Editor's Letter Box. 



197 



I am very desirous of getting the 

 names right, and to that end design 

 sending to some of the most intelli- 

 gent propagators of the foreign grape 

 in New York for a full list of them. 

 Do you suppose I shall succeed in my 

 object, or are they mixed up thereto©. 

 The grape is almost in bloom here, 

 and there is prospect of an abundant 

 crop. The vines are looking splendidly 

 and growing rapidly. I find the lona 

 to be the slowest grower I have, but 

 the vines were impoi'ted from Dr. 

 Grant, and I think the j'oung vines 

 will do better. I will report progress 

 during the season. 



I will contribute regularly to your 

 journal if you wish it; am just com- 

 mencing a vineyai^d and expect to 

 increase it yearly if I can find market 

 for my grapes. 



Yours Very Truly, 



A. E. Shipley. 



[Thanks for your interesting com- 

 munication, while others, we hope, 

 will follow. I think that all our 

 varieties of grapes would ripen with 

 you, if the}' will succed at all. 



We do not doubt but you can get a 

 correct assortment of foreign grapes, 

 if you apply to a reliable firm at the 

 East. — Editor.] 



Bloojiixgtox, 111., Juiit" 1, ISTO. 



George ALusmann, Esq. : 



Dear Sir: — I made about 1500 gal- 

 lons of wine in 1868, mostly of Con- 

 cord, some of it very fine, and some 

 got chilled and did not work well. I 

 should like to have somebody familiar 

 with wine making examine it and tell 

 me what to do with it. 



Do you ever come up this way? 



Should be \ery glad indeed to see you. 

 Let me hear from you. 



Our vines this year are doing very 

 well, and with the rest of the season 

 satisfactory will give us an abundant 

 crop. 



Hoping soon to hear from you, I re- 

 main, Ver}' respectfully yours, 



K. H. Ffxl. 



[We think the only thing you can do 

 with the wine you report "■ chilled" is to 

 throw it on the husks of grapes after 

 you have pressed them, 'this fall, and 

 ferment it in a temperature of about 

 80°. Let it ferment thoroughly, then 

 press it, and you will soon have wine 

 of it, if it is not already spoiled other- 

 wise. We are so bus}' here that we 

 find but little time to travel. Should 

 we come your way, will avail ourselves 

 of your invitation. — Editor.] 



Sr>fXY Side, June 1, 1S70. 



Mr. Husmann : 



Dea7' Sir: Being but a beginner in 

 grape cultivation, I would like to ask a 

 few questions on the modus operandi of 

 grafting : First, how would the Herbe- 

 mont do grafted on the Clinton ; the 

 situation in which it is planted ' being- 

 southern exposure, warm, rocky, newly 

 cleared gray land, with red subsoil? I 

 live near Charlottesville, Ya., 38 deg. 

 latitude. Second, if the Herbemont 

 will not do, what kind would you rec- 

 ommend? Tiiird, my vines were set 

 out this spring, would you graft next 

 spring, or the spring after? Fourth, 

 which is the best month to graft in ? 



As before said, 1 am but a beginner, 

 but will give my experience if it will 

 be acceptable. In the spring of '68 I 

 planted two hundred and seventy-five 

 vines, namely, Concord, Clinton, Ives, 



