concords a decided success.
This little venture formed the nucleus
of the present flourishing and profit-
able vine^-ard^ and the immense busi-
ness of which I propose to give you a
short sketch. Mr. C. Bruckner and
Jos. Sedlaezek were among the first

to appreciate the advantages offered
by our soil and climate for grape cul-
ture, and gave the subject much study
and entered upon a variety of experi-
ments. Graduallj^ a large number of
others followed in the wake of these
gentlemen, with more or less exten-
sive preparations to become vinters.
Along the borders of the lake, baj's
and streams, the soil seems peculiarly
adapted to the business, and the at-
mosphere equally as favorable as that
of the islands. The varieties which
are most largely cultivated are the
Concords, Delawares and Catawbas
respectively, the former largely pre-
dominating, owing to the prolific
yield and hardy nature of the vines,
the earlv ripening of the fruit and the
greater adaptation to wine making.

The Point au Peau Wine Companj-
own about fourteen acres of land at
the point from which it derives its
name, (being a point of land extend-
ing into the lake a short distance,)
about six miles north of the city, of
which about twelve acres are occupied
by bearing vines ; these are of two.
three, four, five, six and seven 3"ears
of age, yielding very largely fruit of
excellent (juality, specimens of which
as well as of their wine, were on ex-
hibition at the State Fair, and re-
eived several premiums. This year
about eighty-six thousand pounds
(forty-three tons I) of grapes were
gathered, of the following varieties :

Grape-Growing in the Vicinity of Monroe.

315

six thousand pounds Delawares, ten
thousand pounds Catawbas, seventy
thousand pounds Concords. Most of
this will be converted into wine, yield-
ing probably about four thousand gal-
lons of wine. The company is com-
posed of the following gentlemen : S.
P. Williams, of Lima, Ind. ; J. M.
Sterling, Caleb Ives, W. A. Noble, of
Monroe.

The grounds of S. G. Clark are a
short distance from the river, about a
mile below the city, and comprise five
acres. This season over thirty thou-
sand pounds, or fifteen tons, of grapes
were gathered. A portion of these —
say about five thousand pounds — was
sold, and the remainder was made into
wine, yielding about nine hundred
gallons — all Concord.

Next to the Point au Peau Com-
pany the most extensive vineyai'd is
owned by Messrs. Diedrich & Bries-
acher, of Detroit, which is located on
Plum Creek, about a mile south of
the cit}', consisting of from twelve to
thirteen acres of vines, about two-
thirds of which are but two j'ears old,
and are of the Concord, Delaware and
Catawba varieties. ThQj make this
year four thousand gallons of wine,
about eight hundred of which is Cat-
awba.

\ Adjoining this are the vinej'ards of
■Christopher Bruckner, Esq., who has
here three acres of Concords and Dela-
wai'es, on Tamarack Creek five acres,
and on Snake Island four acres, the
latter being largely of Catawbas and
Delawares — in all about six thousand
vines. As the grapes have not all
been picked I am unable to give the
production this year, exce2:)t that of
the Plum Creek vinej'ard^ which was

5,500 pounds. Many of Mr. B.'s
grapes are of superior growth and
flavor, owing to the care with which
they have been cultivated.

Joseph Sedlaczek has a vineyard of
six acres finely located in the city,
comprising about 5,500 vines, mainly
Concord, Delaware and Catawba^ be-
sides which he has these varieties :
Martha, (white,) Sogers, Perkins,
Caroline, Norton's, Louisiana, lona,
&c. These are from one to six years
old, many of the vines not yet bear-
ing. He has made this year two
thousand gallons of wine— of Concord
and Delaware.

John M. Eeisig k Brother have four
acres planted with Concord and Dela-
ware vines, but a small portion of
which are more than two years old,
and a portion are five years old They
sold about three hundred pounds this
year. Mr. Peisig is one of our Com-
missioners of Emigration to German}',
and it is presumed that in his visits to
the Fatherland, he has picked up valu-
able information concerning grape-
growing and wine making on the
Rhine.

Josepli and Anthony Weier have,
on Plum Creek, one mile south of the
city, about ten acres under cultiva-
tion, fi'oni one to three years old,
mostly Concords, and growing finely.
They made this year 1,500 gallons of
wine.

John and Michael Goetler have
about five acres of vines, two to fotir
years old, this year yielding about
4„00U pounds of grapes and 600 gallons
of wine.

Destler & Munch, Christian Frost,
Christian Grunning, George P. Hurd
and others have about ten acres of

316

The Grape Culturist.

vines, from which ten thousand pounds
of grapes and twelve hundred gallons
of wine were made this year, many of
the vines being but one 3'ear old.

J. M. Sterling has a vineyard at the
dock, of three acres, half of which are
in full bearing, principall}^ Concords.
From these over 800 gallons of wine
were made, besides a great many
grapes otherwise disposed of. The
average is about fourteen pounds of
grapes to the gallon of juice. A large
number of new vineyards were started
this year, and will soon swell the yield
of grapes in the county to a much
larger figure. These are owned as
follows: S. P. Williams, three acres;
I. Van Wormer, three acres ; E. Phil-
lips, two acres; Morrison Paulding,
five acres. Besides these there are a
number of smaller ones, all bearing
more or less, of which no statistics
have been obtained; many cultivating
the fancy vai'ieties to the number of
eighteen or twenty.

In regard to the manufacture of
wine, there are course but two meth-
ods, which are made as suits the tastes
and judgment of the vintner. Should
he desire to make a white wine, the
juice is pressed directly from the
grape without previously "mashing"
the pulp and skin, which produces a
delicatel}" tinted wine, but not so
strong as that by the other process,
which consists in grinding the grapes
to a pumice and allowing them to thus
remain until fermentation ensues,
which it does in from four to eight
days, the length of time depending
alcogether upon the weather, the
warmer the weather ot course the
shorter the time required. This is
then pressed out and stored in five

hundred gallon casks, in the large
cellar, having a capacity for many
thousand gallons of wine. As they
are nearly all alike, a description of
one of the cellars of the Point au Peau
Wine Co. will suflBce : They are built
of solid stone, fortj^ feet long by
twenty-two wide, nineteen feet walls-
with thick lining, between these walLs
au air chamber of about six inches
intervening, insuring against damp-
ness. The floor is formed, also, with
a view to exclude all dampness, hav-
ing first a thick layer of cement formed
of waterlime and hay thoroughlj'
mixed, upon which rests a flooi'ing of
one and a-half inch pine plank laid
upon strong timbers and joists. This
forms a strong, dry and roomy vault for
the storage of the wine, but the rapid
development of the business will soon
require many more of them. Aside
from the magnificent profits of the
investment, the culture of grapes is
certainly one of the most agreeable of
all out door pursuits. The ground
once prepared and the roots set, the
cultivation of them becomes a pleas-
ure, and when the big bunches of
luscious fruit gradually deepens in
color, as they ripen, and acquire the
rich purple and soft red tinge, the
patient watching and careful training^
and pruning seem to be ampl}* repaid.

A summary shows that though the
average age of the vines is a little less
than four years, and a large propor-
tion being two to three years, the
yield this season has been over 250,000
jDOunds of grapes and 18,000 gallons
of wine.

There are now planted upwards of
one hundred acres of vines, twenty or
thirty of which were set last springs

The Coming Man Will Brink Wine, etc.

317

and in another year their yield will
largely swell the figures given above.
Preparations are being made also to
put a still larger area of land into
grapes by parties named above, and
by others who have not 3'et entered

into the business. So that the remark
previously made, that Monroe county
must soon stand in the foremost rank
as a grape producing district, will be
fully sustained.

Keuka.

THE COMING MAN WILL DRINK WINE; or, COMMON SENSE vs.
PKOHIBITIVE LAWS— VII.

Did I possess the science and the
genius of an Archimedes, a LaPlace,
or an August Delmar, the logic of my
figures vv^ould soon demonstrate the
truth of my position. In the absence
of such valuable qualities, I will simply
take the trouble to cross you over the
ocean — in imagination only, of course
— and at once point to France and
German}^ as examples worthy, in some
respects, of imitation. The wonderful
growth of her potato-sugar factories,
'unrestricted b}' government, which Ger-
many has witnessed within the last fif-
teen years, is proof evident that the
wine production of that country has
been in great demand, profitabl}' and
largely extended under the fostering
care of clear-sighted and prudent
rulers. France — poor, unhappy France I
— the beloved cradle of my youth, for
whom my warmest wish to Heaven is
sent — France has seen within the same
period, the number of her vineyards
increase from five to eight millions of
acres — over a sixteenth part of all the
land capable of cultivation — producing
for each head of her population about
forty gallons of wine per year, the gross
amount in cash being over $300,000,000
in gold. This industry gives employ-
ment to more than six million of men.

women and children, nearly two million
merchants, agents, &c. Who will say
that these advantages do not vastly over
balance the noise made by a few inebri-
ates ; and, moralty speaking, has France,
through this increase in the consump-
tion of her wines, grown worse and
more disorderly than the United States ?
I call to witness every candid, disin-
terested, unprejudiced, liberal-minded
American, who may have visited that
Empire, to declare whether, whilst
there, he detected more turbulent and
rowdy drunkeness than in this country?
We all know — I mean those who can
know something — that France, as a
whole, whether beer, cider or wine be
the usual beverage, is a sober country,
whose government takes special care
to encourage a business so productive
of good results to the nation. In it no
Legislature, no Congress, affects or at-
tempts to legislate against the natural
right of man to eat or to drink, but the
civil authorities carefully regulate the
police, and, in earnest, do take care
that the quiet and order of the citizens
be not wantonl}- disturbed ; that their
food and drinks be not over adulterated.
In our ignorance of some good things,
were we a people prone to imitation,
such a course might probablj^ be fol-

318

Tke Grape GuUurist.

lowed here with similar advantages to
our people, but this will hardly ever
suit those restless minds infatuated
with the aberration of total abstinence.

As a people progresses in numbers
and civilization, its government has new
duties to perform. This will apply to
our countr}^, and laws which might have
been endurable thirty years ago — when
we had but limited orchards, no A'ine-
yards, no hop plantations, nothing to
brag about — may be worthless and
tyrannical to-day. No one who is in-
capable of grasping this truth is fit to
lead or direct public opinion.

