The Vineyard. VINEYARD CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. OWING to a misunderstanding among the parties concerned, the reader was deprived of the excellent advice upon the subject of the vintage and wine-making, promised for the November number. Console yourself that it was too late to be rendered useful during this season, and be assured the subject will be incidentally brought up before the next grape harvest; and as that approaches, if "the Calendar" continues to gain favor in your eyes, full and precise directions will appear-probably in the last number of this volume. vent their liability to be heaved up by the frosts. The bands should next be cut, so that snows will not break the vines, and also to allow them to dry readily after a rain, for the retention of moisture would be injurious. In Europe many vine-dressers commence trimming their vineyards soon after harvesting the grapes, if the wood be perfectly ripe, for they consider that the vine would lose much of its sap if left until the warm weather in February, the season usually adopted for pruning. This is a matter in which we have not yet had much experience in this country, where the late winter pruning has been chiefly pursued. Some At the close of the Calendar for October, you were told that little remained for the vine-dresser to do besides setting up the leaning stakes, and controlling the washings persons, however, have tried the experiof the rains. Upon a careful consideration of the subject, however, the committee think it well to give directions at this time respecting the work which may or should be done in December. ment. One of the committee was induced to prune a part of his vines last autumn, and he can perceive no injurious effects, to say the least; and the fall cuttings, put directly into the ground, have grown admirably, and in larger proportion than usual. After setting up the stakes, so that the winter storms may not throw them down Young plants, which are of a suitable size and damage the vines, the next work is to to be removed, or which are intended for draw the earth up about the stocks, espe- sale, should be removed from the nursery cially where the roots have been washed in autumn, when the ground is in much bare of the soil; this will protect them from better condition for their removal than it is the direct effects of the cold, and also pre- in the spring. They may be tied up in CINCINNATI HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 129 small bundles, say of twenty-five each, and | Fall planting of the vineyard, we believe, either heeled in and nearly covered with has not been practiced; but it is quite prosoil, or set in sand in an airy cellar; in the bable that it would possess many advanlatter situation they will be more accessible tages over setting in the spring season, if for pruning and shipping during the winter. the land have been prepared. Cransactions. THE CINCINNATI HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. SINCE the autumnal exhibition of this society, there has been more spirit in the meetings than has been sometimes observed after the excitement of a great exhibition. The discussion of the Broussonettia's death, and the "acclimation" question, has attracted a large share of attention; besides which the tables have been liberally furnished with interesting fruits at every meeting. Mr. Cox exhibited some of the finest purple Broccoli that we have ever had presented, and for which the Secretary was very glad to have acknowledged his indebtedness, as he declares they proved quite as good as they were handsome-more than it would perhaps always be safe to assert of all untried beauties. conditions in which they delight; for they often suffer, during midsummer, to such an extent that they can not recover before they are cut off by the early frosts while budding into beauty. The crysanthemums have this year been very beautiful, and have attracted great and deserved admiration-especially with the stock of new Liliputian varieties added to the old sorts. The regular show day of these autumnal beauties was November 6; when a very handsome collection was brought together. The largest fruit contributors were R. Buchanan and T. V. Peticolas. But we were also indebted to Dr. T. W. S. Cornett, of Versailles, Indiana, for some of the finest and largest specimens of Pryor's Red, Put nam Russet, and other choice varieties, we have ever seen-excelling even the beautiful fruits we have previously received from this amateur horticulturist. Our only regret was, that he did not himself accompany the fruit, and enlighten the society, by a description of his soil and mode of treatment. The pears and preserved cherries, from E. W. Carpenter, of Lancaster, Pa., were welcome presents, and gave great satisfaction. These interchanges are valuable. The dahlias continued to reign the supreme glory of the autumnal gardens, until the morning of Nov. 8th, when the frost blackened them entirely. This plant has never bloomed more magnificently in our neighborhood. The autumnal rains and exemption from frost furnished the climatic The awards of the flower committee are as follows: REPORT OF THE FLOWER COMMITTEE. Chrysanthemums. For the best twelve, in pots, to John For the best specimen plant, blooms, $3.00 1.00 2.00 For the Liliputian varieties of William Heaver, and a handsome stand of different kinds, in bunches, from John Sayers, honorable mention is made. Varieties Exhibited. William Heaver-Chrysanthemums, Liliputians; Bella Donna, Bernettianum, Empress, Sulphurea, Petit Coucet, Coronet, Henrietta Salvio, Mrs. Cope, Pompone, Bijou, Madam Gondareau, Bouton De Venus, Titian, La Jongleur, Magnet, La Fiancee, Compactum, La Sapoule, Vulcan, Jaquite, Madam Jorgney, Queen, King, Arago, Sanguinea, Park's Yellow, Competitor, William Penn, Rosetta, Temple of Solomon, Queen of the Gipsies, Conductor, Napoleon, Defiance, Pompone or Daisy varieties, Metrocarioides, La Pactole, Paulidetto. John Sayers-Chrysanthemums in pots, Pigault le Brun, Eclipse, Madame Gorney, King, Eliza Meillez (new), Petit Poucet, Vulcan, Competitor, Metrocaryoides or Bouton de Venus, Tasselled White, La Pactole, Prince de Conde, Queen of Gipsies, Madame Gondereau. Cut Flowers.