140 GRAPE CULTURE AND WINE-MAKING. 



er color. The wliole is fermented in a vat built of stone and ce- 

 mented. The fermentation lasts from two to four days ; is very 

 strong, as the lime aids it. When the fermentation stops, the 

 whole is drawn off and put into barrels, and often leather bags 

 made of hogs' or calves' skins. At the same time, one third or 

 one quarter of alcohol is added. The wine is used the same year, 

 but when alcohol is plenty it will keep for any length of time. 

 The same process is used in all the vineyards. 



At five o'clock we left for Marseilles. The weather was fine. 

 We arrived October 4th. At ten o'clock we took the train for 

 Paris. Being night, I could see nothing. In the morning, how- 

 ever, we stopped at Lyons, the great silk manufictory of France. 

 The adjoining country is well cultivated. The people were busy 

 sowing wheat. The grain-lands extend to Villafranca, then vines 

 begin to predominate. Around Macon are planted all vines. 



Tours and Chalons have partly vine and partly grain planted. 

 From Chalons to Dijon the whole country is planted with vines. 

 But I have already given a description of this country. 



October 5. — Having arrived in Paris, I found letters awaiting me 

 there which demanded my immediate return home. Having vis- 

 ited all the prominent wine-growing countries except Hungary, 

 my return was at once resolved upon. It is true that my orig- 

 inal intention was to visit Greece and Egypt ; but, finding that 

 the plague had broken out in Syria, and I would have to remain 

 in quarantine for forty days, even if I escaped the sickness, I, 

 of course, decided not to go. Even if I had gone, I could have 

 thus done no service to the State, as the wine-making is still car- 

 ried on in those countries according to the old plan. The vines 

 and cuttings I procured through the American consuls. 



My determination to speed home was farther strengthened by 

 the fact that the Legislature would meet in the beginning of Jan- 

 uary, and would very likely be in session but a short time ; and, 

 as I was required by the joint resolution to report before this 

 body, my preparations were soon made. 



Ootoher 14. — I went to Havre to make the necessary arrange- 

 ments there to receive the vines from all parts as already stated. 

 The vines were all to be directed to the American consul. Hav- 

 ing made the arrangement with the consul and Messrs. William 

 Isilin & Co., we returned to Paris the next day, packed up our 

 traps, bade good-by to our new acquaintances, parted with our 

 family, whom we left behind partly because a stormy passage was 