The real problem now sought to be
solved, I take it, is not to strike at the
root of one of the most important

branches of our agriculture and of our
commerce, b}^ laws equivalent to a com-
plete prohibition of the manufacture and
sale of any kind of beverages contain-
ing more or less alcohol, but to so
regulate their sale ; to so prevent their
poisonous adulterations ; to so punish
all offenders, saloon-keepers and drunk-
ards, in such a wa}^ as to materially
diminish their numbers. To seek for
more is to seek for the impossible ; per-
fection is not of this world.

I shall in mj'^ next examine what gave
rise to the notions of temperance and
total abstinence, and what good pur-
poses they serve.

Dr. Ampelos.

Golden Hill's Nineyah]), i
Xauvoo, Illinois. i,

AIR TREATMENT AGAIN.

New York, Nov. oth, 1870.

Geo, Husmann, Esq., Bluft'ton, Mo. :

Bear Sir — Dr. F. AV. Assmann, of
Chester, intormed me of his results as
early as end of August. I communica-
ted that part of his letter to Mr. H. N.
Jarchow, of the Deutsch-American
Farmer Zeitung, who published it Oct.
I5th, with a letter of an importer of
Rhine wine, in relation to his success
to restore, by air treatment, some sickly
wine. I enclose this part of the said
paper. Mr. E, O. Thompson, of Cin-
cinnati, O., who stated he would make
this season some 50^000 gallons by this
process, writes me of 29th ult. as fol-
lows : ^' I complied with your request
of Oct. 8th by sending samples of my
air-treated wane to your agent at At-
lanta (Mr. A. C. Cook, of Covington,
Ga., for exhibition at the Georgia State

Fair) — some only S (?) days from the
press, yet it was clear, and all fermenta-
tion over. I am now selling this fall's
vintage in m\' wine-house, and it passes
for one year-old wine — good judges have
been deceived by it," &c., &c. Ac-
cording to prior information, Mr. T.
had inaugurated the introduction of air
treatment at his vine^'ard about Sept.
lOth or I2th, and Mr. Cook informs me
that he received from Mr. T. a letter
with the highest encomiums on the pro-
cess, and its obvious advantages to
wine makers. Mr. Cook carried off
over half of the wine premiums of his
fair by wines air-treated, and one special
premium in an essay for the best meth-
od of making and preserving wine. He
had also made Sorghum syrup by air
treatment, and says it was admired by
every one for its superior clear and

Air Treatment Again.

31&

pure taste. Sometime ago, when he had
made it, he had communicated to me
his surprise that the crude juice was
literally covered with wasps, hornets,
&c.,, while hardly an insect would
touch the purified juice. The cause is
quite obvious : the insects don't find the
albumen in it that is necessary for their
sustenance ; white refined sugar con-
tains none of the microscopic, rough-
looking insects that live by millions in
the crude sugars. My theory to with-
draw the nourishment from the mico-
derms applies here with equal force.

Yesterday I received from R. A.
Blankenhorn, Carlsruhe, an extract
from Part IV Annelen du Penologie,
on "the favorable efl!ect of increased
access of air to must in the progress of
its fermentation." From this it is cer-
tain that air-treatment spreads rapidly
amongst the German vintners. He
says, "The air-treatment has alread}^
become a fact so fixed in wine cellars
of Upper Baden that no must not air-
treated is allowed to go into the cask."

By the failure <>»f my customers for
air-treatment to pay up promptly, I am
prevented from visiting the Southern su-
gar States as I contemplated, to introduce
my process in the sugar plantations,
being positive of increasing the pro-
ceeds of the planters at least 25 per
cent, by the prevention of all souring
and fermentation by enabling them to
have the juice rapidly housed and out
of the cane, and to finish the work as
the other machinery of the establish-
ment permits. Also by avoiding all
molasses (that will sour and ferment)
but producing only fine sugar, and un-
souring syrups of superior flavor ; and,
by the greater simplification of all pro-
cesses of their sugar houses, to utilize

by fermentation and distillation the
immense amount of scums and spent
cane, now to a large extent thrown
away for want of time, ability and fa-
cility to work it ; while the product of
such distillation is incomparably supe-
rior to the abominable spirit now gen-
erally produced from the sugar leav-
ings.

[Translated from the Fariiiur Zuituiij;'.]

On the 22d of this month (Aug.), a
week ago yesterday, I commenced the
air treatment of my Delaware must.
Friday evening fermentation was com-
pleted, and the must no longer sweet.
That must showed 90 degrees (Oechsles
scale), and I shall rack it to-morrow
(31 August) into another cask. This
evening I think my Concord, which was
subjected to the treatment last Friday,
will be finished. Several of the more
extensive grape growers of Illinois were
with me within the last three months,and
they also intend to try the process after
trying the results of the experiments
made by me last year. The results of
this season's experiments by sevei'al
others will, I hope, practically demon-
strate the great benefits of air treat-
ment beyond a doubt, and it will be a
pleasure to me if I can assist in futher-
ing the distribution of the process. At
a meeting of the grape growers of this
vicinity, which took place j^esterday, I
reported on the favorable results of air
treatment, and I do not doubt that most
of them will follow my example next
year, especially if they can see and try
samples of it next November, while their
wines are j^et unfinished. 1 ()U2;ht to
remark that fermentation took place in
a temperature of 80 to 90 degrees; that
some water and sugar had been added
to the must, and that I only experi-

320

The Grape Culturist.

mented on quantities of from 35 to 36
gallons. But 'I am convinced that it
can be equally well applied to large
quantities, in the same temperature, and
intend to convince myself of it when I
gather my principal crop, in the course
of a few weeks. I am, therefore, fully
convinced of the vast importance of air
treatment, and it gives me great pleas-
ure to be able to show to my St. Louis
friends, who doubted its utility, that it
lias been fully tested and found suc-
cessful by me. Yours truly,

Dr. F. W. Assmann,
Chester, 111.
In regard to the clearing of turbid
wines by air treatment, a New York
wine dealer writes me as follows :

" R. D'Heureuse, Esq. :

"Dear Sir — According to 3'our di-
rections, we have used your air treat-

ment for the restoration of Rhenish
wine which was cloudy and had a dis-
agreeable taste, and which had been ex-
perimented on by other methods, but
remained ropy. A few days after the
application of air treatment the wine
became perfectly clear, and had the
fresh, agreeable taste of good wine of its
kind. We can therefore recommend
your method as superior to any other
we know. G. Ochsner & Co.

It seems, therefore, that every trial
made with my air treatment is but an-
other proof of the superiority of the
process. Yours truly,

R. D'Heureuse.

[We give this interesting communi-
cation in full, and hope to see the pro-
cess thoroughly tried every where, as
we have no doubt of its value. — Ed.]

CAN WINE BE AERIFIED WITH IMPUNITY ?

1 have patiently been waiting for
the recorded experience of brother
vintners upon this important subject,
but the ai'duous labors attendant upon
an abundant crop have no doubt
delayed those who might desire to
answer. Meanwhile, from the remarks
of Ml". George Husmann, and the
man}' letters which I have received, I
am satisfied that my 2)Osition has been
misunderstood, and has, with some,
raised a prejudice against the new pro-
cess known as '■' air treatment/' a
result which I had not foreseen when
I penned my query, the whole of my
article being based upon and onl}-
referring to the old and so far usual
Avay of racking wines from one cask

to another with faucets, in which case,
when overdoing the job through roses
of watering pots, acidification is almost
certain. This being the case, I deem
a further explanation of my views not
only necessary but just toward " Air
Treatment" and its worth}' discoverer.
I have no experience with Mr.
D'Heureuse's process, but from the
practical knowledge I have of the
necessary presence of oxygen in the
must, to develop a healthy fermenta-
tion, I am disposed to grant all that is
claimed for it ; experience will teach
how far it can be trusted beyond the
must. I further believe that with care
it will prove likewise beneficial to
wines that have undergone but an

To Our Readers.

321

impei'fect fermentation ; why so I
cannot say, except it be in the fact
that instead of the wine constantly
traveling through air, from cask to
cask, with a, positive loss of a preserv-
ing element — -the carbonic acid gas —
the action is reversed, the wine remains
quiet in the cask, the air is introduced
suddenly, promptly and briefly, with
a supposable limited deperdition of

the preserving element, besides reduc-
ing ihe many rackings heretofore
considered necessary to perfect a wine
before bottling. All of which I hope
may prove in time positive advantages
difficult to deny. Meanwhile experi-
ence must become our teacher.

Emil Baxter.

GoLDKN Hills Vin-eyakd, Niiuvoo, ni.

TO OUR READERS.

•-I had rather lose my eye-teeth than
have the Grape Culturist stop, and
will propose that you allow every sub-
scriber who wishes a few lines of ad-
vertisement, and charge him five or
ten dollai's a year. Say you add
twenty pages more to ihe Culturist,
on this there would be one thousand
lines, and five to a subscriber, for
five dollars, would add one thousand
dollars to your 'pocket. The addi-
tional twenty pages could not add
much to the cost. Yours truly,
<' Geo. M. Dewey.

" Keytesvii.i.i;, Mo."

