I have a vine grown from seed obtained from Spain, which has much the aspect and vigor 

 of Herbemont, with same lively green leaves, which are not quite so large, more lobed, and free 

 from fungus diseases. The clusters and berries are similar but not so large, of same juicy, pure, 

 sweet, sprightly character, red and with white juice, with small seeds of same description. These 

 seeds came from the same regions where the fine Valencia raisins are produced the higher hilly 

 interior regions of Spain. This variety I named Valencia. 



I have fruited for many years, both the varieties obtained of Mr. Bourquin, which were taken 

 from old vines on his place, and direct descendants of the vines brought to Savannah, Georgia, 

 by his fore-parents, over 150 years ago; and in every particular I find the "Blue French" 

 identical with Jacquez, and the "Brown French," with Herbemont. 



I present here further statements of Mr. Bourquin, which he wrote me in reply to more 



particular inquiry: 



SAVANNAH, March 22nd, 1892. 



DEAR SIR : In regard to your inquiry about the two grapes, would say that Monsieur Francis 

 Chartenet, the French Consul here, has in his yard the "Brown" and "Blue French." I have 

 been in his garden and picked them myself, so that I could be positive that they were the same as 

 mine. His vines were brought direct from France, and are identical with mine. Monsieur L. 

 Charrier, the Belgian Consul, lives with Monsieur Chastenet, and says that these grapes are very 

 common in the Medoc district, that he has often seen and eaten them in various parts of France. 



My ancestors were Huguenots, and were living in London at the time of emigrating to 

 Savannah. I find this from records in London, where the three brothers made application for 

 immense land-grants in Georgia and South Carolina. 



I do not think there can be any doubt about the French origin of my grapes. 



Yours very truly, 



GOUGIE BOURQUIN. 



T. V. MUNSON, ESQ. 



On receipt of the above, I wrote again for still more definite and ancient history of the grapes 

 if known. In reply I received the following: 



SAVANNAH, April 1st, 1892. 



DEAR SIR: I cannot give all the information that you seek, but will furnish all that I can. 

 I do not know that my ancestors kept any record of their grapes. If they did, they were destroyed 

 when our plantation was burned by Sherman's army. 



I distinctly recollect a small book, a history of Savannah, particularly, "The Siege of 

 Savannah," in which the author said: "The two kinds of grapes brought from France by the 

 French Colony, for the purpose of wine-making, did well, but their attempt at making a good wine 

 was a complete failure, as the climate did not suit." This is as near as I can recollect. The work 

 gave the history from the settlement of Georgia up to 1800 A. D. If we had saved this and 

 another, a directory of Georgia, it would have been of immense value to the present historian. 

 The two kinds of grapes referred to, were certainly the "Blue" and "Brown." These two were 

 in the gardens of nearly all the old French families, and I never saw any other kind of grapes in 

 Savannah, when a boy, excepting the Catawba. I am now 55 years of age, and when a very 

 small boy, I distinctly recollect them, I saw two immense vines in the yard of my grand-aunt 

 in Savannah, which could not have been at that time less than fifty years old. These varieties 

 live to a great age. In 1873 I got some cuttings from the garden of the late I. V. Connerat, at 

 which time Mr. Connerat told me that the vine was 44 years old. I saw this same vine alive about 

 one year ago, and think it is still alive, and if so, it is 63 years old. 



About 15 years ago I wrote an article for the Department of Agriculture at Washington, on 

 the Herbemont, from information furnished me by Mr. Prince, an old citizen of South Carolina, 

 which would give you much information, if you can get hold of it. From it, you will find that 

 writers are entirely wrong in putting Warren and Herbemont as one and the same grape. 



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