40 GRAPE CULTURE AND WINE-MAKING. 



my remarks. The object of my travels is especially to note down 

 every tiling in wLich tlie Europeans surpass us, and afterward 

 lay them before the citizens of the United States. This task I 

 will fulfill to the very best of my judgment. 



At half past ten we returned to our breakfast, which did not 

 prove inferior to our dinner of the preceding day. Indeed, it 

 seems as though the landlords of Dijon are determined to fatten 

 their guests at the shortest possible notice by administering to 

 them the most delicate viands. The wine (which we added extra 

 to our meal) was excellent. I say "added extra," because-every 

 guest is given a bottle of wine to his meal ; and I will taste all 

 the wines raised in the places through which I travel, as I wish 

 to know whether the exported wines are worse or better than 

 those which are common at home. 



To-day Professor Ladrey called on us. During the conversa- 

 tion he promised to come in the evening, as, it being examination- 

 day, he was occupied. He also offered his services for the next 

 eight days to show us the surrounding vineyards, nurseries, or- 

 chards, etc. The professor is the editor of La Bourgogne, a 

 monthly magazine on the culture of wine, and president of the 

 Dijon wine district. He is also author of several chemical works 

 on wine, etc. He seems to be a very gentlemanly and accommo- 

 dating man. "We met Monsieur Ladrey at seven. He spake 

 very ably concerning the wine culture, and informed us that 

 there was a fine botanical garden in the city. After leaving him 

 we went through it, and also the old Cathedral, which boasts of 

 a few fine oil paintings. There is also an aqueduct here worthy 

 of notice ; it extends four leagues from the city. By this means 

 Dijon is well watered. 



August 10. — This morning we went with Monsieur Ladrey 

 through the botanical garden. The most interesting to me were 

 the grapes, of which there are six hundred varieties. Partly 

 planted at the foot of a high wall, they are trained over a net- 

 like wire fastened to the wall. Some of these vines are twenty 

 years old, and do not present a very inviting aspect, their leaves 

 being withered, and mildew having attacked them and the grapes. 

 The best and finest arc the Persian Seedlers, which are transjDar- 

 ent, with a beautiful healthy color, but a little late in the season. 

 The Chasalas Fontainebleau looks thrifty and healthy, but the 

 Palestine mammoth grape is poor, and most of the berries are 

 dried up. The gardener ascribes this to the cold and changeable 



