302 Notes and Gleanings. 



of Hungarian wines. A moderate bearer, and a thrifty and healthy grower. 

 Specific gravity of must, a hundred and ten degrees. 



In my opinion, it is to this Southern division of the ^stivahs species to 

 which we must look for our best and most delicate wines ; and, although they 

 may be too tender and too late for the North, they are well suited to the climate 

 here and farther South. Seedlings grown from them may show still greater im- 

 provements. We should experiment more with them than with the Labrusca 

 species, if we wish to obtain true wine-grapes. George Husmann. 



Hermann, Mo., March 9, 186S. 



Concerning Grapes at Sandusky and Vicinity, I867. — The early sum- 

 mer of 1867 filled us all with high hopes of a marvellous grape-harvest in this 

 region. The previous year, 1866, gave us a meagre crop, but matured for the fol- 

 lowing year vines of utmost vigor with admirable fruiting-canes. Fecundation at 

 flowering was perfect; not, as in 1866, prevented in good part by violent rain- 

 storms, which washed away the pollen. The copious showers from the opening of 

 spring to June started the vines into robust growth. A cessation of rain-falls came 

 with the summer months ; and we experienced through them and autumn the 

 most remarkable drought ever known along the Lake Shore. This, with the high 

 temperature, severe upon man and beast, and seriously damaging to the ordi- 

 nary products of the field, was favorable to the grape. The leaves expanded 

 and thickened. The young wood attained majority speedily, and ripened to the 

 tips. The berries reached medium size at midsummer ; stood still, apparently, 

 till the latter part of September, and then swelled to unusual size. It must be 

 admitted, however, that in July and August, though all or nearly all the causes 

 usually deemed predisposing to disease — as sharp showers succeeded by hot 

 suns — were absent, still the rot came, and did much damage among the Ca- 

 tawbas. This was especially true upon soils containing a considerable percent- 

 age of organic material. 



Strange too, in August, the Catawba and Isabella exhibited an appearance of 

 leaf so similar to mildew and its effects, as to be named such by high authorities, 

 as Mr. Saunders of Washington. On Put-in Bay, he attributed this effect to dew ; 

 but on the islands there is no dew, and, particularly this very dry season, there had 

 not been the faintest semblance of it. For the two months previous, there had 

 been no rain ; neitiier had there been any such noticeable changes of tempera- 

 ture as sometimes occur even in this delightful climate. 



Nevertheless, abundance of leaf-power remained for the needs of the vine ; 

 and the loss by rot was balanced, in part, by the extra size finally attained by the 

 fruit. The favoring autumn yielded other compensating results. With sparse 

 showers and continued high temperature, the late grapes gained bountifully in 

 quality as well as size. The tables once blessed with the sugary and aromatic 

 fruit demanded more, and the trade became immense. The shipments began in 

 September, and were not completed till late in December. Heavy orders for 

 wine-grapes also came in from the South, West, and East. At home, too, the 

 wine-merchants purchased heavy supplies ; and every owner of a vineyard, nearly, 

 thought it a safe investment to stock his cellar with these promising wines. 