[The above is but one of many simi-
lar communications, and we can as-
sure our friends that they are very
gratifying to us, as they show that
our labors and those of our contribu-
tors are duly appreciated by the grape
growers, and that they, as a class,
need a medium for the interchange of
their experience and thoughts. But
although gratif^nng to our feelings as
such e.Nlpressions must be, they still
''do not make the pot boil," as the
old saying is, and we find ourselves at
the close of the year, not alone with-
out remuneration for our labors, but

absolutely out of pocket by the enter-
prise. Wo think we may say, with-
out self laudation, that we have la-
bored earnestly and hard for the good
of the cause 5 we have tried to give all
we could collect, with strict imparti-
ality, from all parts of the country,
that could be of benefit to our read-
ers. We have not filled half of our
pages with paltry novels, sentimental
poetry or flat jokes, as we see in some
of our so-called agricultural papers,
but tried to give our readers the full
value of their money in actual expe-
rience and useful facts, refei'ring only
to our legitimate subject, the culture
of the grape and the making of wine.
We have stolen many an hour from
sleep, and often racked an aching
brain for the sake of the cause, and,
as we hope, for the benefit of our read-
ers; and we have done it gladly and
willingly, as a labor of love. But we
cannot afl'ord to lose more money than
we have already done, and must, with
this numbei', say " good bye " to our
readers, unless they themselves step
in and suppoi't an institution which
has been started for their benefit. We
have thought long and anxiously upon

322

The Grape Culturist.

a plan by which this could be done,
for we confess we feel a father's weak-
ness towards our offspring, perhaps
all the more so as it has cost us so
dearly ; and we would not like to give
up, and have hit upon a plan by which
we think it can be kept up, if we find
enough willing to lend a helping hand.
It is as follows :

To every one who sends us his sub-
scription for 1871 with five dollars
additional, we will send the Grape
Culturist for that year, and a certifi-
cate of stock in the enterprise for that
amount, or allow him, if he prefers, a
short advertisement in a special double
column we shall open for that purpose,
the advertisement not to exceed five
lines, or a lino for each additional dol-
lar, at his option, something like the
plan proposed by friend Dewey. As
soon as two hundred shares are thus
taken, or the amount of them sent in,
the first number of Vol. 3 will be
issued. The amount may be sent to
us here, and should the requisite num-
ber of shares not be subscribed by the
15th of February the money will be
promptly returned, as wo shall then

know that there is not enough of in-
terest felt in the continuance of the-
journal to make it desirable. We will
take one hundred shares oiirself as
our share in the enterprise ; and should
it continue, the profits, if any, will be
divided among the stockholders at the-
end of the year. We have now, we
think, about twelve hundred paying-
subscribers, and the cost of the jour-
nal per year is about two thousand
dollars, so that we may hope the-
paper will pay for itself the ensuing
year, and perhaps even yield a divi-
dend.

It now remains for you, brother
vintnei's, to say whether the Grape
Culturist shall continue to visit you.
Let us hear from you at the earliest
date, so that we can go to press as
soon as possible, and that our January
number may not be far behind its
time. We still have confidence that
two hundred of our subscribers can be
found who will risk five dollars each
to keep it alive after we have sacri-
ficed 80 much and labored so long to^
establish it. — Ed.]

THE PREMIUMS AWARDED TO WINES AND GRAPES AT THE
LAST ST. LOUIS FAIR.

St. Louis, Nov. 15th, 1870.

Mr. George Husmann :

Bear Sir : — As requested in your
letter of the 12th inst., I herewith
send awards of premiums made at
our late fair made upon wines and
grapes :

Best collection of Native Wine, di-
ploma and $20, to Bush k Co. —

Second best, $10, to Buskett, Pro-
vines & Co., St. Louis.

Best vSparkling Catawba, diploma
and $20, to American Wine Co. —
Second best, $10, to Pleasant Valley
Wine Co., exhibited by Bush & Co.

Best Sparkling Concord, diploma
and $20, to American Wine Co,

Best Sparkling Wine of any grape,,
diploma and $20, to American Wine-

Keeping of Grapes for Winter

32a

Co., on Delaware — Second best, to
Pleasant Valley Wine Co.

Best Still Catawba, diploma and
S20, to John T. Walter, Baden P. 0.,
St. Louis Co., Mo.— Second best, $10,
to Bush & Co.

Best Concord, (red) diploma and
S20, to Poeschel & Scherer, Hermann,
Mo.— Second best, $10, to Fred Will,
Hopewell Furnace, Mo.

Best Concord, (white) $10, to C. D.
Yaeger, Webstei*, St. Louis Co., Mo.

Best Norton's Virginia, diploma
and $20, Dr. C. W. Spalding, St.
Louis — Second best, $10, Bush & Co.

Best Herbemont, diploma and $20,
Bush & Co. — Second best, $10, Poes-
schel & Scherer, Hermann, Mo.

Best Clinton, diploma and $20, to
H. Clagett, Gray's Summit — Second
best, $10, same.

Eed Wine, any other grape_, $10, to
Poeschel & Scherer. (Ives' Seedling
and Cynthiana). Second best, $5, to
Bush & Co.

White Wine, any grape, $10, to
Buskett, Provinesit Co. — Second best,
$5, to Poeschel & Scherer, Hermann.

Grapes, samples from one-half acrfr
vineyards, $20, to J. J. Kelley, Web-
ster, Mo. — Second best, $10, to E. E.
Mason.

Catawba, six bunches, $5, to Bush
&Co.

Concord, six bunches, $5, to Mrs.
Beardsley, St. Louis county.

Virginia Seedling, six bunches, $5,
to Bush & Co.

Grapes, six bunches, any variety,
Mi'S. Beardsley.

Grapes, collection, six bunches of
each, $20, to Bush & Co.

Grapes, foreign hot-house, $5, Alex-
ander Mitchell, Milwaukie, Wis.

Gi'apes, collection of field, $5, to
Bush & Co.

Grapes, largest and best bunches
on one vine, $10, Bush & Co.

Any other infoi'mation required,
will afford me pleasure to furnish at

any time.

Yours truly,

G. O. Kalb.
[Mr. Kalb will please accept our
thanks for so promptly and kindly
complj^ing Avith our request. — Ed.]

For the Giiape C'ultukist.

KEEPING OF GEAPES FOE WINTEE.

Friend HusmaiNn :

As a grape is always good to my
taste, as long as it is not spoiled,
whether in season or out^ I under-
took last fall to put up some to see
how long they could be kept. Thus
far my success has not been what I
expected. Ives, which was recom-
mended as a good keeper, has shriveled
up; and is to my taste more foxy than
when gathered. The skin seems thicker

and tougher. The quality is hardly
good enough to make it worth keep-
ing, even if easily kept. Eentz;
which seemed so plump and solid^
gave way first. Telegraph next, it
being too early for a keeping grape.
The Concord, which in my opinion
could not be kept over a month after
gathering, have done the best, a sam-
ple of which accompanies this. My
mode of keeping them has been in

324

The Grape Culturist,

boxes, three layers deep, with paper
between the layers; overhauling them
everj^ week or ten days, and taking
out all spoiled berries, and putting
fresh paper where it had become damp.

My grapes were gathered after all
the wine was made, handled with the
utmost care, and carried a mile to the
house.

There was one mistake in the oper-
ation I think. Those for keeping
should have been gathered before so

very ripe. But even with the only
partial success this time we will try
it again if we live and have grapes
next year.

8. Miller.

NOVEMKER 19, 1870.

[The " sample " was very good in-
deed, and much relished by us. We
xaa-y add, that Concord has kept well
with us, but Norton best of all. It
can easily be kept for family use until
midwinter. — Editor.]

UNDBEHILL'S TWO HYBEIDS, CEOTON AND SENASQUA.

Friend Husmann :

As the above two new grapes are
favorably spoken of in the East, you
may wish to know how they do here
thus far. Both have grown well this
year, without a sign of disease ; have
ripened their wood to the very tips,
which is a pretty sure indication of
their proving hardy here.

At one time I thought the Croton
was a pure foreign, but since more
advanced growth the true hybrid is
perceptible. The small laterals have
a'ipened their wood to the ends.

They may be quite a valuable ac-

quisition to our already large list of
good grapes.

Of the fruit I have not seen or
eaten yet, but from good authority
we hear them quoted as among the
very best. Yours truly, S. Miller.

[We have seen these two new vari-
eties ourselves at friend Miller's, and
can confirm all he says about them.
We should, however, not forget that
one season is hardly a test for any
variety, and that the last was a very
favorable one. Let us try them a
leetle longer, and then report again. —
Editor.]

TAKE NOTICE.

Those of our subscribers who are
still in arrears with their subscrip-
tion will please remit at once, as we

wish to close the books for the year.
Their bills will be enclosed in this
number.

Reports on Grapes.

325

EEPOETS ON GKAPES.

Friend Husmann :

October number of Grape Culturist
before me — have run a glance over it
— generally good — but if your corres-
pondents are none of them better
posted than the one from Cleveland,
there is no reliance to be placed on
their letters. We have thousands of
acres of Catawbas here, and not a
rotten grape this year to speak of —
all ripening beautifully, surpassing its
best years. Isabellas were never bet-
ter, and the best price wo can get
wholesale is four cents per pound,
while Catawbas sell at five. Of varie-
ties grown around Cleveland, I am
sure everything is being tested that is
known; for many vineyards that I
have visited have thirty to forty sorts,
with which a trial is made, and my
grounds have shown this year over
eighty varieties for comparison, and
have been visited and examined by
hundi-eds of people. I

It is true that as yet the leading i
vineyards are mostl}^ made of Cataw- j
ba, Concord, and Delaware, but there ;
are acres of Iowa, Ives, Clinton, and
hundreds of vines of Martha, the '
Rogers, etc., etc.

Thank you for your suggestion to |
our people to " come out West," but [
we are just in the right place for :
grape-growing, and some of us know i
how to do it. F. E. Elliott.

[We are glad our Cleveland corres-
pondent has brought friend Elliott
out, and we would suggest that they
"fight it out on that line." Whose |
report is the correct one ? We hope
friend Elliott is right, for we want

grape culture to prosper, and the
hearts of its votaries made glad by
abundant crops, wherever it is fol-
lowed. If our friends at Cleveland
are content Avith their location, and
think they '■' know just how to do it,"
please let them diffuse some of that
knowledge through the Grape Cul-
turist. It is just what we are trying
to learn, and to impart to our readers.
Let the knowing ones be a little more
liberal with their information. — Ed.]

Kkytesville, Mo., Xov. 1, 1870.

Mr. Editor :

Dear Sir: — There was no rot or
mildew on the grapes this season. I
have some thirty varieties bearing, all
of which did well except the Herbe-
mont, which had all the buds killed
by the freeze in April. I had the
misfortune to take up the vines the
day before the freeze. I trimmed my
vines all through the winter, from No-
vember till late in April. The time
of trimming made no appreciable dif-
ference in the crop.

The Delawares were three-fourths
destroyed by birds. Taylor a full
crop. One vine had 24 pounds of
pretty well-ripened grapes ; must 90.
lona overcropped ; must 90.

