Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-10-12
THE SWISS VINTAGE.
AN OCTOBER DAY AMONG THE
VINEYARDS OF SWITZERLAND.
A Merry Party on for . Holiday-Getting
the Grapes Ready fer the Press--A Bit
of Fun-view of q vineyard-Three
Grades of Wine.

A Merry Party on for Holiday-Getting
the Grapes Ready fer the Press-A Bit
of Fun-view of vineyard-Three
Grades of Wine.
A Swiss village, a bright October morning
and full wagon. We were all going to
Monsieur P.'s vineyard, some miles distant.
1t 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 Gay for the gathering.
Wagons big and little, with many and
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
p 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
muscat 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
/ A -, NJ
lug and already great heaps of tho fruit were
| lying on the ground and in barrels and
| baskets.
We little folk began working with will,
each trying to outdo the other in speed and
number OF baskets filed. 1t was fun till we
began to tire, then another part of the work
| claimed our attention. On the roadside by
the storehouse they were crushing the grapes.
The branches were thrown into hogsheads.
the different varieties by themselves, and
then pounded with big wooden dasher till
the grapes We're 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 our 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,
mischlevous boy, hit upon a delight
full plan. Searching by the roadside,
he found and cut long stem of
hollow jointed grass, and, dipping it in the
nearly full barrel, began sucking up the
fragrant liquid We were not slow follow
ing ais example. and how refreshing it was
to our little thirsty throatsi An innocent
beverage, surely, in its first unfermented
state
''Ah! that's the way you help, is itg' said
Monsieur P, coming along with fresh load,
but he laughed, so we knew it was all right.
BIT OF SPORT
Down went my head for another sip but
instead-sputter, gursle, swallow, choke.
A peal of laughter from the children, a
hooking apology from mischievous Jean,
and l emerged from the rosy liquid with
dripping head and shoulders 1t was toe
funny not to laugh, so wiping off my face
joined in at my own expense
'Oh, mol it did no harm" said the vint-
ners, ''only little American flavoring: be
sides, it would be purified in the fermenta.
ton"
Never was frugal meal of bread and cheese
eaten with keener appetites, all sitring about
in true picnic fashion. An hours incoming
was allowed, then all fell vigorously to WORK
again
There was much for novice to learn. Be
fore the day was over we knew that tbs
7 crushed grapes went through the wine pres
not once only, but twice and thrice, the las
pressing making thin, inferior wine, de
cidedly sour. Also that the mout or must
when only few hours old, was a delicious
sparkling beverage not unlike cider and ais,
a most excellent plant fertilizer. We fount
out, too, that nothing was wasted, and tina
!: the dried skins and stems were pressed int,
1 cakes and used for fuel
Poor indeed is the peasant throughout tn
e grape growing region who cannot boast 0
at least a strip of vineyard, be it ever S
small According to his wealth SO is hi
vineyard. Then the thing is TO get the frui
gathered for the vintage as soon as possible
for there IS always danger of hail storms
q WHICH often lay waste acres of vineyard
Il causing great loss.
1t sTas a tired party that rode hack tina
+ evening, but there was much that was dc
: hghtful to recount of the days experience
n il spite of aching backs and blistered hand:
:. | EVELYN Carol in Horne ,loDrna1