SUMMER MEETING AT BROOKFIELD. 71 



Various remedies and chemicals applied had no beneficial effect. Many 

 Europeans knew of the process of bagging grapes, not indeed to pre- 

 serve them from rotting, but to keep them fresh on the vines and to pre- 

 serve their keeping qualities. I know not to whom the honor is due or 

 who first introduced this system against the rot with us ; if it ever had 

 been patented we all would know who; somebody would be sure to put 

 in a claim for royalty. .Suffice it to say, it was tried and proved a great 

 success. The time to adjust the bags (paper) is when we can discover 

 the minutest formation of the berry, or a little sooner ; some claim that it 

 can be successful even at an earlier stage. An expert lady or a girl of 

 nimble fingers can put on from 800 to 1,000 bags per day, Failure to 

 be in time will mar the process and its efficiency. A friend and near 

 neighbor of mine having a number of four-year-old Concord vines, 

 produced as delicious, perfect aud large Concord grapes as I ever had 

 the pleasure to taste. True, he matured some smaller bunches not 

 bagged without rot, but the most of those not so treated were affected 

 and damaged. The best of these brought five cents per pound. This 

 system also has the advantage of prolonging the season by two or three 

 weeks, as already intimated. 



AUTUMN. 



Thou comest, autumn, heralded by the rain. 



With banners by great gales incessant fanned, 



Brighter than brightest silks of Sarnarcand, 

 And stately oxen harnessed to thy wain ! 

 Thou standest, like imperial Charlemagne, 



Upon thy bridge of gold, thy royal hand 



Outstretched with benedictions o'er the land, 

 Blessing the farms through all thy vast domain. 

 Thy shield is the red harvest moon, suspended 



So long beneath the heavens o'erhanging eaves, 

 Thy steps are by the farmer's prayer attended ; 



Like flames upon an altar shine the sheaves ; 

 And, following thee, in thy ovation splendid, 



Thine almoner, the wind, scatters the golden leaves. 



—Longfellow, Vol. 1, p. 2SI. 



Tired of the winter's cold and the confinement of our dwellings, we 

 watch with eager eyes for the first signs of coming spring, but with 

 even greater longing do we look for the first indications of the open- 

 ing up of the foliage of the sumach, the maples and the oak. Bryant 

 sings in this strain : 



