950 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
Vine Districts in Missouri- 
Taking into account the climate, soil, and loca¬ 
tion of Missouri, \v<3 have long considered it as 
presenting many attractions to the emigrant, whe¬ 
ther from the Eastern States or Europe. A cor¬ 
respondent of the New York Times gives some 
information respecting one branch of soil culture, 
which bears the marks of truthfulness and sincer¬ 
ity, and we make the following extracts : To the 
traveler entering Missouri from St, Louis, and 
traversing that part of the State south of the Mis¬ 
souri Iliver, it presents itself as one of the most 
beautiful States in all the West. -Following either 
the railroad to Jefferson City, or that already fin¬ 
ished to the Pilot Knob Mountain, one enters a 
picturesque rolling country, with wooded valleys 
and clear dashing streams—the rivers skirted 
with immense forest trees, and the view con¬ 
stantly broken with deep dells or vine-topped hills, 
or broad rich intervals encircled by the luxuriant 
forest. In a Northerner’s eyes, no doubt, it is 
the more refreshing after an experience of the 
grand mondtony of the scenery ol Illinois and In¬ 
diana. To hear that a country is a “country of 
vineyards,” gives of itself a most pleasing picture. 
... .The culture of the grape is to become one of 
the most important industrial branches for Mis¬ 
souri—for the whole country, it is of great mo¬ 
ment from other collateral considerations. 
the slaty and barren hill-tops with the beautiful 
green of vineyards, and giving the air of old cul¬ 
tivation to a new district. One village alone (Her¬ 
mann), with some 12,000 German inhabitants, 
produced last year 80,000 gallons of wine. There 
are certain great advantages to Missouri in a Ger¬ 
man agricultural population, which the people are 
more and more appreciating. 
The German, though not so good a pioneer as 
the American, is in some respects a better farmer. 
He is more thorough and thrifty, and he especial¬ 
ly has the distinguished German peculiarity of a 
love of beauty, and, perhaps in consequence, a 
greater affection for home. You will notice in 
Missouri the German farm-house nearly always 
with a certain air of taste about it, which you do 
not see about the American. Great trees are left 
standing near it; flowering shrubs are planted in 
the yards, and vines on the piazza, and flower¬ 
beds under the windows. It is observed, too, that 
the German does not so quickly sell, and holds 
by the old homestead longer—thus forming a 
more settled class at once among the ever-mov¬ 
ing American pioneers—and so presenting a state 
of society more attractive to the Northern emi¬ 
grant. ... 
» 
---- =*«-«»— -- «■ - 
Fruit-Growers’ Society of Western 
New York. 
With reference to the capacity of the State for 
this branch of culture, Prof. Swallow, the State 
Geologist, is reported to have said, that “Mis¬ 
souri contains more good vine-land than all 
France.” The business is now almost entirely in 
the hands of Germans, a most intelligent and 
thrifty class of people, who are deriving from it 
arge profits. Some of the vine-land—passed 
over by the American pioneer for its unfruitful¬ 
ness—they have bought even at 12| cents an 
acre ; generally they purchase it of the planters or 
proprietors for $1 an acre. Even the improved 
hill-tops, with wood cleared and soil broken, aud 
a good eastern exposure, and sometimes with a 
planting on it, could be bought for $15 an acre. 
The German peasant comes in with a small capi¬ 
tal ot, say $300 to $400, builds his log-house and 
his wine-cellar, buys his cattle and his imple¬ 
ments, and plants his-vineyards—at the same time 
laying out some of his fields for common crops. 
For the first three years he lives on his farm, the 
sale of his wood and the like. By the fourth year 
his vines make a return, and even if the year be 
a bad one, are certain to pay the wages of his la¬ 
bor. After this, his average yield is at least 300 
gallons an acre—worth from $300 to $375. It 
often reaches 1,000 gallons, at $1,000 to $1,250 
in value. One man can work two or three acres 
easily, and often much more. If he hires labor, 
wages are from 6s. to $1 a day, or from $12 to 
$15 a month. Provisions are very cheap, so that 
the returns from this branch of culture must be 
among the most profitable of any to be obtained 
from agricultural industry through the whole 
country. After innumerable experiments with 
vines from all vine-growing countries, the Mis¬ 
souri cultivators have settled down on certain na¬ 
tive grapes, and from th se they have produced 
some new varieties. 
