HUMOROUS EXPERIENCE OP A DUTCH VINEYARDIST; 



AS RELATED BY HIMSELF. 



[This communication, addressed to the Society at its late meeting in New 

 Orleans, is the recital of the experience of one of the largest grape-growers 

 in the West, and one whose name is as familiar as " household words " to all 

 Mississippi Valley horticulturists. The prominence of the author as a grape- 

 grower will be the Secretary's only apology for publishing the following :] 



Bloomington, Illinois, January 11, 1885. 



To the Hon. President and my breathern Horti and Vitti CuUurists 



assembled in New Orleans: 



For nearly 40 years I am now in the vineyart bussiness, my vines are my 

 friends my laborers and soldiers ; I talk with them and try to get there con- 

 fidence and there secrets, and they often open there hearts to me and show 

 me in silence words there little trubels. 35 years ago I had the first and best 

 Catawba vineyards in the West of Cincinnati; I never will foi'got the most 

 Paradisic sight of the two first crops of fruit. The Lord seamed to be with 

 me in my vineyards to guide the vines and show me his love to me. But 

 the 3th crop he left me alone and the rot set in. The 4th crop the other, the 

 bad man, the schwarge Teufel took hold of my poor Catawbas, and I began 

 to doctor my poor pations with sulphur, baggs, and all kinds of nasty medi- 

 cines. Brothers Fuller, Dr. Warder, Dr. Grant of the lone fame, all celebri- 

 ties, proscribed for my suffering pations, but poor little grapi got the itsh and 

 dropped dead to tJie cold air bottom, to rot like other little engels. My tears dit 

 not bring them back to rosy live. My Catawba vineyard looket to me like 

 the adjoining grave yart, where fathers and mothers came and shet there 

 tears over the graves of there little ones. O do not overdraw the picture and 

 cling to romances, I ask some of you earnest horticulturist who lost there 

 hopes to mourn with me. 



Well I propped up again and introduced the grape of the million the Con- 

 cord $5 each, and no money to pay for them. I propagatet them silently es- 

 tensively aad plantet the largest Concord vineyard then, and I invitet the 

 Lord again to stay with me in the vineyart, and he dit it faithfull}^ and by 

 his guidance and help I was in glory of the first 3 and 4 crops. The Lord 



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