National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-05-22

ing decidedly important, interesting, and
instructive address
Mir PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN or THE
NATIONAL yITIoULTURAL ASSOCIATION: In
accepting an invitation to address this con-
vcntion on vitculture as national IN
dustry, did II the more readily because,
foi many years of my life, have been
practical grape grower, and appreciate the
value Of grapes, not only as one Of the
choicest luxurles given by the Creator to
man, but as an article OF food 1t has few
equals, and even for medicinal purposes it
is highly recommended, grape cures being
common in France and Germany, and are
attended with the best sanitary results.
1t has been demonstrated that grapes can
lie grown everywhere in this broad land,
and everyone who calls an acre OF ground
or town lot his own ought to grow them,
n OILY few vines. They Will cmbellish
his home, and yield their grateful fruit,
frcshcr and more appetizing than such as
lie can buy Those who are not IN n condi-
ton, however, to grow them should he sup
piled with them by good market for
long period, say from July TO March, for
with the Improvements we have already
made In varieties, with the diversity OF
cheap Transportation that we ought to Sc
cure. we shall all he brought into closer
international relationship and enjoy the
products Of all portions Of our common
country. In Calf Oruia grapes can now be
grown, harvested; and packed for trans
portasicn at i4O per ton, at good profit,
ard the railroads from the Golden State
have found It to Their interest TO reduce
transportation to less than . cents per
pound to an eastern market, on fast time,
SO that they can be laid down at our
doors, II not now, yet in the near future, at
Ectnts per pound-a beautiful, nutritious
article Of diet to be enjoyed more than half
Of the months Of the year, Other sections
Learer by can probably produce them at
this price, md every msu, woman, and
child can indulge in fresh grapes and par
tally sutsist upon them, aud rs cheaply as
upon any other article of diet. In this ma
ton OF dyspeptiCs we need more fruit, and
we ext ect 10 see, in tue no distant future,
grape cures in this country from New York
10 California and as fully attended as in
Europe.
There is no good reason, indeed, why the
pure Juice Of the grape may not be enjoyed
every day OF the year, for 1t may be eX-
pressed and kept in cool place, below the
temperature of fermentation, and thus par
taken at all times. This plan has lately
been adopted by New York firm with the
most satisfactory results, and we expect to
see 1t followed by others, so that the al
ways welcome juice of the grape may form
part Of our daily diet.
But II was not so much the consideration
Of the Importance OF the grape In -cGGnec.
ton with its dietary aud domestic uses as
in the iiR7S a lntniiasccture of pure American
wines, and the protection OF them from
adulterated compounds, that this national
convention was called. AS nation we
Ill Il 81 hat has
accomplished In the last fifty years, dating
back TO the early beginnings at Cincinnati
and other sections. We can produce wines.
even now which can enter into competition
with the choicest vintages Of Europe where
wine.making has been followed for thou
sands Of years, and has been fostered and
encouraged by government aid. Here the
industry has had to take care of itself, and
1t has grown up and made its way by the
simple pluck and energy Of its followers.
Not only this, but we have had our best
brands presented to the public under
French and other foreign labels,
end only the indifferent ones presented as
American wines. But we have grown strong
enough now to insist on our rights, and to
stand on our own merits And to promote
this new order Of things this national WITH
cultural convention has been called. We
claim admittanCe and recognition among
The nations Of the earth as a wine producing
country, the fairest and greatest the Gre
ator has made. We are the rivals and sue
cessful competitors in the greatest markets
Of the world with almost every other pro-
duct Of industry and skill, agricultural and
mechanical. We also want to he IN the
cause Of true temperance. We want to fur
IRISH the nation with the cheapest, the most
wholesome and beneficial bGverage-pure
wine from the grape. We want 10 give the
American people American wine, If they use
wine at all, without fertilization or aduiter'
alton. Americans ought to drop the false
pride which causes them to think that they
ought 10 have something "far-fetChed aud
dear bought when at the festive board
They should encourage home industry, dis
card French labels ami French prices for
home products, when thorough trial has
proven American products the superior
II Is true france has been and Is still the
foremost nation in wine production, yield
ing formerly more than half, now exceeding
a third Of the production OF the world
France, Italy, Spain, and Austria produce
more than nine-tenths OF the vine OF thu
civilized world.
The returns of production and dstribu
tion in France and In this country have
striking Significance at the present time
The area and rate Of yield have both faller
away IN France, and the extension of vine
yards is the rule In America, while tn,
yield per acre is larger here, the marke
Increasing as wine displaces the more spirit
uous beverages, as the home population in
creases, and the taste for American vintage
makes its way abroad. Yet the cOntras
presented by these classes Of home ant
foreign facts is very great.
FRENCH DEcADENcE.
For ten years, 1871 to 1880, the avaragt
area in vineyards In France was 5,s3l, 81
acres, and the product l,340, 100000 gal
Ions. In the four years from 1881 TO 1888
inclusive, the area has averaged only 1857
ECO acres, and the product has fallen Il
1,OiO, 100000 gallons. The production
which was at the rate Of 240 gallons pc
acre between 1861 and 1870, and $50 be
tween 1871 aud 1850, has for four years beef
crease Of 22 per cent, The causes
are well known, due TO the presence
Of TIE phylloxera, and to fungous parasite
Of the vine. While unremtting aud com
Iarativeiy successful effort, IN inyestiga
lion ana in application of remedial meas
urus, has been continued with vlgOr and
determination and the aid of the govern
ment there appears 10 be little prospect a
present that France can supply the want
Of commerce in wines, In the southwest
especially, the ray0ges OF phylloXerG anC
MildLws are persistent aud progressive
The year 1855, instead OF indicating recov
cry Of the industry shows reduction o
about balfa million acres in vineyards, ant
1S5OCO,O0O gallons in the product.
There Is another view 81 French deca
dcpce IN wine production that is Instructiv
and significant. The great wlne.growin
nation fails 10 produce u home supply. 1t
imports Of wine are much greater than It
exports. Not as a wine seller, but as
wine buyer, appears at present this natio
Of vineyards. Already customer @
American vineyardist, the trade promise
immense expansion in the future. BE-
tween 1861 and 1870 the average excess c
French exports over imports was abou
C3CLO,0O0 gallons per annum, or three time
the present American product. The an
nuai average for the next decade was A.
CO0CG0 gallons. Since 1879 the import
bavp pyppeded tho aynnrtg and Franre ma