The favorite native grapes are the Catawba, 
Isabella, and Virginia seedling. Of new and old 
varieties, there are now some fifty in Missouri. 
The wines made are much lighter than the Ohio 
wines—one (red) from the Virginia seedling re¬ 
sembling Burgundy, and another (white) being 
much like a common Rhine wine-. In some por¬ 
tions ot the south of Missouri, the culture has 
fairly changed the face of the country, covering 
The Summer meeting of this society was held at Ro¬ 
chester, commencing on the 30th of Jane and continuing 
for two days. 
The exhibition of strawberries was very large, with a 
good show of cherries, and a few foreign grapes. 
After a free and full discussion of the merits of the 
strawberries most prominently before the public, such as 
Peabody’s Seedling, Burr’s New Pine, Hooker, Wilson’s 
Albany, Hovey’s Seedling, Triomphe de Gand, &c. A 
list was handed in by each person present of the varieties 
he would recommend for market, and for amateur cultiva¬ 
tion. The result was as follows, omitting those which 
received less than four votes : 
FOR MARKET. 
Early Scarlet. 
Wilson’s Albany... 
Crimson Cone. 
Genesee..... 
Hovev. 
Hooker. 
FOR AMATEURS. 
8 I Hooker.'.]2 
,7 Burr’s New Pine.7 
7 Early Scarlet.7 
5 Wilson’s Albany.4 
.4 Hovey.4 
Peabody’s received two votes for amateurs, and one for 
market culture, while the berry which at one time bore 
off the palm over Hovey, viz., M‘Avoy’s Superior, receiv¬ 
ed but two amateur votes. Longworth’s Prolific had two 
votes for market and one fi r amateur cultivation_Most 
of those present agree'- that early Spring planting was 
best, and that there was little danger of manuring the 
ground too much, although a few had succeeded on poor 
soil. 
The diseases of the Peach and Cherry were next dis¬ 
cussed, but no satisfactory conclusions arrived at, other 
than that the curl of the leaf was more observable upon 
the outside rows, especially upon the northeast side, sug¬ 
gesting the necessity of protection. 
Summer pinching of the Pear was recommended as 
needful to secure a proper form, check the leader, or ram¬ 
pant side branches, and to induce fruit buds. 
The curculio remedies were canvassed ; and the most 
feasible method of saving a crop of Plums, or nectarines, 
appeared to be jarring the trees every day while the fruit 
was setting, for about a weex, catching the insects in 
sheets spread upon the" ground. When they begin to 
grow scarce, every other day will answer, and finally, 
once or twice a week. In this way, several gentlemen 
present had secured a full crop of fruit. 
Several members then engaged in a discussion, relative 
to the Summer pruning of the Grape-vine. The general 
conclusion seemed to be, that Summer pruning was not 
sufficiently attended to. Mr. Salter being called upon, de¬ 
tailed his mode of pruning, at length. His plan is quite 
similar to the Spur system , briefly alluded, to in our last 
number, page 212 (fig. 3), and described more minutely in 
the Agriculturist of last November, vol. XVI, page 260. 
The Society finally adjourned, to meet again in Roches 
ter next Autumn—time not named. 
Note the invitation of Seymour & Co., in the adver¬ 
tising columns. If you call on them you will See-more 
than is promised, and taste also. We called on them last 
year, and shall do so again this year. D. V 
-- ! -' . ■ .1 njjg g 
lUfficial Announcement .1 
American Poiuologicai Society. 
The Seventh Session of this National Institution wil. 
commence at Mozart Hall, 663 Broadway, in the City of 
New York, on Tuesday, the 14th day of September next 
at 10 o’clock, A. M., and will be continued for severe 
successive days. 
Among the objects of this meeting are the following : 
To bring together the most distinguished Pomologists of 
our land, and, by a free interchange of oui experience, to 
collect and diffuse such researches and discoveries as 
have been recently made in the science of Pomology—to 
hear Reports of the various State Committees and other 
district asssociations—to revise and enlarge the Society’s 
catalogue of Fruits—to assist in determining the syno¬ 
nyms by which the same fruit is known in America or 
Europe—to ascertain the relative value of varieties in 
different parts of our country—what are suitable for par¬ 
ticular localities—what new sorts give promise of being 
worthy of dissemination—what are adapted to general 
cultivation ; and, especially, to concert measures for 
the further advancement of the art and science of Po¬ 
mology. 
