14 EECOKD OF HOKTICULTUKE. 



Mead's Grape Culture. An Elementary Treatise on American 

 Grape Culture and Wine Making. By Peter B. Mead. New 

 York : Harper & Brothers. 8vo ; 483 pp. $3 



We always tbouglit the law forbidding the wearing of 

 masks a good one ; but there are some kinds of masks in 

 use that human laws do not recognize, and they are so 

 very co^nmon, that it "would be deemed impertinent to 

 attempt their description. 



There is, however, one kind which is made of materials 

 so transparent that it does not conceal the object. Such a 

 mask is manifestly placed befoi'e the real author of this 

 volume. 



No one Avho is acquainted with Mr. Mead doubts his 

 ability as an author ; but wlien we see such fulsome praise 

 emanating from his pen, bestowing upon one individual 

 horticulturist the entire credit of advancing the grape- 

 growing interest of this country and producing the 

 only grapes ^vorthy the attention of our vineyardists, we 

 can not but think he had some object besides that of the 

 progression of American grape culture in view. Perhaps 

 it was the lionizing of a patron. It is certainly quite 

 evident that, however valuable the Avork may prove to the 

 general reader, it Avas Mr. Mead's design that one person 

 in the community besides himself should be benefited by 

 its publication. AVe will quote a few passages in support 

 of our position. 



In referring to Guyot's system of training and sheltering 

 the vine we lind the following, page 94: "Dr. Grant, just 

 before the appearance of Guyot's w^ork, suggested a form 

 of shelter havincj considerable resemblance to his." 



