Notes and Gleanings. 1 1 5 



of Hermann, Mo., .a box of samples of wines of his manufacture. We had con- 

 cluded, after testing samples of American wines that have been sent us for sev- 

 eral years past from difterent sources, that good wine would not be made in this 

 country. The climate, the particular grape, or the requisite skill, seemed want- 

 ing to produce a palatable article ; but wc are happily disappointed in the 

 product of Mr. Husmann's vineyards, some of which will bear most favorable 

 comparison with the best wines of the Rhine, and must meet with favor among 

 those who are good judges of the article. Among the kinds particularly worthy 

 of notice are Norton's Virginia, Herbemont, Delaware, and Catawba." 



This is rather strong evidence, quoted from the same journal which now 

 speaks of "a good drink which /call wine." But mqxe : since that time, my 

 wines have taken at least twenty first premiums at fairs ; and if those interested 

 in the subject will look over the transactions of the Missouri State Horticu' 

 tural Society of Mississippi -valley Grape -growers' Association, and many 

 others, they will find them among the first everywhere. At the last meeting of 

 the American Pomological Society, about eighty of the members visited our 

 place, and partook of them freely. Let them say how they liked my wines, 

 and whether they caused ''that intolerable headache" of which the writer 

 speaks in his former article. " By their fruits shall ye know them." I am will- 

 ing to be judged after that doctrine, and will let every one taste the corpus 

 </t//^// who wishes to do so. If my opponent intends to be fair, why does he 

 not mention the tests I propose, and which are certainly as stringent as l-ne or 

 any one can desire .'' 



He mistakes, however, if he thinks I have been in a savage mood. 1 am 

 not tender-footed or sensi-tive on this point, but am always ready and willing to 

 argue it in a fair and honest manner. It is certainly an important question for 

 the wine-makers of this country, and we need all the light we can get upon the 

 subject. 



But I will quote a little further from the article in question. The writer 

 .says, " He cites us as having made accusations without investigation. We 

 have looked over our article, and failed to find where we have made accusations 

 against any one." Surely a strange oversight, whei he compares in that arti- 

 cle the wine made by simply adding water and sugar, and thereby improving 

 it, to that made of one-third grape-juice, one-thirJ cider, .<iugar-water, acetate 

 of lime, and oil of rose. This is an accusation against all who follow the prac- 

 tice of gallizing. The first improves the wine by simply adding ingredient.s 

 which are in the must naturally, but which are not contained therein in suffi- 

 cient quantity ; the second adulterates by adding that which is altogether for- 

 eign to the grape. The first is just ^'a pure wine (and I dare any one to prove 

 otherwise) as any grape-juice, fermented, can be : the second is a vile mi.xture, 

 disgracing the name of wine. 



Next the writer tries to be facetious. He says, " But if a man is caught 

 with his coat off, and a chill blast comes, he is sure to feel it, and at once turns 

 savagely towards the point from whence it comes ; and, even if he knows he can 

 effect nothing, it is natural that he should exhibit his feeling." 



I think I can safely leave it to the public to judge w/io " has been caught with 



