178 Notes and Gleanings. 



At a meeting of the Wine-growers' Association of Ohio, lately held, the presi- 

 dent stated that the business of wine-growing is progressing in this country. 

 He thought no better wines were ever made than those presented here to-day. 

 A few years ago, we had but a single wine-grape (the Catawba) ; but that has be- 

 come diseased, and it is supplanted by several other varieties. He complimented 

 the wine-growers of Missouri for their foresight in planting new varieties. The 

 Concord produces a thousand gallons per acre. They have tested a new variety 

 (the Cunningham), that produces the best wine in the world. The Chair pro- 

 duced the fact, that Ohio wines were quoted in Berlin ; showing that the tables 

 are turned, and America is sending wines to Europe. 



He thought that the wine-growers were doing a better work for temperance 

 than the advocates of cold water. Men will have some stimulant ; and what 

 better than the light native wines of this country ? With plenty of such wine, 

 the people will not drink strong liquors nor sour beer ; and hence we are the 

 pioneers of a truly temperance age. From the time the shepherds of Judaea, 

 while tending their flocks, watched for the infant Saviour, wine was the beverage 

 of the people. Even the Saviour himself, on a festive occasion, there being no 

 wine at hand, changed water into wine. Hence he could not think that those 

 employed in the growing of the grape for wine merited the contumely of the 

 community. We shall induce the Americans to drink the generous wines of 

 our vineyards instead of whiskey. We must raise wine at a low price, so that 

 the common people can have it. 



He thought that next season there would be eight millions of Ives's seedhng 

 grapes growing, and soon there would be plenty for all. He looked at the future 

 as glorious for the wine-producers. He thought the Catawba should not be 

 given up. A sample to-day was undoubtedly better than any wine that can be 

 imported from Europe. 



Mr. Husmann took the ground, that, when must contains all the qualities of 

 a first-class wine, it would be very foolish to manipulate it ; but if the must 

 would be improved by the addition of sugar, which is one of the elements of the 

 grape, the addition might very properly be made. So also, should the must con- 

 tain too much acid, he would tone it down with water. He would add nothing 

 except sugar and water, which are the elements that pure wine contains. 



He challenged the world to show that such wines are prejudicial to health. 



Dr. Heighway spoke about receiving wines from France that were declared 

 to be pure, but every one of which contained precipitate of lead. He protested 

 against adding any thing to wine that is not one of its natural elements. When 

 wine is too sour, it is almost impossible to correct it, and it had better go into 

 vinegar. He hoped that American growers will never resort to logwood or 

 sugar-of-lead in making wine. 



The president contended that Nature had put all the sugar into the grapes 

 grown in this country that is required for good wine ; and he protested against 

 the addition of any sugar under any circumstances. 



Dr. Warder was appointed (with Mr. Martin as alternate) to represent the 

 Association at the Lake-shore Wine-growers' meeting at Cleveland on the 19th 

 of February. 



