308 



The Grape Gulturist. 



EDITOE'S LETTER BOX. 



Little Rock, Akk., Sejit. :;()tli, ls70. 



Geo. Husmann, Esq.: 



Dear Sir — I have nothing to say of 

 my small beginning in grape growing, 

 except that of over one thousand vines 

 planted only some twenty-five failed 

 to grow. They have done finely this 

 season, though troubled a good deal 

 by the leaf-folders. Mr. Hough, some 

 six miles west of this place, fruited the 

 Ives this year, and is highly delighted 

 with it ; thinks it much superior to the 

 same grajie grown fiirther North. 

 What fruit he had vras grown from 

 secondary buds, as the primary were 

 killed by our unprecedented frost in 

 middle of April last. In the main, 

 his description of it agrees with yours 

 in the July number of the Cdlturist, 

 except that he reports it a much 

 sweeter, richer grape than the Con- 

 cord, and without the foxy taste you 

 ascribe to it. He has a ver}^ sweet, 

 pleasant wine, of fine flavor, made 

 without any cellar in the hot weather 

 of August, and that without the addi- 

 tion of any sugar. Mr. Hough, who 

 has had a long experience in grape 

 growing in Ohio and States farther 

 north, is enthusiastic as to our future 

 prospects in that dii*ection. lie recog- 

 nizes a peculiar adaptability in our 

 climate and soil to the vine. His ex- 

 perience, so far, indicates that the 

 Ives has a fair prospect of being the 

 grape of the State, though Col. Eakin, 

 whose opinion is entitled to much 

 weight, does not coincide Avith him. 

 Very truly, yours, 



J. W. Martin. 



[We think if Mi-. Hough experi- 



ments further, he will change his no- 

 tion that the Ives is the best he can 

 plant. Here it is certainly not sweeter 

 than the Concord. If his wine is 

 sweet yet, rest assured it is not wine, 

 and will not remain so. — Ed.] 



Reidsvillk, X.O., Aug. 12th, 1870. 



Mr. Husmaxx : 



Dear Sir — I trust you will excuse 

 me for intruding on 3'our valuable 

 time. I wish to ask you a few ques- 

 tions respecting the making of wine. 

 You do not mention in your book 

 about sugar, except for the galized 

 wine. I should be glad to know if it 

 is necessary to put an}' sugar, and 

 what quantity, in Catawba wine ; also 

 Concord, Clinton, and Delaware. I 

 made some of each last year, and put at 

 the rate of a pound to the gallon. The 

 Catawba has a sharp taste, which is 

 not generally liked. What can I do 

 to rectify it? I have been told by 

 several persons that sugar is not need- 

 ed, but 1 would rather have your ad- 

 vice, knowing you to be a man of 

 experience in these matters. I have 

 planted a vineyard of the above kinds, 

 and they are making good progress, 

 both in growth and bearing. I would 

 like very much to see your vineyards, 

 but the distance is too great. 

 Yours, respectfully, 



Gr. T0MK.INS. 



[You overdid the thing, evidently^ 

 put in more sugar than could ferment. 

 If your wine has a sharp taste, acetic 

 fermentation has set in, and you will 

 have very good vinegar after a while. 

 Whether Catawba must needs an addi- 



