8 



The Grape CuUurist. 



of some 150 varieties of the grape, 

 has certainly brought me to the con- 

 clusion, that the most perfect and 

 most perfectly ripened bunches, of 

 the Vitis Lahrusca family are found 

 where they are most thoroughly pro- 

 tected from the sun. With the Vitis 

 Aestivalis family, the difference has 

 not been so clearly established. With 

 the Vitis Vinifera the reverse may be 

 true ; and it is quite possible that we 

 have too closely adapted the rules, 

 drawn from the habits and require- 

 ments of this European family, to the 

 treatment of our widely differing 

 American classes. 



I purpose testing this matter by 

 planting a Concord and Catawba, in 

 such a location as I find is preferred 

 by our wild fox grape j and subjec- 

 ting them to moderate pruning ; and 

 will in due time report result. 



John J. Wertii, 

 Eichmond, Ya., Dee. 21st 1868. 



(This very interesting communication, for 

 ■which Col. Werth has our sincere thanks, 

 was received a week after writing our article 

 "Soil and aspect of the Vineyard." The 

 afnnity of experience in Virginia and here 

 will at once be apparent to our readers. — 

 Ed. I 



GEAPES AT SANDUSKY, ETC. 



J3Y M. H. LEWIS. 



The summing up of the G rape-Har- 

 vest at Sandusky and the Islands op- 

 posite us, for 1867, has been encour- 

 aging to most, disheartening only to 

 the unlucky ones, and startliog to all, 

 in the many million pounds shipped 

 and the many hundred thousand gal- 

 Ions of wine pressed. The vines were 

 healthful, and the bearing wood for 

 the coming season was stocky and 

 thoroughly ripened. 



The Spring of 1868 opened auspi- 

 ciously. The rising sap disclosed life 

 in every bud, and we were, and had 

 reason to be, stout-hearted and san- 

 guine. 



Alas, at the closing days of June, 

 none said, "All is well !" For just pre- 

 viousl}' the rains descended; when most 

 of our grapes were the size of small 

 shot, the bloom but fairly shed, and 

 with the rain fell deadness of air, mur- 

 kiness and mildew. Tn brief time two- 



thirds of our Catawbas, \\&j more, 

 shrivelled and dropped. 



Have we rightly, named the blight 

 — mildew ? It was not ap))arent upon 

 leaves nor wood. Only the tiny cluster 

 or parts of it lost its bright green in 

 a faint gray, and then speedily follow- 

 ed drying up of the berry and expora- 

 tion from the stem. 



The Concords on the Main Land, 

 in good part shared the loss of the 

 Catawbas. Elsewhere, on the Penin- 

 sula and the Islands, the}" did not to 

 nearly such an extent. Dianas felt the 

 calamity sorely, and all the varieties 

 somewhat, here and there. None less 

 perhaps, than the Delaware and Nor- 

 ton's Virginia. 



What remained suffered little detri- 

 ment afterwards, till Autumn set in. 

 We dreaded the rot. Jul}' passed and 

 the middle of August, and it came not 

 — at least not to an extent worthy of 