Concord, one-fourth of buds killed
by the Api*il freeze; one-fourth de-
stroyed by birds and cracking : 2,000
pounds were sold and given away, yet
from 600 vines I made 400 gallons of
wine.

Norton, a good crop, considering
the cultivation the}' received, for it
was simply one plowing, as I under-

326

The Grape Gulturist.

took to run a farm as well as a vine-
yard. A few of the Nortons received
good cultivation and three pinchings,
the others only one. The bunches on
the few were the most compact ; but
the less pinched had the most and best
wood for next crop. From 1200 vines
— sold and gave away 1500 pounds,
nud made 850 gallons wine. I prob-
iibly lost one or two hundred gallons
by letting the grapes hang till late in
October.

Finished gathering on the 27th.

The must stood 114" on Oechsle's
scale.

I consider a little good wine pre-
ferable to a good deal poor wine.

On the whole I am satisfied with
the year's operations, inasmuch as I
am but little money out for running
the vineyard — I paid $7 for plowing
it, and my two daughters did the tying
and pinching, while I made tobacco.
While some may think this very un-
ladylike business, I can say that my
daughters are as good at thumbing
the piano as pinching grapes. God's
sun and air are as essential to human
life as plant life. Want of out-door
exercise is the cause of three fourths
of the female complaints in the civil-
ized world. No doubt Noah's daugh-
ters worked in the vineyard and lived
as long as they wanted to.

One thing I am satisfied of in grape-
growing beyond doubt, and that is to
pinch just beyond the second bunch
of grapes as soon as it is possible to do
^o. As regards farther pinching, I
should be guided by circumstances.
If the vine has on a light crop, pinch
two or three times. I keep a stove
in my cellar, and the thermometer at
aliout 80°. I am trying 100 gallons

white Concord, made by pressing im-
mediately after meshing, and adding
a quarter pound of sugar to gallon
must — no water. Will report the re-
sult. I pinched my Concords as you
recommended, and have sent some of
the grapes to a neighboring market,
where they sold at from 15 to 25 cents
per pound, while there were plenty in
the market at 6 and 8 cents. Three
things are essential in the vineyard
business, to wit : Very early pinching,
clean casks, and high temperature in
fermenting.

The cuttings you sent me did well.
I grafted the Hermann and Cynthi-
ana into Concord roots ; they made
three or four canes each, that run all
over the top of the trellis.

I have a good slovenly man's vine-
yard ; and I will wager a five-gallon
keg that I made more wine for the
amount of labor than any man in the
State. Geo. M. Dewey.

[A very interesting report, and to
the point. We rejoice to see that at
least some of our fair readers took
our article " Women in the Yineyard "'
to heart, and followed it practicall}'.
But while we admit that you did well
with little labor, we still contend that
you would have been well paid for
working thoroughly.] — Ed.

( OLi-MiuA, Lancaster co. , Pa.

I'ossibl}' a brief " report on grapes"
from Lancaster count}-. Pa., may not
be unacceptable. So, I may say that
grapes generally have done better in
this section, this season of 1870, than
for a number of years previous. A few
weeks ago, I made a short trip among
some of our grape growers, and, though
the grapes were about all harvested, I

Reports on Grapes.

327

found the owners well satisfied with
their crops. The vineyard of Mr. John
Huber, near Litiz, was first visited;
then Mr. E. Weaver's; Mr. Miller's,
and Mr. Wenger's ; each one of an
acre to two or three acres in extent.
The vines all looked healthy, and had
made an abundance of ripe wood. The
varieties most depended on, are the
Concord and Clinton. The Martha is
being largely planted also, as a sure
and safe investment. The Catawba
and Isabella are rarely planted, and
where there are any of these old kinds
they rarely come to perfection. Many
of the newer varieties are planted by
all in a small way, to test their merits.
Numbers of Roger's Hybrids are being
tested, and are generally very promis-
ing, especially from the health and
vigor of the plants, the showy appear-
ance of the large bei-ries, as well as the
good quality of the fruit, as table
grapes. As to my own collection, I
nia}^ remark, that of some twenty or
more of Eoger's — (I still have them by
numbers)— his Nos. 3, 4, 9, 19, 28, 41,
4o and 44, are my favorites. No. 1 is
too late for our section, except in pro-
tected situations ;_^ did it only ripen
earlier, I would consider it best of all.
The plant is more healthy, and less in-
jured b}^ mildew, or insects, than an}^
of Rogers. But as Mr. Roger is well
known to have been the pioneer in
Grossing, or hybridizing, the grape, giv-
ing an impulse to the production of new
varieties, other experimenters are fol-
lowing in his tracks, and Mr. St.
Underbill, of Croton Landing, N. Y.,
has produced some cross-bred varieties
that are, I think, superior to any grapes
yet produced in America that have come
■under our notice.

His "Croton" is a greenish white
grape, large bunch, with medium-sized
berries ; and, if my judgment is worth
anything, I consider it equal in quality
to a Golden Chasselas. Another, the
Senasqua (black), I have not yet fruited,
but a friend writes me " that he prefers
it even to the Croton," it being so
meaty."

These new crosses of Mr. Underbill,
too, are very strong growers, and ap-
pear to be quite healthy. Of Dr. Wy-
lie's crosses of S. C, I have only fruited
one. This is a red grape, beiTies size
of Concord, bunch medium ; a superior
grape, and the plant vigorous and about
as free from mildew as the generality
of grapes.

A box containing eighteen varieties
of hybrids, was sent me by Mr, G.
Haskell, of Ipswich, Mass., selected
from several hundred of his cross-breds,
for my opinion of their merits. They
were slightly damaged by being on the
way longer than they should have been ;
but, in company with Mr. J. Huber and
R. Weaver, we gave them a fair over-
hauling, and fully agreed that many of
these new contestants for the favor of
grapists are well worth}^ the attention
of grape growers. Mr. Haskell's loca-
tion is near the sea coast, and, I should
suppose, rather unfavorable to the
grape ; 3'^et he is experimenting largely,
"having now, October 3d, 1870, 211
grapes ripening,which have been crossed
eighteen different wa3^s," besides his
five or six hundred of previous crossing.
Certainly, here is a chance of sometliing
good resulting. From these many ex-
periments, may we not confidently hope
for grapes, equal to any in loreign
climes? I think so.

Respectfully, J. B. Garber.

328

The Grape Culturist.

OswKGO, Oregon, October 27, 1870.

Editor Grape Culturist :

I promised to let you know as to
the suceess of the grape this year in
Oregon, and now as the season is
about over I fulfill my promise.

Leaving out one or two kinds
which were injured by the rains during
the blooming season, I might sum the
whole matter up by saying that grape
growing has been a splendid success
this season. All kinds have been pei*-
fectly healthy, as usual, have borne
well and ripened their fruit, but not
as early as last year. Among native
kinds Delaware, Allen's Hybrid and
Hartford ripened about together ;
Early Black Jul}' (foreign) about a
week earlier ; Creveling, Isabella and
Royal Muscadine (foreign) about the
same time, and a week later than
Delaware ; lona, Concord, Diana,
Herbemont, and Black Hamburg,
about three weeks later ; Chasselas
Violet, Chasselas Musque, Bar Sur
Aube White Green, and Miller's Bur-
gundy (all foreign), ripen pretty much
together, and a week or so later than
Royal Muscadine ; Chasselas Rose,
Black Malrasia, and Black Spanish,
ripen two or three weeks later than
Black Hamburg.

At our late fair there was a tine
display of grapes. The first premium
for the best variety was given to the
Red Traminer. This grape is a great
bearer ; makes large bunches of
medium-sized berries ; is nearl}^ the
color of the Delaware, and ripens
almost as earl}-. It is a most delicious
grape. We have not yet had frost
enough to kill the foliage, and young-
vines are still growing. The weather
is still very fine, our fall rains not hav-

ing yet set in. The season has been
unusually hot and dry, and everybody
is looking and longing for the "Oregon
Mists." A. R. Shipley.

" Grapes are now so abundant in
some parts of the West that they are
sold 'by the ton.'" The above two
lines are going the rounds of the East-
ern papers. What contracted ideas
the press and people of the East must
have relative to the grape culture I
For private table supply we do use
the term pounds, when purchasing
grapes. But talk pounds to a grape
grower, or wine maker, and you
would be laughed at.

The American Express Company
has shipped from this point two hun-
dred and fifty tons of grapes this sea-
son, and the season will not end for a
month 3'et. The shipment from that
office this season will touch five hun-
dred tons. The Dover Bay Company
have marketed over sixty tons this
year. Stair k Co., in their home
trade, sell over a ton a da}^ Duroy,
one of our wine makers, will press-
over one hundred tons, and Leick,,
another wine maker, will squeeze out
nearly three hundred and fifty tons.

We stepped into Mathivet's wine
house^ where the floors were covered
with the most luscious catawbas, and
where he was grinding at the rate of
half a ton each hour. His consump-
tion of grapes willonly be limited by
his supply of casks.

Chandler, another dealer, will han-
dle forty tons of grapes this season.
From an estimate made, after due ex-
amination by one competent to judge,
we find the grape product from Avon
Point, eighteen miles West, to Euclid

Grape Exhibition in New York.

829

Creek, eight miles East — being a mere
strip of land in width — will produce
at least one thousand tons of grapes.

These are but street items of our
grape trade, picked \x\) at random.
The Sandusky Begister speaks of 68
tons of grapes brought on a steamer
from the Peninsula, most of them for
Leick of this city. People who buy
grapes by the few pounds, or b}' the
mai'ket basket, should step into a press-
room and see the Catawbas poured
into the hoppers bushel after bushel.

The grapes, this year, are so rich
that their product has overrun all cal-
culations as to casks, and the wine
makers are short of barrels and hogs-
heads. The grapes are uncommonly
juicy, and if the vintage of '70 is not
the best for years the fruit will not be
the fault.

[We clip the above from the Cleve-
land Herald, of October 28, and wish
our brethren of the Lake Shore joy
of their splendid crop.] — Ed.

GRAPE EXHIBITION IN NEW YORK.