-Besides the above varieties, La Laperel, Purple Perfection, Adventure, Compacta, La Jongle, Queen. And the lists of those exhibited may be taken as a guide in the selection of varieties; though some others equally attractive were not exhibited, because they did not happen to be in good condition. Our own citizens, however, will have made themselves somewhat familiar with the most desirable kinds, for some hundred fine plants have met a ready sale from a single establishment, and probably as many more besides from other gardens and the market, which has often been quite gay with them, resembling the displays made in the spring. Notwithstanding the efforts made by this praiseworthy institution to foster a refined taste, and to improve the character of the fruits, flowers and vegetables supplied to our citizens, (the success of which is manifestly apparent,) it is a discouraging fact that the exhibitions of the past year have not been patronized by the people in proportion to their deserts; the consequence of which has been a deficiency in the treasury. The excellent suggestions of the worthy chairman of the council, in his recent report, are worthy of consideration, and we hope that they may stimulate more and more of our citizens to come forward and contribute their means and support to a worthy object, which has done much to furnish refined comforts and luxuries to all. More members are wanted. Many more persons should unite, were it only to contribute their support in a good cause; but they may be assured that it will be a good investment to themselves, whether they ever plant a rose or not; and the satisfaction of aiding what is praiseworthy, is itself sufficient recom pense. Lorain Horticultural Society. Welcome a younger sister in the garden. Glad are we all, to find others interested in Treasurer and Secretary - E. Matcham, Pittsfield. Managers.-H. P. Sage, Huntington; A. H. Redington, Amherst; E. Byington, Elyria; E. Clark, Eaton; Wm. Day, Sheffield. The committee on corn and root crops are requested to meet at Oberlin, on the first Monday in January, 1852. The American Wine Growers' Association MET by adjournment on Saturday, November 6th, at Masonic Hall. A communication was received from the secretary of the Hermann Wine Fair, inclosing an account of that interesting occasion, and a vote of thanks was ordered to that officer for his attention. A very interesting discussion ensued relative to these wines. The president introduced the communication of Mr. Longworth, respecting mashing of grapes, presented at the August meeting, and referred to a committee, of which he was a member. He reported that some grapes would not be benefited by fermenting on the skins, such need age to bring out their bouquet; others, as the Catawba, would have the peculiar flavor if fermented on the hulls; but if the fruit be perfectly ripe, this flavor will pass with the juice from the press. Dr. Mosher thought aroma was much increased by thorough mashing and working of the pulp before pressing. After some further discussion the subject was dismissed. A. communication was read from Mr. Longworth, asking whether a deep, cold cellar, sufficiently ventilated, or a basement room, should be preferred for wines; in the former the fermentation would be slower. The president stated that this subject had attracted much attention in Europe, among the best wine coopers and most renowned chemists. Baron Liebig had investigated the subject, and recommended that the wine should be treated like beer--fermented in large vats exposed to the air at common temperatures; but that experience had shown this plan was not the best, so that it appears AMERICAN WINE GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. we can not always depend entirely upon the dicta of the chemists. The delicacy of the aroma is lost-this is not a character within the reach of the chemical tests. He thought that when he tried open fermentation he had not succeeded so well. Mr. Foote had observed that the chemist Chaptal had made similar mistakes. Dr. Mosher considered the knowledge obtained from European authors very good, but we must learn from experience. He thought that he had observed that large casks were best, and a high temperature, say sixty degrees. The casks should be kept full, and so arranged with pressure or a safety tube terminating in a vessel of water, that the pomace should not be thrown off, and the violence of the action controlled. When the first fermentation was passed, the pomace settled to the bottom. Mr. Rintz concurred in this; but had not observed that the wine was any better when the syphon tubes had been used. Mr. Graham strongly recommended this plan, so as to exclude the oxygen of the air, which would have a tendency to produce acetous acid. Mr. Rehfuss thought it would not be best to have the casks too large, on account of the great heat produced in fermentation; besides, the process would be too much hurried; and he thought the slower the fermentation the better, after the first motion. In regard to the question of Mr. Longworth, Dr. Mosher cited an experiment in which the wine was fermented in forty gallon casks, the bungs closed with a grape leaf retained with a stone; the casks were kept in a close room above ground, temperature perhaps seventy degrees. The wine was quiet in ten days, and soon cleared; his own wine was kept in a common cellar. He had some that froze severely. Mr. Rintz used a common cellar, where his wine was received from the press in casks of eight