142 STATE POMOLOGICxYL SOCIETY. 



mile to be growing from the water's surface. All the laud ou this island is 

 scarcely more than two feet above the waters that surround it. It contained 

 about four acres, three of which were planted to the grape; G80 vines were 

 Catawba, which were fully ripe at the time, September 2Gth. A marked fea- 

 ture of this vineyard was the surprising luxuriance of the vines ; they sur- 

 passed anything I ever saw ; any number of leaves of Catawba or Concord 

 would measure a foot and more in diameter. This island was evidently a fa- 

 vorite resort of the red man before the advent of his pale-faced brethren, as 

 large numbers of relics, such as arrow-heads, stone hatchets, spear-heads, etc., 

 are constantly being turned to the surface by the plow and cultivator. A large 

 stone near the cottage (a small building, and the only one on the island) was 

 hollowed several inches deep in sharpening their hatchets or tomahawks. At 

 a little distance lies Seminary and Sterling islands. The former is owned by 

 Prof. Erastus K. Boyd of Monroe Female Seminary, and boasts of a vineyard 

 in no way inferior to the best. 



AT rOINT AUX PEAUX. 



The Point aux Peaux Wine Co. enter their vineyard of twelve acres. It is 

 eight miles from the city, and occupies a prominent point or peninsula extend- 

 ing into the lake. This point was the trading post of the early French traders 

 in their barter with the Indians for their furs, hence the name "Point aux 

 Peaux " when rendered in English is " Point of Skins." Twelve thousand 

 vines are in this vineyard; the Concord in largest quantity, but Delaware and 

 Catawba are largely grown. The grapes in this vineyard are all manufactured 

 into wine, and enough of Ives and Norton's Virginia are grown for coloring 

 the juice of the other varieties. The first vines were planted in 18GG, and the 

 balance in 1867. The Delawares were sold this season to the Detroit Wine 

 Co. at six cents per pound, and nearly all delivered at the time of our visit. 

 One and two-thirds acres produced 13,157 pounds. For a vineyard of its ex- 

 tent, none were found in our examinations that equaled this in perfection of 

 management, and it certainly reflects great credit on the gentlemanly proprie- 

 tors, Messrs. Sterling, Xoble, and others whose names I did not learn. Their 

 wine cellars, mashing and pressing rooms were models of neatness, showing 

 the care and scrupulous cleanliness throughout necessary in manufacturing 

 this delicate beverage. In the wine cellars were noticed arranged in rows on 

 one side, twelve casks of 500 gallons capacity each, and as many more of 

 smaller size, with kegs and barrels in such numbers as to so completely fill this 

 cellar that but little standing room was found for persons of the modest pre- 

 tensions of your committee. The casks were mostly filled with wine, the vint- 

 age of former seasons. The Avines of this firm have a flattering reputation 

 wherever they have been tested, and the demand bids fair to exceed the sup- 

 ply ; it is sold almost exclusively for sacramental and medicinal purposes, and 

 ranges in price, for ten gallons or more, at from one to two dollars per gallon. 



At Thomas Doyle's we found a garden well filled with grapes and other 

 fruits, which for order and neatness was worthy of more general imitation. In 

 finishing up the record of our labors at this steady old city of Monroe there 

 are many things necessarily omitted. We hope, ere long, to advert to these 

 subjects again, and supply such omissions as are appropriately connected with 

 horticultural progress in our State. 



