232 AMERICAN GRAPE CULTURE. 



intensest form. The last are insensible to 

 delicate and refined flavors, which are usually 

 the most delightful of all ; their nerves can be 

 excited by the flavor of our rankest " fox," but 

 remain insensible to the delicate and pure 

 flavor of a Front ignan. All this results from 

 abuse. The nerves of taste, when in their 

 natural and healthy condition, not only vibrate 

 to the most delicate touch, but the vibrations 

 linger like those of a musical chord, passing 

 away by such delicate gradations, that we 

 scarcely know when they cease. Our pleasure 

 is just in that degree prolonged. 



If so much enjoyment may be found in the 

 natural use of the taste, it becomes a matter 

 of much moment to preserve its healthy tone. 

 We should do nothing that may deprave or 

 vitiate it ; but, on the contrary, do every thing 

 to give a healthful vigor to its tone. Still fur- 

 ther, we should, as it were, so educate it as to 

 discriminate promptly and nicely between the 

 good and the bad in flavors, and thus increase 

 not only the amount but the degree of our en- 

 joyment. In all matters of taste, whether re- 

 lating to the intellect or the sensibilities, our 

 enjoyment must be more or less enhanced by 

 our ability to perceive even the nicest shades 



