DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



great practical writer in his " ^mpilographie," 

 or a treatise on tlie classification of tlie vine, 

 at page 291, at the article " Raisin des Dames," 

 says: " This magnificent grape of a very beau- 

 tiful yellow color, with very big ellipsoidal ber- 

 ries, has indeed some failings j it does not bear 

 every year ; its beautiful bunclies are often very 

 thinly furnished with berries owing to tlie blight 

 of at least four-fifths of tliem, and their flavor 

 is not very high ; / have found the means to re- 

 medy theblight, (coulure,) and this is by graft' 

 ing it on a common white Muscat." 



I shall add to this statement of facts the opin- 

 ion of one no less celebrated than I'Abbe Ro- 

 ziER, as published in his 10th 4to. vol., page 

 248, of his complete treatise on agriculture. 

 He says, " Grafting on the vine takes with so 

 much ease, and anasthimoses so perfectly, that 

 no other kind of plant appears better calcula- 

 ted by nature for this mode of improvement 

 (deperfection ;) and they would have us be- 

 lieve that this operation deteriorates the quali- 

 ty of the grape while it improves that of other 

 fruit! Tliat is not possible. Graft the Muscat 

 on a Chasselas, and then compare the quality 

 of its fruit to that of the Muscat not grafted, 

 and you will be forced to admit that the pro- 

 duce of the graft is superior; make the same 

 trial with tlie Mourillon on a Cliasselas and you 

 will see that grafting adds to the quality of the 

 grape." These, sir, are very important facts and 

 worthy to be recorded in your valuable publi- 

 cation for the benefit of Horticulture. So you 

 see that I was not so singular in my notions: 

 if I err I am in good company. I may also 

 state for your gratification, that one of the 

 grafts of last year has on it about 100 bunches 

 of grapes of remarkable sizes, and tliat the 

 others have bunches in proportion to their size. 



I have just read Mr. N. Longworth's letter 

 in your April number, and the facts he states 

 in it, he had the kindness to communicate to 

 me two years ago. I must, however, and with 

 all due respect for that gentleman's valuable 

 experience, in Cincinnati, remark that his ex- 

 perience and conclusions must be limited and 

 confined to the latitude of his locality. Whilst 

 my vineyard is located 6° farther south, and I 

 may say very near and almost on a level with 

 the ocean. Again my rolling land, the proxi- 

 a river, a calcareous subsoil resting on 

 of very rich wliite and grey marl, much 



of it mixed with abundance of oxides of iron 

 and alumina, clay of every possible kind mixed 

 in diflTerent proportions with gravel and silicious 

 sand, green sand, muck, &c. &c., each and all 

 of which have their share of influence in my 

 trial. [Undoubtedly these are most favorable 

 circumstances, and we shall be glad to hear of 

 your success. Ed.] 



Now, sir, you may be able to judge and un- 

 derstand the difference and advantages of my 

 locality over that of the environs of Cincinnati. 

 To the 8° Fahrenheit, at least, difference in the 

 temperature, I may add the warm quality of 

 my soil and its hygroscopicity so favorable to 

 the grape-vine, and which is also the best re- 

 medy for the rot. In con.sequence of it I was 

 able to mature last year, even the Muscat de 

 Frontignan in 145 days after the vine was first 

 planted, and just after a long sea voyage. The 

 minimum number of days, even in the south 

 of France being 140, and the maximum about 

 160, with au accumulation of GOOO" F. in tliat 

 same space of time, with also the indispensable 

 minimum temperature possible, that comports 

 with the perfect growth of tlie vines. See 

 Compte de Gasparin's book on agriculture, 4th 

 Svo.vol. Very resp'ly, Joseph Togno, Princi- 

 pal of the Vine Dresser Model Scliool, near 

 Wilmington, N. C. ^pril 8, 1851. 



A. J. Downing, Esq. — I enclose Adam's & 

 Co.'s receipt for a box of Catawba wine, which 

 I hope you will receive from me as a slight to- 

 ken of respect due to you for the interest you 

 have taken in the grape culture of the west. 

 Six bottles are Mr. Longwokth's sparkling 

 Catawba, (the best of that kind made here as 

 yet by any one,) and six of still wine from my 

 ov.n vineyard, vintage of 1849. I think my 

 vintage of 1850 will be better. 



We have ready sale here for the sparkling at 

 $12 per dozen, and for the still at $6, of the 

 best quality of course, inferior at less rates. 



The great frost of the morning of the 2d of 

 May, made a general sweep of all the fruits in 

 the west and south-west — with the exception of 

 some parts of the southern shore of Lake Erie, 

 near the lake. A few late apples, (Rawle's 

 Janet,) may be spared to us. 



The grapes have fared better, not more than 

 half the shoots being destroyed. Latent buds 

 will push out new shoots of course, but whether 



