178 Transactions of the 



one hundred and sixty degrees Fahrenheit for a period of forty days or 

 thereabouts, thereb}^ rendering them ready for market, rich and mellow, 

 in much less time than by the usual process. Seventy-two barrels of 

 these wines are now lying in Governor Stanford's storehouse. 



I further claim said award on the best and richest brandy, made from 

 grapes, which I also had on exhibition at said Fair, said brandy com- 

 manding one half greater price than any other brandy made in this 

 State, being manufactured by myself, through one of Johnston's patent 

 stills (the first ever made), which leaves it free from fusil oil or acetic 

 ether, leaving a rich, smooth, soft brandy, both pleasant and whole- 

 some. 



All of which is most respectfully submitted for your consideration. 



B. N. BUGBEY, 

 Proprietor of JSfatoma Vineyard. 



Lincoln, December 8th, 1874. 

 Eobert Beck, Secretary State Agricultural Society: 



My Dear Sir: I received your kind letter of November third, inform- 

 ing me that I must present my claim in writing for the gold medal, 

 before the nineteenth instant, and to state in what department. As I 

 have no premium list at hand, of course I forget, but it is in the green 

 fruits. I hope you will substitute the department for me. 



I claim the medal on the ground of the largest and most meritorious 

 display of fruits, especially grapes, more particularly in the discovery 

 and improvement in pruning, so as to produce the largest amount of 

 good grapes. This discovery, I am satisfied, will work a great revolu- 

 tion in the culture of the grape in California, increasing the product ten- 

 fold, with less labor and less liability to frost in the early Spring or 

 sunburn in Summer, and less liable to mildew or grape fly. This, of 

 itself, I think, is sufficiently meritorious to claim the medal, without 

 having exhibited the best display of fruits at the Fair this year. 



Yours, respectfully, J. R. NICKESON. 



Placerville, December 7th, 1874. 



Mr. Bobert Beck, Secretary State Agricultural Society: 



Dear Sir: I received a note from 3 t ou requesting me to present my 

 claim for the gold medal in writing. I claim the society's gold medal 

 in the Sixth Department, for the most meritoi'ious exhibition and best 

 general display, embracing the best and greatest varieties of fruits, for 

 which the award books will show. 



Yours, respectfully, I. S. BAMBEE. 



