Notes at id Gleanings. 307 



Delawares, lonas, Concord, and Ives. On the morrow we sailed for Catawba 

 Island, whose hospitable inhabitants met us with carriages to convey us through 

 their vineyards and over the peninsula, while our vessel passed round the cape 

 to meet us on the opposite side. In these localities was less rot than we had 

 anticipated ; the crop of Catawbas in Mr. Dwelle's vineyards promising better 

 than any we had before seen. A thousand dollars per acre is paid for land on 

 the peninsula, which, eight years ago, was purchased for thirty dollars. The 

 soil of the islands is clayey loam interspersed with stones. 



Returning on Friday to Cleveland, by the kindness of Dr. Beckwith, who 

 there awaited our arrival, a few of us visited the vineyards of the Dover's Bay 

 Grape and Wine Company, located upon a bluff about twelve miles from the 

 city, and under the superintendence of Mr. Mottier, jun. The drive was a 

 delightful one, passing the residences of the ex-governor, of S. B. Marshall, 

 Dr. Kirtland, and Capt. Spaulding. The company's sixty acres of vineyard were 

 remarkably thrifty and healthy, the fruit wholly free from rot, and the grounds 

 elegantly clean. Some one should give Mr. Mottier a medal. 



On Saturday we reached home, feeling richly rewarded for our week's absence 

 among the vineyards. Andrew Merrell. 



Geneva, N.Y., Sept. 4, 1867. 



Pure Native Wines : what and where are they ? — Under this head- 

 ing, I find an article in your September number, in which the author proves, in 

 a manner satisfactory to himself, that mixed wines are pure wines, and that, in 

 the article of wine, the wine-maker is more reliable than the hand of the 

 Creator. 



Now, with your permission, I will give my definition of pure native wines. 

 These I understand to be the simple expressed juice of the grape, without ad- 

 mixture of any kind ; literally, the fruit of the vine expressed, and in casks ready 

 for market. It is true that it differs in flavor, in acidity, in strength, and in quality, 

 with many circumstances. The kind of grapes, the degree of ripeness, the time 

 allowed to mellow after gathering, the nature of the climate, the character of the 

 season, the quality of the soil, — all these circumstances materially affect the qual- 

 ity of the wine as it flows from the press ; yet the wine-grower should maintain 

 the peculiar chemical composition of the juice as adjusted by Nature. This is 

 pure wine in the hands of every wine-grower 2J\.& native-wine dealer "worthy of 

 the name throughout the country." Now, I am free to admit that those who have 

 been accustomed to the mixed wines of the wine-maker will not be pleased with 

 the pure wines of the wine-grower ; yet they are more healthful and grateful to 

 the natural tastes of man, and without any seductive influence. It is the duty 

 of every wine-grower to protest against any alteration in the natural composition 

 of the juice of the grape. Let it be placed in the hands of the consumer in its 

 purity. /. M. M^Cullough. 



Cincinnati, Sept. 18, 1867. 



