282 



The Grape Culturist. 



into every gallon pressed for gallized 

 wine two pounds of sugar. 



Eesj^jectfully yours, 



Henry Etter, 

 [We do not see how you can be in 

 doubt as to the proper way of adding 

 water and sugar. Dissolve your sugar 

 in the water, two pounds to the gallon 

 of water, weighing your must before 

 hand to see whether it has the neces- 

 sary specific gravity; then ferment 

 the whole together. You are mis- 

 taken in regard to the sugar — fermen- 

 tation with the grape juice and husks 

 changes cane sugar into grape sugar 

 and all into alcohol. — Editor.] 



PiTTSiJUEG, Texas, June 20, 1870. 



Mr. Husmann, St. Louis : 



Dear Sir — I have quite a number of 

 vines growing this year of the Concord 

 and Clinton varieties, some of which 

 have fruited. I am much pleased with 

 my success thus far, though I am some- 

 what perplexed as to the most judi- 

 cious course to pursue with the Clin- 

 ton vine. It is such a rampant and 

 straggling grower that I greatly fear 

 I shan't be able to keep it pruned in 

 proper shape, or within proper bounds, 

 BO as not to destroy its productiveness; 

 therefore suffer me to ask a few ques- 

 tions relative thereto. You recom- 

 mend poorer soil. I have a small 

 pebbly plat of gi*ound, not as fertile 

 as where they are now growing — that 

 I think of transferring them to, if 

 practicable. What think you of it ? 

 and what distance would you plant 

 them? Would you prune and train 

 them as the Concord ? How would 

 the horizontal arm system suit this 

 variety? If not presuming too much, 

 please answer through the columns of 

 the " Grape Culturist." 



I hope you will have much success 

 in your journal undertaking — that 

 your subscription list may soon double 

 the present, and that no cause may 

 ever arise to prevent its publication. 

 I am much pleased with it, and would 

 not be without it for double the price. 



I have gathered some of the finest 

 grapes this summer from the woods 

 that I have ever seen — equaling in 

 size the largest of the cultivated vari- 

 eties. They commence to ripen about 

 the same time of the Concord. If you 

 would like to test the virtues of some 

 of this wild growth, I will send you 

 by mail a few cuttings this winter for 

 your experimental garden, if you will 

 advise how they should be packed. 

 Yours, very respectfully, 



J. Dozier Bass. 



[The best plan of training the Clin- 

 ton is to prune long, leave the old 

 wood, and prune to sjDurs on the young 

 groAVth. We would not advise remov- 

 ing, hai'dly think the variety is worth 

 it. We think but very little of the 

 grape or vine ; it may, however, do 

 better with you. If you will leave 

 three to four arms to every vine, hor- 

 izontal arm training may do well 

 enough. Give them plenty of room, 

 at least ten feet in the row. 



We would like to try a few of the 

 best of your wild varieties, if you will 

 send them. Wrap in moss and oiled 

 silk, and send by mail. — Ed.] 



Cincinnati, August '29, 1870. 



Friend Husmann : 



I have three acres of Dianas in full 

 bearing, with a heavy yield. Last 

 year I made the wine pure juice, but 

 it has such a musty flavor — aroma — 

 that I can't sell it. It has a feline taste. 



