94 



The Grape Culturist. 



with the cheap imported clarets and 

 medocs, as well as with the lower 

 grades of German and Hungarian 

 wines, we would injure the reputation 

 of our products instead of raising it ; 

 for our common Concords and Cataw- 

 bas are better now, and much supe- 

 rior in qualit}', to nine-tenths of what 

 is sold as cheap imported wines. We 

 are Avell aware that there are firms 

 in New York who manufacture im- 

 mense quantities of artificial wines, 

 and thej' may need the help of some 

 ivine, to give their products charac- 

 ter ; but American loines, made from 

 native grapes, can stand on their own 

 merits, and need no foreign mixture 

 to give them character or open a 

 market to them. Wo have got be- 

 yond first exj^eriments ; our varieties 

 of grapes, suitable for wine making, 

 count by the dozens; and by judi- 

 ciousl}' mixing and blending them, we 

 can make better wine than the aver- 

 age of the imported. The time 

 is not distant when the American 

 wines will be exported, and when 

 they will make a name for them- 

 selves, in spite of any duty which 

 may be imposed upon them there. 



We look upon this circular as the 

 '•doleful wail" of the importers, 

 who are becoming alarmed at the 

 vast dimensions American grape cul- 

 ture is assuming. They begin to 

 feel that the young giant can no 



longer bo repressed or held under; 

 that our wines ai*e making a competi- 

 tion with their importations, which is 

 becoming more formidable every day. 

 We do not ask an increased duty, 

 because we think we can compete, in 

 quality and price, with their cheaper 

 wines, even as the duty now is. 

 But we think it is time that Govern- 

 ment ofiicials look a little sharjDer at 

 the quality of the goods they impose 

 duty on. We are aware that "ninety 

 four per cent, of the wines imported 

 arc classed with the loioest grades, 

 and that hundreds of thousands of 

 gallons are imported annuall3' of the 

 Jlner Avines, which, according to the 

 present law, shou'd pay a much 

 higher duty, smuggled in under in- 

 ferior brands. Let the officers do 

 their duty ; let them tax the wines 

 according to their quality, and we 

 will be content with the present 

 tariif. But we tell the importers, 

 once for all, that they are mistaken 

 if they think they can further their 

 interests by trying to induce the 

 Grape growers of the country to join 

 them in a memorial, alike insulting 

 to common sense as well as to the 

 quality of American wines. We do 

 not need their guardianship ; we are 

 capable of taking care of our own 

 business ; and they may rest assured 

 that they will not get much help 

 from us. — Ed.] 



We republish, in this month's issue, 

 two articles from the first volume, as 

 they embody about all we have to say 

 on those subjects, and although all of 

 our old readers have seen them, yet 



we have gained as many, if not more, 

 new subscribers, to whom we think 

 they will be of use. This must serve 

 as our apology for the repetition. 



Editor. 