hundred gallons capacity. Mr. Rehfuss had used different cellars, deep and shallow. Where wine froze and thawed, he thought it was changed; perhaps this caused the ethereal character sometimes observed. A member mentioned the very similar effects upon some vegetable products, produced by heat and cold equally. Mr. Brace said that cold only suspended the fermentation, which would again act; 131 but that if subjected to heat, the ferment would be destroyed. This and other matters were freely discussed by the members; when the president drew attention to samples, as follows: No. 1, Catawba, 1851, no special manure, high colored, not yet quite clear. No. 2, Catawba, 1851, manured, lighter color, milder, more matured, and much admired; all consider it a better wine. No. 3, Catawba, 1852, no manure, higher colored, roughish. No. 4, Catawba, 1852, manured, paler color, already much milder than the other. These are both new wines, it should be recollected, and have the fermentive taste upon them still. The president explained that these different wines of each year were all produced in similar soil and situation, except as to the manure applied, and had been treated in all respects in the same manner; but that all depended upon the chemical effects produced by the special manures applied to the vines, and that they operated in the growing grapes and wood, produced a different fruit, which, being differently constituted as to its elements, would necessarily produce a different result in the wine. He stated the effect of the alkaline manures to be the change of the malic acid of the green grapes into tartaric acid in the ripe; the latter, being insoluble in alcoholic mixtures, was precipitated from the wine; whereas the malic acid, if not transformed, continued to give an acidulous character to the wine.— He had calculated that forty or fifty pounds of potash were taken up by the grapes on one acre of ground annually; this substance is not abundant in our soils, and must therefore be added as a special manure. On motion, adjourned to the regular meeting on Saturday, 27th November. Pennsylvania State Fair. FROM the Lancaster Examiner, kindly loaned by a friend, I have been able to see a list of the entries, and also of the awards, made at the recent exhibition. Each list represents an extended interest in the success of the institution, which is creditable to the citizens of the Key-stone State. Vegetables, fruits, flowers, and wines, appear to have attracted, as usual, a large share of attention. The newspaper, being filled with politics, contains a very short notice of the fair, from which it appears that the attendance was very good. "Taken as a whole, it was highly satisfactory to the visitors, as well as to the society." As is very naturally the case, the larger proportions of entries were made by those residing in the immediate neighborhood of the fair. This is one of the strongest arguments in favor of the movable fairs, adopted by some states. Wisconsin State Fair. FROM the Wisconsin Farmer it appears that the citizens of our young northern neighbor have had a good time of it while holding their second State Fair, near Milwaukie. The display was highly creditable to the state, and to the taste and skill of those who contributed to the exhibition.The show passed off well; the weather favorable; the concourse of people large. From the editor's account of it, there appears to have been some dissatisfaction; but such things are to be expected in a new enterprise of this kind. The inhabitants are the right sort of people to encourage and support this kind of institution for the diffusion of knowledge, and they are fortunate in having an officer of whom all speak well. This is a great point gained; and it is hoped the labors and efficiency of Albert Ingham, Secretary, will be justly appreciated. Agricultural implements, as might be expected from the emigrants of New York, were prominent articles among the entries. Plows, cultivators, drills, etc., were there; and the Automaton Reaper and Raker, that queer thing from Chicago, which has attracted much attention and excited wonder wherever exhibited, since its first appearance in the New York trial at Geneva, last July. The collection of fruit was a very attractive feature of the fair. Among the exhibiters were F. K. Phoenix, of Delevan; John Bell, of Gardner's Prairie; and Orra Martin, of Spring Valley-from either of whom I shall be glad to hear more of the fruits of this young state. The Maryland State Fair. must, unavoidably, clash with one another! Fair of the American Institute. THIS institution held its great fair during the month of October, at Castle Garden.The horticultural department is the most extensive of the season, and presents every known variety of fruits that can be exhibited at this time. The machine department is full of novelties-labor-saving machines of every sort and kind; improved agricultural tools, entirely too numerous to be referred to even in classes. Among these, we may name a machine for picking up stones and potatos while passing over the surface of the ground, drawn by one or two horses. The potato crop is thoroughly gathered and deposited in a box, cleaned and free from soil, no one tuber ever escaping the action of the machine. When the box is full it empties itself, and the operation again proceeds.Small stones may be gathered by this machine, and the surface of the ground rendered as free from them as if it had been sieved. The operation of picking up these stones, secures a very perfect disintegration of the immediate surface-soil. The usefulness of this institution is to be seen in all parts of our country. The number of scions, grafts, etc., and superior class of seed distributed by the Farmers' Club, during a series of twenty years, has improved the contents of the New York markets, and certainly doubled their value as to |