220 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



any country so desirable as ours. Every one who treads this soil should 

 be proud that, even in a remote degree, he shares in this wealth, and that 

 he is able to contribute to our shining destiny. 



Eighty-one miles from St. Louis, on the southern banks of the Missouri 

 river, and in the county of Gasconade, is the town of Hermann. It con- 

 tains about 2,000 inhabitants. Two series of hills, scarcely more than a 

 quarter of a mile apart, inclose the town, and they terminate in bluifs, at 

 least two hundred feet high. These have been cut down to give a passage 

 to the Pacific railroad. A street fronts the river; a street runs back from 

 the river. At the end of it there is a hill. On approaching the hill one sees 

 another street open at a right angle, with another hill at the end. Turning at 

 the foot of this hill is another street, and all along are stores, churches, a 

 market, and nice residences. At last the country opens a little; there are 

 more hills and valleys, and one sees farm-houses, some in lofty situations. 

 Meanwhile, one sees in gardens and yards, on the hill-slopes and tops, grape 

 vines, or the stakes to which they are tied. The hills around Cincinnati 

 are high. Could you place other hills equally high on their tops you would 

 have such hills as are at Hermann. 



In this little town are only two citizens American born. The rest are 

 Germans, mostly from Saxony, and this county is settled mostly by the 

 same people. They are all for the Union, I seldom find a fruit-grower 

 who is a secessionist. There were only forty slaves in the county when 

 the war commenced; where they are now it would be hard to tell. Most 

 of the people speak English, some quite well. They seem interested in 

 only two subjects — grape growing and the war. They see, they desire, 

 no way to end it but by tearing up slavery by the roots. 



Mr. George Husman, who recently was one of the Missouri delegates to 

 Washington, took me in charge. He has a large nursery and is an exten- 

 sive grape-grower. After visiting his fine orchard and vine-yard, on the 

 bluff below the town, and tasting of his wines in his large wine cellars, 

 we mounted two gray horses on our way to visit other vineyards. We 

 went into the town and out through its zig-zag streets. First, we came to 

 the vinej'ard of Mr. Poeschel, lying on a hill-slope. It is an improved one 

 of his own planting, being of Norton's Virginia. In 1847, he planted seven 

 acres of Catawba, which variety he has abandoned. So have all the other 

 vine-growers in Missouri. They say it is not worth so much as the Vir- 

 ginia, even if it does not rot. 



The Norton's Virginia vine is vigorous, hardy, and productive; starts 

 two weeks later than the Catawaba; ripens two #eeks earlier, hence valu- 

 able for low grounds; bunches medium, compact, sweet and rich; moderate- 

 ly juicy;, makes an excellent dark red wine; subject neither to mildew, leaf 

 blight, nor rot. Its small size docs not fit for a table grape so well as some 

 other kinds, though for one's own use it is good enough. When it was 

 first planted here they inquired of Mr. Longworth, who was authority in 

 all such matters, as to its value; he replied that it was worthless. This 

 discouraged many, but not all. Before Mr, Longworth died he changed 

 his opinion, and sent hither for'a stock of vines. 



The vineyard I was speaking of contains about four acres, set out 6x8, 

 and trained on trellis, that is, posts T feet long and 5 feet above ground, 



