376 



Tlie Grape CuUurist, 



HotSi'iuxgs, Hot Springs Co., Ark., \ 

 October 21st, 18C9. S 



To Editors of Grape Guitarist, St. Louis, ISIo. 



Messrs. Editors: — Feeling that the 

 culture and acquaintance of our native 

 '■•rapes ma}' interest you and many of 

 your contributors^ I send you a 

 " photo" of two bunches and a vine of 

 clusters of my " native ' Ouachita 

 grapes." I also send you Col. Eakin's 

 letter. After having the photographs 

 taken, in compliment to mj intelli- 

 gent friend (who gave us the first 

 lessons, as an author, in grape culture 

 in this State,) I sent him the clusters 

 that he might feast his gaze upon a 

 native growth from a neighboring 

 county in our State. He made his 

 decanter of Avine from the original of 

 what I represent to you. They were 

 diy, too old, and quantity too 

 small for a good test ot the quality of 

 wine. In 1860 I made an octave (20 

 irallons) of claret that was a delightful 

 table wine, a good color, good bod}', 

 bouquet good, not too acetous and that 

 original astringency so readily de- 

 tected in pure grape wine, (especially 

 claret and port,) that is difficult to 

 imitate alone with the addition of 

 tannin. This grape resembles. Nor 

 ton's Seedling, and with cultivation, I 

 think, will give good promise. I will 

 experiment with several native varie- 

 ties this year and will report anything 

 of advantage. Ilot Springs county, 

 Arkansas, has long attacted the grape 

 culturist for its location for grapes 

 — the variety of native growths and 

 the quality of the same. I purpose 

 to give special attention to our na- 

 tives. My vineyard will be chiefly 

 composed of Concords, Ives' Seedling, 

 Herbemonts, Norton's Seedlings, and 

 Eogers' Hybrids; some few acres for 



experimental use. Please enter me 

 on your lists as a subscriber and send 

 me your last number. Use the within 

 letter of Col. Eakin's and photographs 

 as you may deem proper. 



I am yours, respectfully, 

 Geo. \V. Lawrence, M. D. 



N. B. — I also enclose you a 

 ''photo" of a vine of Muscadines in 

 cluster. G. W. L. 



[Thanks for the grafts of eight va- 

 rieties of Ouachita grapes and your 

 letter. We will report on the grapes 

 in due time. — Editor.] 



New Ftiankfort, Salink Co. , Mo , ) 

 November IG, 1S(J9. S 



Messrs. Editors : 



In this month's issue I see an arti- 

 cle, written by Mr. H. T. Schmidt, of 

 this place, which is correct as far as 

 he describes the locality, etc. ; but 

 when he asserts that the only draw- 

 back to grape culture here is that 

 ''the wine cannot bo sold at remune- 

 rating rates by the quantity," I think 

 that our friend is mistaken, and must 

 differ from him. 



In the year 1867, the time I came 

 here, I recollect Catawba was sold 

 at $2,50 a gallon; 1668, at from 

 $1.75 to $2 per gallon; this year at 

 the same rate, and seems to be 

 advancing. Grapes have been sold 

 from 15 to 20 cents per pound. Enor- 

 mous prices, I say. What do 3^011 



think ? 



In 1868 a Mr. Theis here made $286 

 worth of wine from one-fourth of an 

 acre. We would have a great demand 

 for wine if it was any cheaper. 



J. B. 



[Wc have tried to put your com- 

 munication into shape, and trust we 

 have given 3-0 ur meaning. We think. 



I 



