WHlTKSIDi; < or\TY. 



grapes. I have since been furnished with some statements as to the 

 amount of fruit raised, mode of culture, and other facts of interest to 

 vine-growers. 



Tin- vineyard belongs to CAXFEELD BLODGETT, ESQ. He has 140 

 bearing vines, of which IK) are Concords. 1'4 Hartford Prolific, 6 Dela- 

 ware*. G Crevelings, G Taylor White or Bullitt, 6 Maxitawna, and 2 

 Cuyahoga. The vines were planted three years ago last spring, on soil 

 heavily manured and subsoiled. The crop of 18G7 was as follows : 3018 

 pounds, sold at an average of 16 cents per pound ; about 500 pounds 

 were used by the family and friends of Mr. Blodgett ; 20 gallons of 

 wine, the pure juice or blood of the grape, were made : layers were sold 

 to the amount of $100; layers yet on hand, alxmt 840 worth ; net profits 

 on 14<i vines, three and a half years after planting, on a single crop, 

 at least <">< 0. He has since planted 320 vines, not yet in bearing, varieties 

 as follows: 115 Concord. ~>u lowas. 40 Israellas.50 Delawares, 13 Adiron- 

 dack*. 13 Ives' Seedling. 13 Clintons, and 26 Hartford Prolifics. The 

 Around for these was trenched two feet deep, and a load of well-rotted 

 manure to every five vines, well mixed with the earth. He takes down 

 and trims in the fall, and covers with earth, and takes up about the mid- 

 dle of May. It takes ten or twelve pounds of grapes to make a gallon of 

 wine pure juice and two pounds of sugar. AVhere one-third water is 

 used it takes more sugar, and the wine is of inferior quality. 



The above statement can be relied on, I think, as correct. It shows 

 what may be accomplished on a small scale. It is true, vines would not 

 bear every year as they did in 1867, but they would produce with as 

 much certainty as our most staple products of the farm. 



The loess hills along the Mississippi, with their marly clay and sands. 

 inay be made to do even better than this. Proper care in planting, and 

 nerous after-culture, would produce this delicious fruit and a gener- 

 ous, invigorating wine in the greatest profusion. 



Grape growing ;1 nd wine-iuaking in this country is rapidly rising to a 

 prominent position among industrial pursuits. In California, it is now 

 the leading interest of the State, surpassing in importance the produc- 

 tion of gold. In a few years, even now, perhaps, it does surpass all 

 other interests combined. Our California wines are becoming as fami- 

 liar as the products of the vintages of the Old World. Cincinnati 

 wines establish the fact that the Ohio valley is eminently well-adapted 

 to vine-culture. The hills of the Missouri river are attracting to them 

 the wine-making Germans from the best vine lands of the Rhine, and 

 of other famous wine-producing countries. 



The loess bluffs of the Mississippi, about Warsaw. Xauvoo. Fort Madi- 

 son, and in that locality, are surprising horticulturists by the adaptability 

 of their soil and climate for the growth of the vine and its abundant 



