174 Notes and Gleanings. 



perature of sixty degrees centigrade will not turn, become diseased, nor deposit 

 sediment, was immediately put into practice at this wine-house. 



The Major constructed a heating chamber with capacity for two thousand 

 bottles of wine ; and the result exceeded anticipation. Wine heated in accord- 

 ance with Pasteur's method, and afterwards exposed to the sun for four weeks, 

 only gained a more perfect clearness ; while wine so exposed, without such prep- 

 aration, showed that trace of sediment which the most careful wine-makers 

 have not hitherto been able to prevent. Dry wine in casks can be heated in the 

 same manner. The history of this discovery in France thus far gives assurance 

 that it will be of incalculable use in the preservation and even the restoration 

 of wine. 



Of still wines, there are seven kinds made at this house ; namely, Catawba, 

 Isabella, Concord, Virginia Seedling, Ives's Seedhng, Rentz Seedling, and Tay- 

 lor's Bullitt. Of sparkling wines, only Catawba and Isabella have hitherto 

 been manufactured ; but the list is increased the present season by adding the 

 Delaware, Ives's Seedling, Virginia Seedling, Concord, and Rentz Seedling. 

 They promise great excellence, and are now for the tirst time presented to the 

 American public as sparkling wines. 



Indiana Horticultural Society. — This assembly of earnest and intelli- 

 gent fruit-growers has just held its regular annual meeting at the capital of the 

 Hoosier State. In previous years, these active pomologists have done a good 

 work for their fellow-citizens, — first, in clearing away the fogs of a confused 

 synonymy that has prevailed quite extensively ; next, in giving the results of 

 their experience with varieties, after thoroughly testing them in different soils 

 and climates, that vary with their situation, from the Ohio-river hills, across the 

 elevated plateau of the centre of the State, with its fertile valleys, and so on, to 

 the drives and sandy stretches of the lake-shores. The greatest length of the 

 State, from north to south, extends through nearly four degrees of latitude ; 

 and the rocks upon which it is based, and from which the soil derives in part its 

 peculiarities, are from the old blue limestone of the lower Silurian age, through 

 the Devonian and the sandstones of the coal-measures and the drift of the ter- 

 tiary period, to the newer tertiary of the lake-region. 



In all this diversified extent, we should expect to find a great variety of soil, 

 climate, and other conditions, that must more or less seriously affect the char- 

 acter of the fruits planted, and require a choice in the selection of varieties : 

 such selection has been the special object and design of these men, who have 

 devoted their energies to the subject, and have given the results of their labors 

 lo their fellow-citizens in annual reports. Another important work has been 

 performed by them in hunting up valuable new varieties that have been found 

 in the seedling-orchards which were planted in the early times before the general 

 introduction of grafted varieties. At these meetings also, the results of the 

 year's observations by some of the best fruit-men of the State are brought 

 together, and, after due consideration, are laid before the people. 



On the 7th of January, these intelligent men assembled in the senate-chamber 

 of the Capitol, and spread out a magnificent display of winter fruits, such as was 



