AMERICAN INSTITUTE, l^Q 



acetic acid. TVe may except the sweet wines, especially the Constantia, 

 111 producing, the grapo is allowed to remain long on the vine, which is 

 pruned Very low, and receives a strong radiation of heat from the soil. 

 The berry therefore becomes desiccated, and aifords a comparatively small 

 quantity of highly saccharine juice. Hence the manufacture of sweet 

 wines is more expensive. The climatic exposure of the Constantia vine- 

 yards affords a cooler fermenting season, and some care is employed in 

 picking and sorting the grapes. To these circumstances chiefly may the 

 high character of the wine be ascribed, though something may be due to 

 the soil, which is the debris of porphyritic granite, probably abounding 

 in alkalies. The varieties of the grape there used are European. It 

 is the Muscadel of France, which bears the name of the Constantia 

 grape. The wines raised on these farms are chiefly of three sorts, 

 viz.: Frontignac, Muscadel, and Pontac. The best sells in the colony for 

 about $5.50 per gallon, or nearly thirty times the price of the ordinary 

 colonial Hock or Madeira wine. But other vineyards besides those of 

 Constantia, produce sweet wines not very much inferior, selling at not 

 more than one-fifth of the price. 



Besides satisfying an enlightened curiosity, the analysis of the practice 

 and experience of such a country illustrates what is likely to occur in such 

 lands as north-western Texas or New Mexico. 



[See Chinese Empire, Illustrated, page 28.] 



" Shing-moo," " Holy Mother," is a Buddhist idol in China, consisting 

 of a female, usually, with an infant in her arms. The legend says, that a 

 virgin having gone to bathe in the river, left her garments on the bank, and 

 on her return found a beautiful lotus flower lying upon them. Having 

 eaten the flower, she bore a son, whom a poor fisherman educated, and the 

 miracles which he performed established the divine origin of his birth. It 

 is unnecessary to state the real source of this fable. In paintings, the 

 Shing-moo is often represented standing upon the leaves of the nelumbium 

 in the midst of a lake. Egyptians and Hindoos have also attributed an in- 

 fluence or charm to this remarkable species of water-lily, considering it em- 

 blematic of creative power. " The leaves of each succeeding plant are 

 found evolved in the middle of the seed, perfect and of a beautiful green. 

 When the sun goes down, the large leaves that spread themselves over the 

 surface of the water, close up, and the returning sun unfolds them. These 

 nations considered water as the primary element, and this beautiful and 

 singular plant was regarded by them as a proper symbol for representing 

 the creative power, and was consecrated by the Egyptians to Osiris and 

 Isis, emblems of the sun and moon ; and by the Hindoos to the goddess 

 Ganyee and to the Sun." 



All sects in the Celestial Empire, reverence the lotus, and believe that 

 it is from the flower of this lily that the bodies of their saints are to be re- 

 produced. The roots of the lotus (nelumbium,) are also used for food. 



The Secretary stated that Mr. Lawton, of New Eochelle, had requested 

 him to say that he will be happy to see any member of the club at his 



