198 The Althea. 



through the entire vintage, running from Oct. 15 to Nov. 29, — a peiiod of 

 six wceics ; during which time the company bought three hundred and ffty 

 tons of grapes, comprising six hundred and ninety-one different lots, every 

 one of whicli was sampled and tested as in the preceding year. The result 

 was very marked and decisive, as follows : — 



Avera,2:e of wliole quantity, 691 lots, 83.35 degrees. Average of 103 lots, from 

 I5tli to tlie 19th October, say entire receipts for five days, 80.06 degrees, or tliree 

 degrees and twenty-nine hundredths belo'w the average of the whole. Average 

 of 81 lots taken after the 15th of November, 83. 13 degrees, or four degrees and 

 seventy-eiglit hundredths above the average of the whole ; thus showing an 

 improvement in the quality of the must of eight degrees and seven hundredths 

 between iliat jircssed before the 20th of October and that pressed after the 15th 

 of November, or a fraction over ten per cent. 



To compensate for the loss in gross weight consequent on leaving tlie 

 grapes so long on the vines, the price was graduated according to the grav- 

 ity of the must; making the worth of the grapes picked after the 15th of 

 November ten per cent more than those picked between the 15th and 20th 

 of October. 'Iliis increase in price was considered as more than equivalent 

 to the loss of avoirdupois. Secretary L. S. G. G. Association. 



THE ALTHEA. 



This late-blooming and favorite shrub is often injured by the winter at 

 the North and West. We have sometimes lost them by scores and hun- 

 dreds in the nursery-rows. There is a way, however, to prevent this injury 

 by winter ; and that is, to grow them slowly : let them make but little wood, 

 and ripen that well. We have very successfully accomplished this object 

 by planting them on the lawn in the grass ; and, since we have done this, 

 we have never lost a twig by winter, and have never failed to secure a 

 good bloom. They do not, under such circumstances, make great growth ; 

 but the wood ripens well, and the plant is hardy. 



