Wichita eagle., 1888-10-18

Il
the Grapes Ready for the Press-A Bit
of Fun-View of q vineyard-Three
Grades of Wine.
A Swiss village, bright October morning
and a full wagon We were ell going to
Monsieur P.'s vineyard, some miles distant.
It was the first day Of the vendanges, there
fore the first Of three days holiday, &C
cording to the canton laws, when business is
abandoned and every one, grown people and
children, fall to and pick grapes in their own
or their neighbors' vineyards.
A merry party ours, even sober Monsieur
P. looking almost jovial, for how could he
help it with such lively crowd OF boys and
girls all promising to work like beavers, and
such day for the gathering.
Wagons big and little, with many apd
with few, we passed Here a whole family.
baby and all, with the mother clicking her
needles over the never forgotten stocking;
there small faction of two or three, but all
out on the same intent. We passed many
acred vineyards and tiny slopes where all
alike were working, and finally we reached
Monsieur P.'s vineyard. And what vine
yard was this There was none to excel it in
that part Of the country.
A VIEW OF VINEYARD.
Far back it stretched, covering the slope in
even, well trimmed rows the huge white
punches of chasselas and the dusky purple
rlIiscat bearing down the vines with their
rich weight. a small, rude board house,
wherein were stored all things pertaining to
the vintage, was open, and there we put our
lunch baskets A number Of nlep were pick
ing and already great heaps of the fruit were
living on the ground and IN barrels ana
baskets
We little folk began working with viii,
each trying to Guido the other in speed and
number Of baskets filled. It was fun till we
began to tire, then another part of the work
claimed our attention. On the roadside by
tho storehouse they were crushing the grapes.
The branches were thrown into hogsheads,
tho different varieties by themselves and
then pounded with big wooden dasher till
the grapes were well bruised and thus made
ready for the press. This was rare sport,
and we began pounding with all our might,
splashing the rich juice about, first in our
frantic efforts to show o1r skill, and then,
from very mischief into each others faces.
In went the grapes, higher and higher rose
the juice, and with it our spirits, till Jean,
r1ischievous boy, hit upon a delight
full plan Searching by the roadside,
be found and cut a long stem Of
hollow jointed grass, and, dipping it in the
nearly full barrel, began sucking I'D the
fragrant liquid We were not slow follow
ing his example, and how refreshing it was
to our little thirsty throats! An innocent
beverage, surely, in its first unfermented
state
sAhi that's the way you help, is it?7 said
Monsieur P, coming along with fresh load,
but he laughed, so we knew it was al right
BIT OF SPORT.
Down went my head for another sip but
instead-sput.or, gurgle, swallow, choke.
A peal of laughter from the children, a
mocking apology from mischievous Jean,
and 1 emerged from the rosy liquid with
dripping head and shoulders 1t was too
funny not to laugh, so wiping off my face
joined in at my own expense.
ssOh, no. it did no har1n," said the vint-
ners, ''only little American havoring: be-
sides, it would be purified in the fermenta-
tion.h
Never was frugal meal CT bread and cheese
eaten with keener appetites, ali string about
in true picnic fashion. in hours incoming
Wis allowed, then all fell vigorously to work
again.
There was much for @ novice to learn Be-
fore the day was over we knew that the
crushed grapes went through the wine press
not once only, but twice and thrice, the last
pressing making 4 thin, inferior wine, de
cidedly sour. Also that the mout or must,
whan only few hours old, was delicious,
sparkling beverage not unlike cider, and also
a most excellent plant fertilizer. We found
Ont, too, that nothing WIS wasted, and that
the dried skins and stems were pressed into
cakes and used for fuel
Poor indeed is tho peasant throughout tia
grape growing region rho cannot boast of
at least strip OF vineyard, be it ever so
small According TO his wealth so is his
vineyard Then the thing is to get the fruit
gathered for TIE vintage as soon as possible,
for there is always danger of hail storms,
which often lay waste acres Of vineyard,
causing great loss.
1t was a tired party that rode back tha,
evening, but there wss much that was de-
hghtful 20 recount Of the days experience,
in spite OF achins backs and blstered bands
Evelyn Carol IN Home Journal
Er,rrxtx fo,-r<e.-ve the 3rcysfure