Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-11
GRAPE CULTURE.
Meeting OF the Monticello Grape
Growers Association.

| Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, June 10, 1856.
| The Monticello Grape and Fruit-Grow-
ers' Association held an important meeting
| yesterday, and discussed many questions Of
| vital interest TO fruit-growers.
Mr.. J. W. Porter reported on cold
| storage, and bis report was discussed at
some length.
on motion Of Mr.. II. l.. Lyman, COM
mittee was appointed TO visit the State
Agricultural Department in Richmond and
| urge the establishment OF division for
viticulture. The members OF the commit
tee are ii. l.. Lyman, Oscar ReiersOn, j.
w. Porter, j. Il. Bryan, and A. RussOu,
and they 90 TO Richmond to-day. They
will look after freight rates, agricultural
implements, &C., while there.
| A committee on insecticide was APP
pointed TO investigate and report remedies
| for the ravages OF Insects on grape-yineS,
| iruittrees, &c. G.. Arnaud, j. w. Porter,
A. l.. Holiday, Professor Seamon MILLER
SCHOOL,, and J. b. Andrews form the COM
mittee. This committee will report for
mule for the determination Of insects, and
will arrange to purchase the ingredients at
wholesale.
The matter Of establishing q newspaper
after some discussion which clearly ind-
Gated that the paper would be started at On
early day.
shipping baskets were displayed in con-
siderable numbers, and Mr. Porter was
! appointed committee to pass upon their
merits. and the basket recommended by
| him will be adopted. The Association de-
cided that members who contemplated or.
| dering shipping baskets should place their
| orders with this committee, who would
| purchase the baskets in bulk from the man
ufacturer.
A proposition was received from Rich.
mOnd paper company in regard TO furnish
ing bags to be used in protecting the clus-
tiers Of grapes from the sting 81 bees and
ravages Of insects. Mr.. Russou, one OF
the delegates to the National Convention Of
| ViticulturiStS, made a report, from which
was CLEANED the facts that sixty-four differ
ent samples OF red wines grown east OF thc
Rocky mountains were submitted. which
he found TO be good, well-treated wines,
the remainder being more or less fortified
| by spirit and sugar. Among the exhibits
| from New Jersey he found two wines
which be considered extra fne-one was
made from the Franklin grape, and the
other was q blend Of Norton and Franklin.
He found the Virginia Nortons far superior
| andmuch truer to the name. In regard to the
California red wines eighty-seyen samples
were tested. These wines, unlike those
east OF the Rockies, were made from grape
grown on vines introduced from foreign
| countries. MIR. Russou concludes his re-
| port: Any comparison OF eastern wines
| with those OF California Is OF course i'm
| possible, the wines being Of such different
| character. From what l have seen and
tasted OF the California wines am satisfied
| il is no use for us to compete with them
| in the wholesale wine market. Our future
lies In the growing and making OF dark,
ful-bodied red wines, OF the Norton and
Cynthianna type, and perhaps OF some OF
the new Riparias."
The president Of the National Viticulture
Association sent letter suggesting line
OF action for Albemarle grape-growers IN
order TO improve the fortunes OF the bill
now pending in Congress TO prevent
| the adulteration OF native wines.
In regard TO express rates for shipping
| grapes, IL was reported that the express
company had agreed to remove "short
rates that is, would ship packages OF
| less than 100 pounds at 100-pound rates,
| 10 apply only TO grapes shipped TO the
| springs. To the springs, also, q reduction
has been made from IS cents 10 80 cents,
and from 81 TO 70 cents 10 points fur.
! Their south.
Mr.. Reierson suggested that the Associa-
ton would do well TO consider whether It
was advisable TO employ man to keep
posted on the condition OF the market so
as 10 prevent loss OF profit through ship
| ping 10 points where the market Is already
overrun. Last year inferior, bali-ripe
grapes from southern State had glutted
the New York market Just as Albemarle
grapes were ready for sale.
Dir. Nimrod Bramham stated 10 the As.
sociation that he had discovered a sure
preventive Of rot in grapes.
Mr.. James l.. Gordon has accepted The
captainey OF the Monticello Guard.