LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 



BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY, 

 Washington, D. C., March 1, 1911. 



SIR: I have the honor to submit for your approval the results of 

 two ecological studies by Wm. B. Alwood, of this bureau, in charge 

 of this line of investigations at Charlottesville, Va. The results pre- 

 sented in this report, in so far as they relate to the occurrence of 

 sucrose in large quantities in the commonly cultivated grapes, are 

 new to science and constitute an important contribution to our 

 knowledge of the chemical constituents of this fruit. The presence 

 of sucrose in such a large amount, accompanied by a low acid con- 

 tent in the seedling studied in this instance, appears to produce a 

 flavor quite unique among American grapes, and indicates that these 

 data may be useful in future breeding work for the improvement of 

 the flavor of our native varieties. The data secured on the chemi- 

 cal changes which occur during the ripening of grapes on the vines 

 promise most important practical results, and this work will be con- 

 tinued until definite conclusions are established. The results so far 

 obtained are of sufficient interest to be placed on record. I recom- 

 mend that these studies be published as Bulletin 140, of the Bureau 

 of Chemistry, under the general title of Enological Studies, continu- 

 ing the series begun in Bulletin 129. 

 Respectfully, 



II. W. WILEY, 



Chief of Bureau. 

 Hon. JAMES WILSON, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



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