The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-10-09
be history of ia grape culture.

the history OF its grape culture.
We should not regard these failures as
decisive, but they should enter into 3
consideration OF the por utility of success
in making vine.growing an establish
cd industry.
But what would DO successf And
what tribunal should cit in Judgment;
IL might be harbinger Of success II
our vine would compare favofably with
European specimens. In 1878, at the
Industrial Exhibition held as Vienna,
| eighty-two specimens were offered by
twelve exhibitors. The options of the
British, French and Swiss Commissioners
are prblished, and should, it is supposed
fix tho grades Of American. wines. But
the awards MS issued convey no idea OF
the. value of the wines, nor of any 9th.
| er American products exhibited for there
were 442 awards granted to 654 exhibi.
tors. Ofthese none were OF tho frat grade
for wines. Of medals for progress. {,
that is fer improvement over former ex-
hibits, four were awarded, three for the
class of "merit," and diplomas conserrinp
honorable mention were issued TO the ex.
hibitors, there being nine awards to
twelve exhibitors Of wine.
In the abstract of the report of the
commissioners, we find no high estimate
placed on the wines, to which these
awards were granted in almost every In.
stance there Is an open sneer, or con.
cealed sarcasm in alluding TO them
while the Editor Of the reports in com.
miseration for our deficiency "has not
hesitated to omit all that was plainly
erroneous, or which appeared prejudiced.' .
Thus, with the best opportunity we have
had before the world, we have made no
position for our wines.
Some Of the wines on exhibition were
possibly pure and natural, but probably
thc greater number of them were of the
class wo have called Fabricated" The
standard wines, those from the drinking
OF which the experts had acquired their
taste, may have been of similar grades.
so..e natural, sorss fabricated. How
worthless must have been such test.
We know we can make good imitation
OF wine, substitute, but We wish to
know If we can with certainty and profit
make such as the Son of God blessed.
and for which no fabricated article can
be substituted.
To make the true, natural wine
its constituents must exist in the grape.
AS variable as arc aWinea in flavor.
strength and durability, to be good OF
their class tho grapes should have in
them water, sugar, acid, salts of potash
and lime, and tannin in proper proper
tions. If We examine green grape we
find in it an intensely sour fluid, with
some PUPPY mattor around the seeds.
This. by gentle changes in the laboratory
OF nature, is in time in great part con-
yerted into pleasantly sweet and slight
~ acid juice. If this change is effected
to. but q limited extent, tho fermented
juice makes a weak sour wine, but if the
fipening OF the fruit has progressed IA
yorap:y we may have an agreeable
wine.
The ripeaing and perfection of the
fault is the sine ua qnon, Gnd this process,
complicated as it is, has to be studied and
guided to successful conclusion before
an assured success can be hoped for. The
acid OF the grape is mostly tartaric; this
acid is very soluble in water, but when
brought into combination with potash
and lime if forms chemical compounds
but slightly solrble in Geld water. In
the process OF ripening the tartaric acid
| gives up some or It's component parts 10
the potash and lime in the grape, while
| the uncombined parts of the acid seek O
new combination with other constituents
! of the grape and assist in the formation
OF sugar. If, however, the potash and
lime should not be in the proper ouan.
tity and in place at the proper time 20
enter into combination with the tarfaric
acid, the wine will be unpleasantly sour.
and from the scarcity of sugar there will
be corresponding deficiency of alco.
hol. tN
It may be regarded as axiomatic that
vital processes, persistently interfered
with, either through deficient or supera.
bundant nutrition, will result in disease.
perhaps in death. 1t Is possible that the
comparatively short lives Of some vines.
| and the diseases and imperfections of the
plant, are in great degree attributable to
something Of the kind. If the so; can.
| not supply the proper amount of the
necessary, inorganic matters to perfect
the organic constitutions of the plant.
the production must be deficient il, ut;aAa.
ity or quantity, or derhaps in both.
True, natural wings have been produc-
ed in greatest perfection on volcanic foi-
nations, and in localities were potash
and lime are available constituents of
the soil; the use of manure containing
them has been practiced IT. all countries,
Their application, however, to soils in
which they are deficient, must not ex.
clude from consideration other chemical
and vital influences. Wines are stron.
ger, more durable and less acid in hot
regions than in cold ones while the dis
tance of few PAGES make O great differ.
ence in .he product explicable by change
IN the constituents Of The so:l, radiation
| of headt hygrometrical condition, texture
of the. soil, drainage, or some undiscovor-
| ed cause. On the determination OF. these
matters the treatment of the vine de-.
| pends. In earths which yield in excess
potash and lime the vine may, succeed
best if allowed to run riot id! the trees.
but If the supply is scant and the greater
part of it Is absorbed by the wood Of the
| plant the dose OF charge for the season
may be go fixed that 1t is not available at
the period OF ripening; TO antagonizc this
close pruning should be practiced. The
depth TO which the roots should penc-
trate the ground is at tho Same time to he
determined in part by the constituents ~
Il the soil as available at variable depths.
say available, for although the GUAM
ty. of lime, potash and other inorganic
i uustance5 may DO suHcient 10 list eignI
to six hundred years, still if these cub.
stances are in such chemical combination
that the plant cannot absorb them
IN sufficient quantity they IRE useless.
As we'll might we expect vine to -four.
ish in O glass tumbler filled with foul
wata. end marble chips, the potash In the
glass and ths me in the marble being
unavailable.
The experience OF I'M, - T;f,st Ss,.hIiehAa