STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 75 



of the curculio, it would seem that this, and the other native species Bhould receive more 

 attention from our horticulturists than has yet been bestowed upon them. It approach- 

 es the cherry in character and appearance, and may be considered a connecting link 

 between the plum and the cherry. 



Trant.Ule.8taU Ay. Sor., Vol. III., F. Brendel. — Is reported from Grundy County, 

 whether indigenous or naturalized, that is the question. 



G. \V. Minier of Minier, Tazewell County, says the Chickasaw plum is found on the 

 Dlinois bottoms opposite Peoria, and thai some suppose it was introduced there, by the 

 early French settlers. 



Wild (loose Plum. — Is a variety of the American Plum. — Jfeehan. 



Entirely distinct from the Chickasaw, and the common wild variety of the woods. — 

 A. 3f. Lawver. 



WINE GROWING. 



J. M. Pearson of Alton, read the following paper by Theodore 

 Engelman, of Mascoutah, St. Clair county : 



REFLECTIONS ON WINE GROWING IN THE UNITED STATES, AS A BRANCH 



OF INDUSTRY. 



Grape-vines have been planted in this country very extensively in late years and the 

 area covered with vineyards is rapidly increasing. In the vicinity of large cities and 

 within easy access to them, the fruit of the grape-vine will always find a paying 

 market ; but in more out-of-t he-way places, and in fact, in most of the vineyards, the 

 grape is grown with the intention of converting it into wine ; an article of commerce, 

 heretofore exclu>ively imported from foreign countries, principally from Germany 

 and France; and the interesting and important question has already arisen : Will and 

 can the native wines stand the comparison and competition of the imported article ? 

 The following data are intended to furnish some material, to help in the solution of 

 this que&tion. 



The imported wines vary largely in quality and price; at present our native wines 

 compare and compete only with the more common or inferior imported article in both 

 quality and price, and the latter is generally preferred, most of the consumers of wine 

 being accustomed to the foreign flavor. It cannot be disguised] that foreign, wines 

 demand higher prices and find readier sale here than the native product. It is how- 

 ever fair to presume, that the native wine will improve in quality from year to year, 

 and that the palate of the wine consuming public will become reconciled to the native 

 aroma, and will relish it, and the only question will be left, whether we can raise wine 

 in this country as cheap as it can be imported P 



In Germany and France, land is on an average higher in price than in the United 

 States, but labor much lower; so an acre of vineyard at the age of four years, when 

 it enters the period of bearing, will cost or he worth in these countries as much as in 

 the United Btab from $400 to $500. 



A day laborer can be hired in these foreign countries at 20 nuts, and will do as much 

 work as a "hired hand" in this country, to whom $1.50 per day is paid. So, if in 

 Germany and France a gallon of wine can be raised with profit at 20 cents, thcW 