As we have no Horticultural Societj^ in
New York city, B. K. Bliss & Son, 23
Park Place, have run a private society
on their own account. In June last
they held a strawberry exhibition,
which was a great success ; and now we
have to record a similar report in regard
to a grape show held at the same place
on September 27-30. Two hundred
and fifty dollars were offered in pre-
miums, which had the desired effect,
bringing the choicest fruits from all
points of the country. The judges
made the lollowing report and awards :

New York, Sept. 2S, 1S70.

The committee who were selected to
examine the grapes on exhibition re-
spectfully submit the following awards,
as in their judgment deserving of the
premiums offered. In making the
awards for the best new native seed-
lings, the committee wish to state that
their merits were decided upon from
what the}- saw of the fruit on the tables,

they knowing nothing of the character
or habits of the vines.

Charles Downing.

A. S. Fuller.

P. T. QUINN.

Native Grapes. — For the best and
largest collection of correctly named
varieties, four bunches each, S20, to
John Dingwall, Albany, N. Y.j for
the second best, %\Q, to John Knox,
Pittsburg, Pa.

For the best six bunches, Allen's
Hybrid, $3, to Horace Eaton, Boston,
Mass.

Best six bunches Catawba, $3, to
H. W. Murtfeldt, Newburg, N. Y.

Best six bunches Canada, $3, to
John H. Ricketts, Newburg, N. Y.

Best six bunches Creveling, $3, to
Horace Eaton.

Best six bunches Croton, $3, to S.
W. Underbill, Croton Point, N. Y.

Best six bunches Clinton, $3, to E.
H. Clark, Newburg, N. Y.

330

Tlie Grape CuUurist,

Best six bunches Delaware, §3, to
John H. Eicketts.

Best six bunches Diana, 83, to John
H. Eicketts.

Best six bunches lona, S3 to Henry
Cornell, Newburg, N. Y.

Best six bunches Isabella, 83, to
Horace Eaton.

Best six bunches Martha, 83, to G.
W. Campbell, Delawai-e, O.

Best six bunches Mottled, 83, to G.
W. Campbell.

Best six bunches Rebecca, 83, to
John H. Eicketts.

Best six bunches Salem, 83, to J. W.
Helmer.

Best six bunches Senasqua, 83, to S.
W. Underhill.

Best six bunches Walter, 83, to L. M.
Ferris & Son, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

Best six bunches Wilder, 83, to
Horace Eaton.

Best six bunches Adirondac, 83, to
Horace Eaton.

Best six bunches any other sort, 83,
to John H. Eicketts, for Elsingburgh.

For the best seedling (never before
exhibited) white, 810, to Dr. Weeks ;
black, 810, to John H. Eicketts.

Foreign Grapes grown under glass —
For the best three bunches of any black

sort, not a Muscat, $5, to L. L. Hyatt,
New Brunswick, N. J. , for Black
Prince ; second best, 83, to E. B.
Campbell, Mamaroneck, N. Y., for
Black Hamburg. Best three bunches
of any white sort, not a Muscat, 85, to
to L. L. Hyatt, for White Syrian ;
three bunches of any other sort, 85, to
L. L. Hyatt.

The following is a description of Mr.
Eickett's seedling, which received the
premium for the best black grape ;
Bunches large, occasionally shouldered ;
berries large, slightly oval, nearly black,
with slight bloom ; flesh tender, break-
ing somewhat like the foreign sorts,
although there is a perceptible tough-
ness near the centre, which shows that
there is native blood in the variety. In
flavor it is first rate, being sweet, with
just sufficient sprightliness to prevent
cloying the palate.

The vine, of course, was not ex-
hibited ; but we saw it a few weeks
since, and it appeared to be a healthy
and vigorous grower. The leaves were
very large, of good substance, and also
healthy. It was raised from the Con-
cord, fertilized b}' Black Hamburg, and
shows the good qualities of both pa-
rents.— Rural JYew Yorker.

From the Cnnadii Fai-mer.

THE GRAPE CROP OF 1870.

From what we have seen and heard
during the past few weeks, at the
various agricultural lairs held this
fall, the year 1870 seems to have
proved one of the best and most fa-
vorable to grape growing we have
ever had in Canada. The unusual
excess of heat and sunshine during

August and September caused the
grape to commence coloring some
two weeks earlier than usual, and the
absence of frost till late in October
enabled every grower to gather his
crop of grapes in a fully ripened con-
dition. At the Clair House vineyard,
near Cooksville, the entire crop of

I

The Grape Exhibition and Test at Hammondsport, N. Y.

331

grapes, twenty acres, not only ripened
well, but the 3'ield of must was large,
and the quality much superior to the
average of seasons. Even the Ca-
tawba, a grape that rarely gets ripe
there, is this year fully ripened.

That grapes can bo grown and wine
made from them in Canada has been
full}'' demonstrated at Clair House,
and with the large outlay incurred
and appliances put up, we may ex-
pect that an article of first rate excel-
lence will be produced there. An ex-
periment made of stripping the grapes
from the stalks previous to being
pressed, showed that a much finer.

richer, and more highly colored must
could be obtained than under the
usual process of pressing grapes and
stalks together. As only the best
and cleanest grapes are used for wine
making, the must from the others be-
ing distilled into brandy, there ought
to be wines of the highest quality
of excellence obtained. The Clinton
grape is the one mostly grown, with
some Joncords, Delawares, Isabellas,
and Catawbas, but other kinds are
being used as fast as the vines come
into bearing, and another year or two
will test the merits of some of the
new sorts for wine makina;. J. M.

From the Journal of Horticulture.

THE GRAPE EXHIBITION AND TEST AT HAMMONDSPORT, N. Y.

Agreeably to the circular issued by the
Pleasant Valley Wine Co., a meeting,
numerously attended by grape growers
and vintners from different parts of the
country, was held at Hammondsport on
the 12th of October. The object of the
meeting was to test the wine-making
qualities of the many different varieties
of grapes now grown in our country.
Such a test was thought especially de-
sirable in this remarkable season, which
will go down in history as by far the
most favorable to the grape of any ever
yet known. The varieties presented
for examination were numerous, em-
bracing almost all those of any repute
as wine grapes ; and the specimens, in
many instances, were of superior char-
acter— such, for instance, as the lona,
weighing a pound and two ounces to the
bunch.

A special committee to examine the

grapes was appointed, consisting of
Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, for New Eng-
land, Chairman ; Hon. John Stanton
Gould, of New York, Secretary ; Dr.
John A. Waider, of Ohio, Chemist;
Charles Downing, and Jas. H. Ricketts.

The first day was devoted entirely to
the test b}^ the saccharometer, the sec-
ond to the acidometer — the former
showing the quantity of sugar, and tihe
latter the acid contained in the fresh
juice. We give below the result of the
saccharometer test of some of the
varieties, and where one test of the
same variety was made, the result given
is the highest obtained.

Catawba, 96 ; Isabella, 84 ; Diana,
102; Delaware, lloi; Walter, 105;
Raritan, 112; Eumelan, 103; Putnam
(black), 100 ; Clinton Seedling (white),
86^; Norton's Virginia, 98; Clinton,
! 97 ; Concord, 80 ; Theodosia (a new

S32

The Grape Gulturist.

yariety), 64; Adirondac, 83 ; Israella,
86.

The following is the result of the
test lor acid, the numbers denoting that
the must contains so many one hun-
dred thousandth pai'ts of acid. As
with the saccharometer test, when more
than one sample was tried, the highest
result is given :

Catawba, 775; Isabella, 710; Diana,
675 ; lona, 775 ; Delaware, 560 ; Wal-
ter, 375 ; Earitan, 560 ; Eumelan, 400 ;
Putnam, 400; Norton's Virginia, 900;
Clinton, 1000 ; Concord, 550; Theo-
dosia, 1330 ; Israella, 500.

The meeting was one of great inter-
est, as well as benefit to the grape-
growing community, in obtaining and
recording facts in regard to the grape

crop of this remarkable year, which in
future time will be of great interest in
the history of grape culture. What
added much to the pleasure of the
occasion was a collation and speeches
at the close of the first day, and still
more, the presence of the ladies at a
collation in the middle of the day.

For this report we are under obliga-
tions to the Chairman and Secretary of
the Special Committee. The official
report of the Secretar3^ will contain, be-
sides the result of the tests, a state-
ment of the soil, exposure, cultivation,
distance apart, mode of pruning and
training, age of vines, and time of
picking, from which it is hoped that
useful deductions may be drawn.

Friend Husmann :

What cheers me most in the No-
vember number of the Grape Cul-
TURisT, is your report on the Louisi-
ana. At the same time, our friend,
Sam Miller, writes to me: '^I deem
the Louisiana perfection itself; it is
the quintessence of a serious thing ;
I never knew its real value, until re-
cently, as' a late grape."

I will add, that year by year, and
without failure, the Louisiana jdelds
me a full crop of beautiful fruit,
makes at the same time a very con-
siderable growth of sound wood, keeps
its foliage as Avell as any of our hard-
iest varieties, and will endure even a
higher degree of winter frost than the
Herbemont, Cunningham, etc. It did
not suffer by the late frost in April
last, as the Herbemont did. Yet it

is more tender than the Labrusca va-
rieties, and chiefly adapted for the
latitude of St. Louis and further south.
Its seedlings are altogether hardy and
of firmer w^ood; very likely fit for
higher latitudes. I hive my Louisi-
ana vines on a spot in my vineyard
by no means peculiarly favored. The
exposure is a western one, the ground
nearly level, consisting of sandy loam,
only tolerably rich, receiving some
manuring by ashes scattered over,

I am confident, Mr. Editor, your
hope " that the Louisiana will make
the finest white wine in your cellars,"
will not be disappointed; it makes
precisely that sort of wine which
stands highest in the estimation of
European connoisseurs.

Frederick Muencii.

Editor's Letter Box.

333

BDITOE'S LETTER BOX.

East Bethlehem, Pa., Oct. 14th, 1870.

