212 Missouri State Horticultural Society. 



GRAPES. 



ESSAY BY G. E. MEISSJSTEE, BUSHBURG. 



Mr. President and Fellow-Members : 



I must preface my remarks with the confession that I feel 

 myself derelict to duty as chairman of the Committee on Vine- 

 yards, in not placing myself in better communication with my 

 fellow-members to co-o)3erate with them in preparing such a report 

 as you requested and will expect from the committee. It would be 

 useless to try to excuse myself, and I will not attempt to do so, but 

 will rather plead gnilty and throw myself on your mercy. At this 

 moment it is too late to amend my short-comings and I must do the 

 best I can under tlie circumstances,* in presenting to you a few 

 remarks, hoping that I may not be judged too harshly by your 

 honorable body and by my fellow-members of the vineyard com- 

 mittee. 



The summer of 1884 has not been a favorable one for the 

 grape in the Southeastern part of Missouri : nor, in fact, Avith 

 some local exceptions, has it been favorable, as far as I could learn, 

 in any large section of this state, I might even say of the Missis- 

 sippi Valley. Various causes have combined to injure and curtail 

 the grape crop, and we might indeed despair of grape culture as a 

 profitable and paying business, if Ave were to judge of its success 

 by the results of this year. But the fact is that the largest share 

 of the injury can be traced directly to unusual and exceptional 

 causes, and a part perhaps also to a l^k of proper knowledge and 

 experience in selection of varieties, and in treatment and care of- 

 our vineyards. Far from being discouraged with the situation, I 

 think that if we will only profit from the lesson which it teaches 

 us, and if Ave will look to and calculate upon normal and not 

 abnormal seasons, we have no real cause for dismay, but can look 

 forward with full confidence to see our state retain the fame which 

 she has acquired for her grapes, her vineyards and her vineyard 

 productions. 



Missouri grapes, Missouri wines and Missouri vines have a 

 good reputation not only in the state, but throughout our country 

 and even far beyond the sea in the oldest grape growing countries 

 of Eurojje, in the countries which ten years ago saAV their once 

 beautiful vineyards rapidly devastated by that dread scourge of the 



