50 



The Grape Cultnrist. 



oxen stained with grape-juice ; and, 

 finally, the procession closes by a fat 

 felloAV, with a stuffed paunch, on a 

 donkey, tricked out in some huniourus 

 way, and his face stained with grapes, 

 who representsSilenus — and grimaces, 

 sings, and rolls about on his long- 

 eared beast, pretending to be drunk. 

 This is the wit of the town; and he 

 has full license on this occasion to 

 abuse everybody, and scatter his sar- 

 casms right and left. Outside are 

 contadini with lighted torches, who 

 wave them to and fro as they go, after 

 the antique custom— and with beating 

 of tambourines, mandolines and gui- 

 tars, screaming with horns, wild Cam- 

 pagna songs, shouts of Viva Bacco! 

 [Evoe Bacchus!'] Viva la Vendemmia! 

 — dancing, grimacing and gesticu- 

 lating, the joyous procession makes 

 its festive way along the fields and 

 town- The xevy parocco himcelfdoes 

 not disdain to enter heart and soul 

 into the festival, and join in the pro- 

 fession. 



Munthly Statistics. 



PORTUGAL, 



According to the last advices from 

 Oporto, the wine-crop in Portugal 

 has given in 1868 : 48,000 pipes, about 

 equal to that of 1867, while the pro- 

 duction of 1866 amounted to 60,000, 

 of 1865 to 65,000, of 1863 to 83,000 



pipes. This enormous deficit, together 

 with the superior quality of this years 

 vintage has brought about numerous 

 transactions at elevated prices. 



It is also reported that at this mo- 

 ment a speculative exitement prevails 

 in the province of Valencia, and that 

 a good number of agents, sent by 

 French houses, are noticed among the 

 many buyers. 



As it appears, the troubles now ru- 

 ling in the peninsula do something to 

 depreciate the wine-prices, and specu- 

 lation, always alert, will take posses- 

 sion of the this j'cars splendid pro- 

 duct of the vineyards in these coun- 

 tries.. 



Monthly Statistics. 



RUSSIA. 



The Messager dii Don says that no 

 man can remember such an abundance, 

 in regard to the vintage, which could be 

 compared with that of 1868. The 

 vintners are afraid, that they will not 

 have time enough to pluck and gather 

 the immense quantity of ripe grapes 

 before frost sets- in. The fruit is sold 

 in Eazdor}^ at the fabulously low price 

 of from 5 to 10 Kopeks (4 to 8 cents 

 gold) for one pud (40 pounds). The 

 market in Novotcherkask is &YQvy 

 day crowded with carts, loaded with 

 grapes. 



Monthly Statis-tics. 



FOR THE GRAPE CULTUEIST. 



3Ir. Editor : — Is the importance of 

 thinning out the fruit of the vifie, duly 

 considered by the majority of culti- 

 vators? I tliink not. 



From close observation; and even 

 sad experience, the subject, in my 

 opinion, calls for much more attention 

 than is usuallv given. 