Oeo. Husmann, Esq.:

Dear Sir — I am very much pleased
with your journal. Its teachings are
plain, practical, and alwa3's to the
point — just the paper the grape grower
needs. My name shall be upon your
list from this time onward, and also
my efforts to increase its circulation.
Have just closed up my grape crop,
making most of them into wine. Have
been guided by j'our book as far as it
was practicable to bring its teachings
into use in combination with D'Heu-
reuse's Air Treatment. Yes, I am the
:fir8t to test this discovery in our county,
and you may well imagine how anxious
I am to know the final result.
EespectfuUy, &c.,

John H. Jenkins.

[Please let us know about your suc-
cess Avith D'Heureuse's Air Treat-
ment.— Ed.]

Leroy, Coffey Co., Kas., Oct. 15th, 1870.

Mr. Geo. Husmann :

Dear Sir — I hereby acknowledge
the receipt of the September number
of the Grape Culturist. I think I
shall like to read it. I like the way
you have of answering questions. The
experience of practical men is worth
more, on any question, than any
amount of theory. Inclosed you will
find the inducement to send me the
Grape Culturist for six month's
*' trial." Please tell me through your
paper if it will ever pay to plant grapes
on ground rather poor for corn (in
dry years, but would grow tolerably
^ood corn with plenty of rain,) with-
out manuring; gentle southern slope,

clay sub-soil, no hard pan. Would
manuring after planting (on the sur-
face) answer as well as before plant-
ing? Would the grapes be as subject
to rot on poor, dry ground, where the
vines made but slow growth, as where
they grow more thrifty!' Is the Hart-
ford Prolific as good a bearer and as
hard}^ with you as the Concord? Will
the Clinton stock be as good as any
for grafting other kinds on? I had
several Concords to bear full this year,
the second year from grafting, on
Clinton stocks. I have not waxed in
grafting the grape. I don't know why
I should not ; I read I should not, but
could see no reason. I have not had
good success, getting only about 25
per cent, to grow. I grafted some by
common cleft, and some by side graft-
ing. Please give us your new method
of grafting the grape in your next,
and tell us why should the grape graft-
ing not be waxed as well as any other.
Please publish the time of ripening of
different kinds of grapes at Bluffton ;
it will enable one to plant for the whole
season. How will Mary Ann compare
with Concord in size of fruit and
growth of vine? Please answer, and
oblige. Yours, trul}^,

C. C. How.

[We guess 3'ou are a true Yankee,
by the manifold questions 3'ou ask.
We will try to answer ihem as con-
cisely as possible. Questions one, two,
and three may be answered together.
The soil need not be rich for grapes ;
one of very ordinary fertility, even
poor, will do, if stirred and worked
deeply' and thoroughly, and you need

334

The Grape Culturist.

no manure, either before or after
planting. Vines make a more succu-
lent growth on rich soil, and are more
subject to rot on it, than on rather
poor soil. Hartford is a very abund-
ant bearer, and hardy and healthy
everywhere. Clinton is the poorest
stock for grafting we know, for two
reasons : first, its dissimilarity to other
varieties, and, secondly, its habit of
suckering from the lower eyes. The
reason why vines (not grapes) need no
waxing in grafting is because they are
grafted below the surface of the
ground. Waxing is done to protect
against air and sun. Our new method
of grafting is very similar to budding.
It is simply grafting under the bark.
The scion is cut with a long oblique
cut, to one side of the scion ; the
stock is then cut off, the bark lifted
with a knife, the scion pushed down
between wood and bark, and the whole
tied with matting. Of course, this
must be done when the bai'k parts
readily from the stock, not before
April, and we have had fair success
with it as late as June.

The Mary Ann is as strong a grow-
er, as healthy and hardy as Concord.
The fruit is somewhat smaller, but still
a good-sized uniform bunch, and of
fair quality. — Ed.]

Mahiox Hill, nkau Richmond, Va., )
September !)th, J870. i

Dear Husmann :

Though the season for grapes here
has not been good, I have made some
wine — mostly Concord. Some of my
wine nas been made more than two
weeks; and, fermentation having
ceased, it has been closed up to await
the time of pressing.

I had no experience in wine-making,
save as an amateur, and on a very
small scale, and, therefore, tried to
follow your dii'ections as best I could,
believing you to be about the best
teacher I know of in such matters.
But I found you differing with your-
self, and this puzzled me no little. In
your book on "Native Grapes and
Wines," your directions were plain
enough, and but for your subsequent
" Hints on Wine-Making," page 260,
of Grape Culturist, I would have
had no difficulty. In your " Cultu-
rist, however, you say, experience
has taught you that it is best to
ferment each variety on the husks
until the wine is clear and finished."
This rule I undertook to follow, and
have followed, though not in every
particular, for I was not fully equipped
for the business, and used make-
shifts to considerable extent, because
I thought they "would do," and did
not like to go to the expense of doing
what ought, perhaps, to have been
done.

I had lai'ge casks — old whisky,
brandy and gin casks, and these I used
by taking out one head and setting
them on end. It was a difficult mat-
ter to fit anj'thing in the headwa}^ to
hold the husks down under the fluid
mass, as anything that would go in at
the top would be too small by the
time it went down sufficiently far to
serve the purpose. Besides, my want
of experience led me to fill up my
casks too much, and the result was,
I had to take out several gallons of the
mash from the first and put it into
the second, and again from the second
into the third, for I made the same
blunder twice. The first and second

Editor's Letter Box.

395

casks were filled when the weather
was exceedingly warm, and fermenta-
tion went off verj^ rapidly — so rapidly
that I was really alarmed lest damage
should be done. In fact, I was afraid
of acetous feimientation ; and when
I found the whole mass sour, rough
and bitter, I was afraid the jig was
up with my wine, at least so far as
those two casks were concerned. But
about this time the first one became
still, and soon afterwards, the second
one also.

I was now satisfied that the sour,
rough taste was that of tannic, not of
acetic acid, and so closed my casks.
Meantime the weather had somewhat
cooled oif, and I expected the third
and fourth casks would not move quite
so rapidly. In this I was mistaken.
They seemed to be trying to out-run
each other, and had boiled for several
days like two veritable cauldrons. —
They were managed very nearly alike,
and seemed to be proceeding precisely
alike; and both vQvy much, if not pre-
cisely, like the two preceding. But
the third cask did not become still
till about the tenth day, whereas the
first and second ones had become still
each on the ninth day, I closed up
the fourth one this morning, though
it is still "simmering," and this is its
tenth day. I closed it up, but, to tell
the truth, I am afraid it is of no use.
If it is not vinegar, I am very much
mistaken. It is almost clear, and quite
sour. I cannot understand this. If
anything, the fermentation seemed to
be more rapid in this one than in
either of the others; and, although it
continued somewhat longer, I think
the cooler weather would account for
this. The othei's are wine ; I am con-

vinced that this one is vinegar. I saw
all the casks cleansed, and, if any dif-
ference, greater care vvas bestowed on
this one than on either of the others.

I would be glad to have the reason
why acetous fermentation should take
place in this one, and go on so rapidly,
whilst other casks treated precisely
similarly should not sufter thus. I con-
fess I can not understand it. i would
like to have j'our opinion on it.

I have made all the casks tight by
nailing in a false heading, and closing
all openings with grafting wax, or a
composition made of tallow and tur-
pentine. You say leave the mash in
the casks thus closed until December,
and then press. Suppose I should con-
clude, to tr}^ the treatment by electric-
ity, could I not (ought I not to) press
at once ? I have conversed with a gen-
tleman who says there is no humbug
about the electric treatment, as he has
seen it performed, and that new brandy
treated thus has had impi'essed upon
it, as it were instantaneously, the char-
acter and qualities of great age. This
young man is perfectly satisfied that
wine can be ripened by it in an incred-
ibly short time — indeed, almost instan-
taneously. Have you experimented
any in this way ? Can I do anything
for my wine ? Please answer me.

In conclusion, would it not be a good
idea for you to renew j^our advice as
to wine-making ? Take it for granted
that there are a great many who know
nothing about it, and wish to learn.
These require you to give the whole
process of wine-making, from the gath-
ering of the grapes to the time the
wine is ready for market, or fit to drink.
Respectfully, etc.,

G. K. GiLJLER.

336

The Grape Gulturist.

[We are no " wise man " or sorcerer,
to tell you what is the matter with your
one cask of wine, as you say you
treated them all alike, and had the
casks equally clean. The least trifle
may be the cause of acetous fermenta-
tion ; a crust of bread dropped into the
must, a trifling delay in closing up^
etc. It is very difficult, however, to
judge of wine in that condition, as it
will change every day. It maj'- be all
right now.

You can rack off your wine at once,
and try electricity to your heart's con-
tent, if 3'ou wish. We have not tried
it, consequently know nothing of it.
We do not know that our teachings in
'^ grapes and wine, and in "grape cul-
ture," differ much, but if they do, we
hope we have improved, and perhaps
learned a few things since then. — Ed].

Independence, Mo., Oct. 17th, ]870.

Geo. Husmann,

Dear Sir : — I know you are well
posted in all matters pertaining to
grape growing, and take the libert}' of
writing for your advice :

In the spring of 1866, I planted
nearly three hundred grape vines —
Concords and Delawares — six by eight
feet apart, trained to stakes after the
Fuller plan, of one vine the first year,
two the second, and the third year
tied the canes, four feet in length, to
the lower bar of the trellis, training
six upright bearing vines to each arm;
and at the commencement of the
fourth year, last spring, allowed
twelve upright bearing vines to grow
on each arm, 1 nailed common plas-
terer's lath to the bars of the trellis,
and trained a vine on each side of the
lath. The vines have grown flnely

each year, borne three moderate
crops, the last one about a thousand
pounds, the Concords being remarka-
bly large and fine in quality. The
trellis is five feet high, and the Con-
cords soon get to the top, requiring a
great deal of pruning and checking
of growth to keep them from so
matting together as to render it diffi-
cult to pass between the rows. The
season being a wet one last year,
many of the grapes rotted, biit this
year there was no i*ot, or mildew, and
the growth of wood so enormous as
to make the labor great to confine
each vine within the limits of eight
feet.

And now foi- a few questions : —

1. Would you advise me to take
up every other vine and extend the
arms to eight feet in length ? or,

2. Would you recommend to con-
tinue the Fuller plan for another year,
cutting down the upright canes to the
lowest bud, and keep each vine in its
allotted space of eight feet ?