The remarkable and gratifying progress which has re¬ 
cently been made in this branch of rural industry, is in no 
small degree attributable to the establishment and salutary 
influences of our Horticultural and Pomological Societies, 
the proceedings of which have been widely promulgated 
by the Press. A great work has been already performed, 
but a greater still remains to be accomplished. It is, 
therefore, desirable that every State and Territory of the 
Union, and the Provinces of British America should be 
ably and fully represented in this, Convention, and the 
Pomological, Horticultural, and Agricultural Societies, 
within these limits, are hereby requested to send such 
number of delegates as they may deem expedient. Nur¬ 
serymen, Fruit-growers, and all others specially interest¬ 
ed in Pomology, are 3lso invited to be present, and to par¬ 
ticipate in the deliberations of the meeting. 
Held, as this Assembly will be, in the great commercial 
emporium of our country, easily accessible from all parts of 
this continent, and at the same time when the Convention 
of the Editors of the Agricultural Press will be in session, 
it is anticipated that the attendance will be larger than on 
any former occasion, and the beneficial results proportion- 
ably increased. 
In order to increase as much as possible the utility of 
the occasion, and to facilitate business, members and dele¬ 
gates are requested to forward specimens of fiuits grown 
in their respective districts, and esteemed worthy of no¬ 
tice ; also papers descriptive of their mode of cultivation— 
of diseases and insects injurious to vegetation—of reme¬ 
dies for the same, and to communicate whatever may aid 
in promoting the objects of the meeting. Each contrib¬ 
utor is requested to make out a complete list of his speci 
mens, and present the same with his fruits, that a report 
of all the varieties entered may be submitted to the meet¬ 
ing as soon as practicable after Us organization. 
For the purpose of eliciting the most reliable informa¬ 
tion, the several Fruit Committees of States, and other 
local associations, are requested to forward to Hon. Sam¬ 
uel Walker, General Chairman of the Fruit Committee, 
Roxbury, Mass., or to P. Barry, Esq., Secretary of the 
Society, Rochester, N. Y., a definite answer to each of 
the following questions, at an early date, and prior to Sep¬ 
tember 1st: 
What six, twelve , and twenty varieties of the apple 
are best adapted to a family orchard of one hundred 
trees, and how many of each should it contain ? What 
varieties, and how many of each, are best for an 
orchard of one thousand trees, designed to bear fruit for 
the market 1 
What six and twelve varieties of the Pear are best tor 
family use on the Pear stock? What varieties on the 
Quince stock ? What varieties, and how many of each 
of these, are best adapted to a Pear orchard of one 
hundred or of one thousand trees ? 
What are the six and twelve best varieties of the 
Peach for a family orchard ? What are the best varie 
ties, and how many of each, are best adapted to a Peach 
orchard of one hundred or of one thousand trees ? 
Answers to these questions should be made from re¬ 
liable experience, and with reference to the proximity 
or remoteness of the market. 
Societies will please transmit to the Secretary, at an 
early day, a list of the Delegates they have appointed. 
Gentlemen desirous of becoming members can remit the 
admission fee to Thomas P James, Esq., Treasurer, Phil¬ 
adelphia, who will furnish them with the Transactions ol 
the Society. Life Membership, twenty dollars ; Bien 
nial, two dollars. 
Packages of Fruits may be addressed to Wm. S. Car 
penter, Esq., 468 Pearl street, N. Y. 
MARSHALL P. WILDER, President. 
Boston, Mass. 
P. Barry, Secretary, 
Rochester , N. Y., July 1st. 1858. 
■—-—--»-«-—oo©«—-»-«.- 
ThomasPaine.-J. S. M., Lawrence, Mass., cri 
ticises the brief paragraph put in to fill out page 147 ol 
May number. We agree with our correspondent in his 
opinion that “ few men have been more wronged and oe- 
lied than this distinguished individual.” We should 
probably disagree with him as to the parties that have 
done the lying—his friends or his enemies. No man ever 
had greater occasion to prav to be delivered from hts 
friends. The fact is, Thomas was badmalenal to mane 
a saint out of, and the sooner that endeavor is piven over 
the better 
