Editor's Letter Box. 



195 



one ; will wild grapes make wine at 

 all palatable? I wish to experiment 

 until the varieties I here procured 

 produce fruit ; are our varieties worth 

 cultivatingin California? does D'Hou- 

 reuse's process obviate the necessity 

 of a scientifically constructed wine 

 cellar — do you think grape gi'owing 

 will continue to be profitable — but 

 will it after a few j'cars not pa}-. 

 Yery respectfully, 



CiiAS. Bond. 

 [We know that it has been the 

 practice to exclude air as much as 

 possible from wines during their fer- 

 mentation, but 3'ou must remember 

 that without access of air, fermenta- 

 tion could not set in at all. A great 

 revolution is working its way, quietly 

 but steadily, as you will see from sev- 

 eral articles in this number. You 

 will find an article on cellars in this 

 number. Some of our wild grapes 

 make very good wine indeed, espec- 

 iall}" the Aestivalis class. We think 

 that grape growing will continue to 

 be profitable, if we produce good Avine 

 and good grapes. — Editor.] 



El Douado, May 2(5. 1870. 



Dear Sir : — I sent you a third article 

 on the Scuppernong which I looked 

 for in April or May No. It has not 

 appeared however. 



There are spots of blight or mildew, 

 which appeared on my vines^ (the 

 leaves) — all kinds — on the leaves of 

 the elm, and I notice them on the 

 leaves of the black haw, and some 

 apple trees. These spots first appear 

 white, then turn brown, die and crum- 

 ble out if rubbed. What is the 

 cause ? Have 3'ou an}^ remedj^ ? Is it 

 something in the dew drops ? Is it 

 with 3'ou. 



The late freeze this Spring (15 

 April), nearly killed most of the bunch 

 grape vines, as they were full of sap 

 and forward. It had the same effect 

 on the Flowers grape, a species of 

 the Bullace or Muscadine family, as 

 they also were quite forward in put- 

 ting out. The Scuppernong being 

 later, does not seem to be affected. 

 The rot at this time, although the fruit 

 is fully set on the eavl)- kinds of 

 bunch grapes, has not made its 

 appearance, owing I think, to the 

 very dr}' spring so far, but those kinds 

 of bunch gi-ape which were injured 

 bj' the freeze seem unhealth}', both in 

 vine and fruit, so that there will be a 

 very poor crop — (if the rot do not 

 appear) — both in quantity and quality. 

 1 am going ahead with my Scupper- 

 nong vineyard (MI desperandi,) your 

 opinion notwithstanding to the con- 

 trary, of the Scuppernong as a wine 

 grape, Respectfull}', 



J. II. Carleton. 



[The brown spots are evidently 

 mildew. It is caused b}- rapid change 

 of temperature, and murky weather. 

 Dusting sulphur on the vines will cure 

 it, but it is a very troublesome pro- 

 cess which 3'ou will hardly follow. — 

 Editor.] 



(Bohemia- ViNV.YAUDS.) Towk Point. J 



P. O. Chesapeake City, Cecil County, Mo. \ 



June (ith, 1870. ) 



Mr. George Husmann : 



Dear Sir : — The cuttings you sent 

 were fine and are growing wondei*- 

 fully in open air. I had cut them up 

 to two and one eyes, and find that 

 even single eyes of Cynthiana and 

 Herbemont have rooted ; as we have 

 had warm rain showers the last two 

 weeks. Mr. Hippies Concords which 

 were severely hurt by the hail, are in 