3. What do you think of the idea
of retaining every other one of the
pi'esent upright vines for bearing pur-
poses next 3"ear, and cutting down
the others to the lowest bud, growing
therefrom the bearing wood for the
succeeding year ?

4. If this last plan is pursued, how
many bunches of grapes ought the
present upright canes to average ?

5. How do you like the spiral
system of training grape vines?

I desire to add to my assortment a
few more kinds, an earlier variety
than the Delaware, and one or two
long keeping kinds ; which varieties
do you recommend ? Is the Eumelan
any earlier than the Hartford Prolific ?

Editor's Letter Box.

337

How are the Martha and Goethe as
keepers ?

I shall feel myself under gi-eat ob-
ligations to you, if you can find time
to answer ray questions.

Very respectfully,

AV. P. Bennett.

[Question 1. We would not advise
you to take up every other one of the
vines, but give them more to do, in
other words, let them bear more.

2, 3 and 4, may as well be answered
together. Wo do not follow Fuller's
plan, but as you have started on it,
it may be as well to have six to eight
eyes on everj' alternate cane, cutting
down the other to two eyes. We
cannot tell you how many bunches to
have on each cane, that depends on
the strength of the vine.

5. We do not think much of the
spiral system of training, and think
horizontal trellis the cheapest and
best mode. You will find our reasons
for it elsewhere in the GtRape Cul-

TURIST.

Of the newer varieties, we can re-
commend, for early market, Mary
Ann, Telegraph and Creveling; middle
of season, Martha, Maxatawney and
Wilder ; for late keeping, Goethe and
Rogers' No. 2. Norton's Virginia,
though a small berry, will also keep
well. — Ed.]

Edgeavood, ni., Nov. 9, 1870.

Friend Husmann :

I have sent you a sample of my
Concord wine made the middle of
last September. It is the pure juice
and it is my first undertaking in try-
ing to make wine. I wish you would
give me some advice about it, and
tell me the qualitj^ of the wine ; in

fact, tell me all about it, and if it
wants any sugar and how much to the
gallon. I have been advised a good
deal about the wine, but I want your
advice and opinion as to how I ought
to manage it. Answer as soon as
possible. Please oblige me.

B. A. Heqeman.
[The wine has not j'et come to
hand ; as soon as it does, we will give
you our opinion and advice. It
would be of no use to add sugar now,
if necessary, that should be done be-
fore fermentation, added to the must.
— Editor.]

Efi-ingiiam Co. , Geo., Nov 4th, 1870.

Mr. G. Husmann :

Sir : I have received the ten num-
bers of Grape Culturist, and I am
very well pleased with them, and you
can count on me renewing my sub-
scription for next year, if you con-
tinue it. Please to answer in Decem-
ber number which is the latest native
(bunch) grapes ; also which two grapes,
black and white, are the best for
market. Yours respectfully,

J. Bostock.

[Kogers' No. 1 (Goethe No. 2 and
8, the two last not yet named) are
among the latest and best varieties.
You will find Martha (white), Goethe
(light red), and Wilder (black) among
the most profitable and best for mar-
ket; at least they are so here. — Ed.]

Clintox, Mo., November 1, 1370.

Mr. Husmann :

Dear Sir — Inclosed please find five
leaves. No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Can you
tell me what they are ? No. 3 I
bought and planted four hundred vines
for Delaware one year ago last spring.

338

The Grape Culturist.

My neighbor, Mr, Duncan, thinks
they are Concords. No. 1, 2, and 4,
one hundred vines each, planted last
spring. I bought Concord, Norton,
Virginia, Ilerbeniont, Hartford, Pro-
lific and the Clinton, one hundred
vines each, of a Washington man, but
he sent me onl^^ three hundred, and
the labels were lost when I received
them. The No. 5 I have about twelve
or fifteen hundred plants that I raised
from cuttings this summer; some are
very good, and some I think not.
My object in writing this letter is, I
wish to plant one and a half acres
more this winter or next spring, and I
wish some advice what to plant. My
ground is read}' to plant. How many
of my plants would you plant, and
what other variety ? Flease answer
through the Culturist or by letter,
and oblige a new beginner, I have
your book, and have lately subscribed
for the Culturist.

Hoping to hear from you soon, I
remain, yours truly, &c., J. J. Gobar.

[No. 3 is Concord, we think ; No. 2
we suppose to be Clinton. We can
not venture an opinion as to the
others, as it is very difficult to judge
of a variet}^ by a single leaf, and that
dried up. If we saw the vines we
could very likely tell you what they
are. Our advice would be not to
plant any of your vines if you do not
know what tliey are. Kather buy
from a reliable nursery. We send you
March number, 1869, of Grape Cul-
turist, in which you will find our ad-
vice about what to plant. — Ed.]

Bakuancas, Fhi., Oct. -23, 1870.

Mr. George Husmann :

Can you answer these questions ?
What vines do you recommend for
this State (Florida) for wine especi-
ally ? Vines generally, I believe
without exception, become free and
rampant growers; should they not be
set a little farther apart '/

I give you the mean of the ther-
mometer at Jacksonville, near my
future home, for the last 21 years :

January 55.02 July 81.93

February..., 58. 03 August 81.98

March 63.88 September... 78. 62

April 70.11 October 70.68

May , 76.59 November... 62. 54

June 80.39 December ...54.20

Eespectfully j'ours,

Charles F. Powell,

[We can not advise you with any
certainty for your location, as we
know too little about it, and do not
wish to mislead. Norton, Cynthiana,
Hermann, Herbemont^ Cunningham
and Goethe may suit.

We have found ten feet in the row
amply sufficient for even the most
rampant growers. — Ed.]

Independence, Mo., Oct. 24. 1870,

George Husmann :

Your circular and letter are before
me, VV^hen I wrote you the other
day, I did not know that you were
connected with a publication devoted
to grape culture. If I am pleased
with the number you speak of having
sent me, more than likely I shall sub-
scribe for it. It has not yet come to
hand.

If not too late to add another ques-
tion (and answer) to ni}- former note,
please attend to this :

How deep should the vineyard be
plowed, and how close to the vines
ought the plow to be run ? Should
this work be done in the fall ?

Do you advise setting grape cut-
tings in the fall in the ground where
they are designed to grow 't I have
never tried this, but have thought
that by placing them in the soil in the
fall and mulching with long manure,
that they would be likely to do better
than when put out in the spring.
Truly yours, U. P. Bennett.

[Plowing in fall is very advisable,
as it will cover up all dead leaves and

Editor's Letter Box.

339

rubbish, and leave the ground in good
condition for spring. PIoav about
three inches deep, throwing the
ground up to the vines. If you mulch
your cuttings heavily, so that the
frost cannot heave them, planting in
fall is very advisable. — Ed.

VVausa-w, III., Nov. 29, 1870.

Editor Grape Culturist :

Would you recommend grafting an
acre of Clinton vines, five years old, or
taking them out and resetting with
young vines ?

2d. Do you think that either the
Martha, Goethe, or Wilder will make
as good wine as the Concord ?

3d. Would 3'ou set cuttings in vine-
yard, or wait and raise the plants ?

4th. You say, in pruning Concord
vines, to leave several eyes on she
laterals, but where the laterals have
grown from six to eight feet, why would
it not be a good idea to use them for
canes ? Kespectfully, yours,

" Subscriber."

[1st. We do not know what to advise.
Our experience has been unfavorable in
grafting Clintons. The grafts do not
take readily, although those which do
take, grow amazingly, and the stock
suckers very much.

2d. Much better.

3d. Setting cuttings in vineyard is
always an uncertain way of stocking
it. It may succeed tolerably well, and
it may not, as the season may happeu
to be. It also depends upon the variety,
as some will grow readily from cuttings,
while others will not succeed at all.

4th. The length to which laterals
should be pruned, of course depends on
their strength, from two to eight eyes. —
Editor.]

McKixNEY, 'J'exas, Nov. 12, 1870.

Editor Grapk Cclturist : — I will
be glad to receive a little light on a
question or two.

1st. We are told that a healthy

grape should hold its leaves till frost.
Yet again, that a healthy vine must be
ripened to its very tip before frost.
Does not a grape-vine drop its leaves
as it ripens? Or must the wood be
well ripened and yet be full of green
leaves? I thought the ripe vine and
green leaves did not go together. How
is it?

2d. If I want my grape vines to do
the best, shall I allow them to fall
around the first year with no supports
and no pinching or other attention, or
shall I tie to a stake as it grows and
keep laterals pinched ? Would not the
latter leave a cleaner, better formed
and more vigorous cane than the
former? Yours respectfully,

Thos. ii. Logan.

[1. Varieties differ in their habits.
Some will drop their leaves as soon as
the wood is ripe, on others they will
remain fresh and green until frost.

2. Vines will grow more stocky and
compact, with shorter joints, if the
laterals are allowed to grow unchecked.
It is very immaterial whether they are
tied up or not the first summer. Clean
or mellow culture of the soil is much
more important. — Ed.]

Eldorado, Ark., Nov. 10th, 1870.

Mr. Geo. Husmann, St. Louis:

Dear Sir: — I will send you this win-
ter a sample of wine made last Au-
gust, my first attempt, and by your
instructions. Judges say it is excel-
lent. My vineyard promises all I
could expect. I want to send you
some native vines to try.

Wishing you complete success in
your efforts to enlarge the field of
grape culture, and the realization of
all your hopes financially, I remain,
sir, yours respecfully, J. C. Wright.
[Shall be pleased to receive a sam-
ple of your wine, as we have seldom
tasted anything grown and made
" down South," and will report on it
faithfully. — Editor,]

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet. 340

WANTED — An industrious energetic man experienced in grape growing,
to take charge of a young vineyard situated one mile and a half from
Little Eock, Arkansas. The location is a beautiful table land, on a bluff
elevation of some three hundred feet, on north bank of Arkansas river, over-
looking the city and railroad depots, convenient to both ; and is, all things
considered, the most desirable in the State for a large vineyard. A partner-
ship with responsible party of some means preferred, but this not essential.
Correspondence solicited. Address, J. W. MARTIN, Little Rock, Ark.

