I>i4 



The Grape Cnlturist. 



proveinent, and were very fine wines 

 generally. 



NOHTON'S VIRGINIA ELEVKN ENTRIES. 



First best, No. 11, Dan. Strocker, 

 graded at 100. 



Second best, No. 6, B. and II. Petrus, 

 graded at D8. 



Third best, No. 5, B. and H. Petriis, 

 graded at 94. 



Third best, No. 9, Poeschel and 

 Scherer, graded at 94. 



Fourth best, No. 7, Melehior Poes- 

 chel, graded at 90. 



Good wines in general, but not supe- 

 rior to former exhibitions. 



There were fifty-four entries of wines 

 in all, and though not as grand an atiair 

 as the exhibition at Alton, it was cer- 



tainly another proof of the rapid pro- 

 gress of grape culture and wine making. 

 After the committee had ended their 

 laborious task, it assembled and par^ 

 took of an excellent cold collation pro- 

 vided by Mr. E. Lessel. In the after- 

 noon the families of the members 

 flocked in, and the grounds presented a 

 very livel}^ and animated scene. It was 

 a pic-nic en masse, enlivened by music 

 and song, and another illustration of 

 the old saying, that "wine maketh glad 

 the heart of man." Those who oppose 

 the making and drinking of wine from 

 conscientious scruples could have seen 

 here that, although its use may promote 

 innocent bilarit}', yet it certainly does- 

 not lead to intemperance. 



EDITORS' LETTER BOX. 



El Dorado, Auk., Ain-il 27, 1869. 



Dear Sir: About ten years ago I com- 

 monced experimenting with tlie grape. 

 Tlic Isabella, ("atawba, Pauline, AVarren 

 (or Ilerbemont), Delaware, a black 

 grape called the AVarrenton, the Lenoir, 

 and a wliite grape (small but very com- 

 pact bunches — don't know the name), a 

 wild giupe from Texaw, called the Texas 

 P<j>t Oak, and the 8cni)i)ernong, All 

 bore well lor the first two years after 

 they commenced bearing, in 1S60-'C1. 

 Since then the Scuppernong has never 

 rotted nor failed to bear an annual crop, 

 varying however in (juantity. The 

 others, without exception, have proven 

 worthless since. Last year I had a few 

 Catawba, Delaware and norl)emont to 

 ripen. All tVuil well in si)ring, but not 

 afterward. 



I have a few Clinton and Hartford 

 rrolifie vines which will hear a few 



bunches this season. Can't say what 

 eflect the mildew will have on them. I 

 have put out a few cuttings of the Con- 

 cord, and am experimenting with several 

 wild grapes. 



I have planted none extensively but 

 the Scuppernong, just experimenting 

 with the others, trying to find some 

 which will suit this locality. 



I have but few Scuppernongs which 

 are bearing — say twenty-five vines — 

 which have heretofore borne, and a few 

 more which will bear this season for the 

 first time that were set out last year, of 

 which I then set out about thirty. This 

 last winter I extended my Scuppernong 

 vineyard to five acres in all. About two 

 acres of those I set out this winter were 

 of the Flowers kind. 



I have been experimenting in making 

 wine from the Scuppernong, and have 

 made some very faiv. (AVhite wine, of 



