242 TRANSACTIONS OP THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



others wliicli fewer persons also speak well of ; particularly the Herbcniont, 

 but this requires protection during- the winter. Of the Catawba, it is 

 famous, and the lake and the people there will take care of it. Elsewhere 

 it is a source of grief. After looking over the whole subject, I come to 

 the conclusion that, with these tliree, I would stop. Tliere may be uplift- 

 ing of hands at this, but I say these hundred sorts or so of yours need 

 further trial. If a customer wants more, as he should have, that is, a few 

 for trial, every nurseryman will give what he calls for, or what he thinks 

 may do well. Remember I am speaking only of that part of our country 

 lying between Kansas and Pennsylvania, and this, too, of field culture. 

 Sheltered by buildings, many of the fine variety will do well. 



WHAT SHALI- OWNERS OF FARMS AND TOWN LOTS DO ? 



Plant grapes ten feet apart, against every wall. Wherever there is a 

 wall, plant. If your house is a poor one, vines running over it will make 

 it look well. There may be some pride in having a stone front to show. 

 Consider whether a slender vine of the Delaware, lona, or the like, might 

 not give it an additional touch. If farmers will plant grapes around their 

 barns, and fence off the cattle, they will find there are other ways to 

 make money than to raise grain. A mechanic, with a poor house, and 

 only a few feet of ground, at a little expense, may teach his children, when 

 they see what their neighbors' boys want, not to steal. To raise a plenty 

 of fruit is a first step in teaching children to be honest. Nothing is more 

 certain than that, as a general thing, grapes do better against walls, and 

 in towns, than in open country places. 1 have often seen beautiful grapes 

 growing in back yards, wholly surrounded by walls, in New York city. 



WINE-MAKING. 



In a former article I spoke of a wine-cellar. With an acre of grapes it 

 is necessary. Much stress is laid by the Cincinnati folks on having every- 

 thing clean. One cannot be too important in this. However, it will take 

 some time for the gentleman amateurs of our country to become accus- 

 tomed to our native wines, particularly those who have become attached to 

 Spanish wines; for, though they never were certain of their purity, they 

 wei'e sure of one thing, that is, a flavor derived from pressing the grapes 

 by naked-legged peasants, and transporting the wine greater or less dis- 

 tances in rank goat-skins. But this prejudice will die out. Mr. Buchanan 

 says: 



"The wine press is something like the screw cider press. An iron screw 

 three or four inches in diameter, is used either in a strong, upright frame, 

 or coming up through the centre of the platform; the latter is the cheapest 

 and most simple in construction. A strong, tight box platform, six or 

 seven feet square, of two or three inch plank, six or eight inches high at 

 the sides, is wedged into heavy timbers, and in this a box of IJ inch 

 boards, five or six feet square, perforated with holes near the lower edge, 

 ten or twelve inches high at the sides, made to be readily taken apart, is 

 placed to contain the mashed grapes. Boards to fit loosely inside of this 

 box, and lay on the top of the pile of mashed grapes, or cheese, as cider- 

 makers call it, and pieces of scantling to lay across to receive the pressure, 

 complete the press. The power is applied by a long lever attached to the 