WANTED several active, enterprising salesmen, to sell wines and plants
for the Bluffton Wine Company. Parties wishing to engage, should
address, WM. WESSELHOEFT,

Secretary Bluffton Wine Co., Bluffton, Mo,

VICK'S FLORAJ^GUTdeTOR 1871.

THE lirst edition of one hundred and fifty thousand copies of TICK'S ILLUSTRATED
CATALOGUE OF SEEDS AND FLORAL GUIDE is published and ready to send out-
one luuidred pages, and an Engraving of almost every desirable Flower and Vegetable. It is
ele'^antly printed on fine tinted paper, illnstrated with Three Hundred fine A\'oo(I Engravings
and two beautiful

COLORED PLATES.

The most beautiful and the most instructive Floral Guide published. A GERMAN EDITION
published, in all other respects similar to the English.

Sent free to all my customers ot 1870, as rapidly as possible, without application. Sent to all
others who order them for Ten Cents, which is not half the cost. Address

dec-2t JAMES VICK, Rochester, N. Y.

PUBLISHED AND FOIi SALE

BY

CONRAD ATV^ITTER,

ST. LOUIS, MO.

MuENCH, Frederick, School for American Grape Culture. Brief but thorough

guide to the laying out of vineyards, the treatment of vines and the production

of wine in North America.
MuENCH, F., Amerikanische Weinbauschule and Weinbereitungslehre, etc.

Either one of these books will be mailed free of postage on receipt of one dollar.
HusMANN, Geokge, The Cultivation of the Native Grape and Manufacture of

American Wines.

Ou the receipt of $1 50 this book will be mailed to any address.
Schmidt, J. A., The Diseases of Wine, how to prevent and how to cure them,

according to the doctrines of M. Pasteur.

This book will be sent, free of postage, on receipt of $2.

C. WITTER keeps a large assortment of books treating on the Culture of
Grapes and Manufacture of Wines.

Catalogues sent on application. Please address letters,

CONRAD WITTER,

jane9-tf 122 S. E. corner Walnut and Second Sts., St. Louis, Mo.

Grape Gulturist Advertising Sheet.

1,000,000

#K4f^l Vllili

Of all the Leading Varieties, true to name.

As I am bound to sell, will sell lower than any one else.

CONCORD VINES, good two-year old, only $25 per 1,000.

Other varieties in proportion. Also, Currant, Gooseberrj-, Strawberry^
Raspbei'ry, Blackberry, Ehubarb, Roses, and other plants.

Apple Trees, one, two and three years, very cheap.

I will also take good Western Lands, at cash price, in trade.
Address, and send for Price List, and three new Essays on Grape Culture, to

Dr. H. SHRODER,

Bloomington, III.

HJ^VE ^^OTJ O-OT IV^^I^THIJL?

GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUITS.
[Nursery Established in 1857.]

A splendid stock of Vines and Plants are oiTered the coming Fall and Spring,
including nearly everj^ variety known to be of value. The popular and w^hite Grape

MARTHA, OR {WHITE CONCORD,)

In large or small quantities. Also, Arnold's new Hybrids, Eumelan, Walter, Wee-
hawken, Christine, Hine, and all valuable numbers of Rogers' Hybrids; also,
Delaware, lona, Israella, Concord, Harlford, Ives, Norton's Virginia, etc., etc., in
all about one hundred distinct varieties.

Kittatinny Blackberries and Clarke Raspberries in large quantities, Jucunda
and Charles Downing Strawberries, Downing's Seedling Gooseberries, Cherry^
Versailles, White Grape, and Black Naples Currants, etc., etc.

Send stamps for Illustrated Catalogue and Price Lists to

GEO. W. CAMPBELL, Delaware, Ohio.

apr69-tf

PATENTED AUG. 6th, 1867, AND AUG. Sd 1869.

For FERMENTATION" and GERMINATION", and for PBESEBVING, PURIF"3aNG
and IMPROVING of Organic Substances.

Exceedin^y useful in Malting, Brewing, Distilling. Baking, Manufacture of Wine, Cider,
Fruit Wines, Fruit Brandies, Vinegar, etc.; in Sugar Works, Oil Works, Manufacture of Ex-
tracts, Preserves; in Storehouses, Transportation of Grain. Produce, Fruit; Purification ol
Water, etc. , etc.
(I[3" Rights for States, Counties, Districts, or Establishments, for sale. Apply to

P. 0. Box 6844.

R. D'HEUREUSE, New York.

Grape GuUurist Advertising Sheet.

nflissouri inTmes and Plants,

THE BLUFFTON WINE COMPANY

■"^J"OW offers to the trade, <ancl to the public generally, its lirst crop of wines, grown at
Jl.^ Bluffton, comprising, of red wines, Concord, Norton's Virginia, Ives, and Clinton;
of white wines. Concord, Catawba, Hartford, Delaware, and Herberaont.

Our wines are of excellent quality, and we are sure that they will give general satis-
faction to consumers. Our motto is, "Low prices, good quality, and quick sales;" and
Wholesale Dealers in wines will find it in tlieir interest to apply to us. Price lists sent on
application.

We also call the attention of Grape Growers to our large and complete stock of plants
of all the leadino^ varieties. We shall make it our aim, in our fall trade, to sux^ply our
customers with the best of plants, and at as low rates as any reliable firm.

Descriptive Catalogues sent, on application to

WM. WESSELHOFT, Secretary,

BLTJFFTOlSr, MO.

Bushkrg Vineyards & Grape Nurseries.

GREAT REDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF

AND SMALL FRUITS.

SEND FOB NEW PRICE LIST I OR FALL 1870. 㩤f

Our ILLUSTRATED DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE— " More useful to the Grape Grower
thau some works of iuuch greater pretensious. ' ' — Am. Agriculturist, — will be sent hy Mail, post-paid, for
onlv '2o ceufls, either in the German or English. Edition, as you may order.

53^ Agents "Wanted to canvass for orders for Fall delivery. Terms liberal, profits handsome. Pos-
ters, Price Lists, etc., gratis. Address,

ISIDOR BUSH §c SON, Bushberg, Mo.

^^ 3E^ j^ 3E^ 3S '^^W ^^ ^1^ ]0> I

Immense Stock, e.specially of

Concord, Ives, Delaware, Hartford, lona, Catawba, Isabella,
Clinton, Rogers' Nos. 4, 15 and 19, etc.

Cut from Bearing Vines before liard freezing, and stored in frost-proof Cellars.

Very Low for Cash. Price List Gratis.

ALSO, LEADING VAEIETIES OF CIEAPE EOOT IN STOEE.
•Can ship South safely at any time.

feb68tf ^« ^' LEWIS, Sandusky, Ohio.

312 Grape Gulturist Advertising Sheet,

Grape Vines! Grape Vines!

F^AJLJ^ OF* 1S"70!

We offer our usually large and selected stock of all standard and now

varieties, including

SALEM, MBERIMACK, TONA, CYNTHIANA,

WILDER, GOETHE, HARTFORD, MARTHA,

LINDLEY, CONCORD, DIANA, EUMELAN,

AG AW AM, DELAWARE, HERBEMONT, WALTER.

S^LEM ^ SPECIALTY.

Our stock of plants will be unequaled, and qualitj^ of superior excellence.
Salem, with us, is bearing a fine crop of fruit, and must soon become one of
the leading varieties in cultivation. It fulfills all that has been claimed for it.
For circulars, etc., address

I. H. BABCOOK & CO.,

aug7o-3m Lockport, N. Y.

AND FLORAL^AGAZINE.

An Illustrated Monthly Magazine devoted to the culture of Fruits, Flowers,
and Vegetables. Illustrations of

NEW THINGS IN HORTICULTURE

Will be given in each number.

Subscription Price $1.50 per annum. Ten Copies $ I each.

The remaining- numbers of this year will he sent Free to Suhseril)ers for 1871. Elegant
Premiums given for making up Clubs. Among the eontributors for the Journal are

MARSHALL P. W^ILDER, MASS.

Jobn A "Warder, Ohio. Henry "Ward Beecher, N. Y Charles M. Hovey, Mass

Geo. "W. Campbell, Ohio. Ed F. Underbill, N. ST. Fearing Burr, Mass.

Francis Parkman, Mass. George Such, INT. J. "William Saunders, D. C.

Joseph Beck, Mass. "W G. Strong, Mass S. Miller, Mo.

B. Manning, Mass. "William C. Flagg, Illinois. C. B Denson. N C.

Peter Henderson, W. Y . James F C. Hyde, Mass. "Wm Parry, N. J.

Charles Downing, NY. Parker Earle, Illinois.

J. E. TILTON & CO., Bo.ston,

fiihlishers.

A Sample Copy, Club and Premium List will be sent to anv address upon reeeipt of 15 cents
oct70-3t. ■ 1 .

OHIOIOE "^T^^IE^IETIES OIF
Grape Vines, Strawberry Plants, Raspberry, Blackberry & Gooseberry.

Also, a few Peach and Clierry Trees, the finest growtlis. Particular attention
•will be paid to small orders of plants to be sent by mail. For sale by

SAMUJBL. miLiLrER, Bluffton, JTIo.

Grape Culturist Advertising Sheet.

HENRY T^W^ITCHELI.,

(Lute of tirni ofJAJJES FOSTER, Jr., & CO.,)

MAVI I'.VCTI UKI! OF

HYDROMETERS, THERMOMETERS and GAUGERS'
INSTRUMENTS, SACCHAROMETERS,

AND INVF.NTOIt OF

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h

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n

l-H

o
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Price of ACIDOMETER FOR MUST OR VSTINE $10 00

Price of SACCHAROMETER (SILVER) 10 00

Price of OECHSLE'S MUST OR WINE SCALE 10 Oa

Price list of other instruments sent, on application to

HENRY TWITCHELL,

132 West Fourth Street,

sep70-3t CINCINyATI, OHIO>

SMALL FRUITS A SPECIALTY.

STKAWBEERIES, BLACKBEREIBS, CURRANTS and GRAPE VINES
of all the leading varieties, at the LOWEST RATES.

Send for Price List. Address JOHN COOK,

(Nursery 2 miles from Baltimore, on old Frederick Road,,
oct70-lt Carroll P. O., Baltimore Co., Maryland.

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