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R E F A C E 



THE present volume has been prepared in compliance with the 

 urgent request of friends in various parts of the country. 



We conceive that an elementary work on the vine, to possess 

 the highest practical value for the amateur, as well as the gar- 

 dener and vineyardist, should treat of all the facts and principles 

 involved in the subject, laying them clearly in order before the 

 student, and linking them together with just so much of the 

 theory as is necessary to explain lucidly their relation to each 

 other, and unite them in the mind of the student in one harmo- 

 nious and systematic whole. This is what we have aimed to accom- 

 plish in the present work, indulging in no theorizing speculations, 

 and introducing nothing of doubtful verification. We have given 

 a simple record of our own practice and experience, stating no 

 fact that we have not repeatedly verified, and which may not be 

 repeated by others, with like results. We have striven to make it 

 a safe guide to all. 



Although Grape Culture, and especially Wine-Making, are yet 

 in their infancy in this country, the principles and conditions upon 

 which success depends are so well established that, if we walk in 

 the full light of the knowledge we have, we need tread no doubtful 

 path. Though the work is strictly elementary, we have by no 

 means intended to make it in any degree superficial, and have 

 therefore labored to leave no important practical question unsolved ; 

 indeed, some points, that have heretofore been entirely neglected, 

 or very briefly noticed, are here treated with a degree of minute- 

 ness somewhat commensurate with their importance, as will bs 

 seen, among others, in the chapters on " Varieties," " Ripening," 

 and " Taste." 



The engravings are so true to life, and so admirably executed, 

 that they may be said, in some sense, to present a treatise in them- 

 selves, from which may be obtained a good knowledge of the 

 operations to be performed, as well as the manner of doing them. 

 Our acknowledgments are made elsewhere. 



February 5, 1867. PETER B. MEAD. 



