69. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of Henry L. Ellsworth, Esq., Commissioner of Patents, showing the operations of the Patent Office, during the year 1844. Printed by order of Congress. 28th Congress, 2d Session, Senate. New York: Mark H. Newman, 1844. 23 cm. 520 pages. Illustrations. Paper, title on cover. Covers torn, worn, stained, and detached. Lots of staining, browning and foxing throughout, but all the text is accessible to the eye.  

The Patent Office began issuing annual reports in 1837, and gave some coverage to agriculture. Patents and agriculture were not an alien pair, since a large number of patents were related to agricultural activity. Beginning in 1849, the annual report was issued with a separate volume for agriculture. These reports are of great interest to wine book collectors because through them we can trace the development of interest, and progress in grape growing and wine making in the US. In this early Patent Office report, I found only one reference to grapes and wine, under the heading "Other Products for Cultivation" – "Wine is so little made an object by the culture of the grape, that it is almost impossible to form any estimates respecting this crop; and therefore it has been omitted altogether in the columns of the tabular estimate. The culture of the grape for the table is increasing, and promises to be a source not merely of pleasant luxury, but, in many parts of our country may yet afford a surplus for foreign markets." [page 139]. Another subject that caught my eye was Morse's electro-magnetic telegraph, with diagrams, and a letter from Morse to the Secretary of the Treasury [442-449].

70. (U.S. Patent Office). Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents, for the year 1847. Thirtieth Congress – first session. Ex. Doc. No. 54. House of Representatives. March 3, 1848. Referred to the Committee on Patents. Washington: Printed by Wendell and Van Benthuysen, 1848. 23.5 cm. 661 pages + 8 plates of illustrations at end, numbered I-V, 17, VII-VIII, bound in upside down. Dark brown embossed cloth, gilt title on spine. Spine chipped, hinges cracked, covers water damaged bottom quarter. Internally a fair number of pages are waterstained. Reading copy.  

"In our former reports we have mentioned a variety of particulars respecting the cultivation of the grape, as well as its indigenous growth in this country. The attention given to it, both for the purposes of the table and the manufacture of wine, seems to be on the increase …" There are plans for grape cultivation in Florida "and the prospects of ultimate success are stated to be very good …" The only thing standing in the way is "the fear that frequent rains might destroy the fruit …" Alabama has been suggested for the El Paso grape. Texas, however, is the place to look for new varieties of native grapes, particularly the mustang, from which "red wines of a high quality and fine flavor can readily be obtained …" A French winemaker who came to Texas from Kentucky made several barrels of wine from the mustang grape and said it "was genuine port wine …" Edwards in his History of Texas (1836) says that "of all countries I have ever seen for producing the grape vine, Texas excels." Many German immigrants are settling in "the recently admitted state" of Texas, and under their skill it "may soon be known as the great vine-growing section of our union." [pages 197-200].

Appendix 12 [pages 462-470] is a contribution for this report by N. Longworth, "On the Culture of the Grape and the Manufacture of Wine" (Cincinnati, Dec. 3, 1847). Longworth describes efforts, some fifty years earlier at Spring Hill near Philadelphia, with foreign grapes, then switching to the native Schuylkill muscadell, or Vevay grape, later renamed the Cape. Both attempts failed. Then Swiss immigrants again attempted grapes from Switzerland, at Vevay, Indiana. They failed, then tried the Cape and produced an unsaleable wine. Enter Longworth, with a German vine dresser, to try the Cape with a different method, but soon thereafter he obtained the Catawba from Adlum and made the switch. However, he used much less sugar than Adlum. A that time "we had not been accustomed to the celebrated dry Hock wines and should have pronounced them hard cider. Our German emigrants learned us better, and we now seldom add sugar to the must …" Underhill had said that Adlum failed to make a good wine. Longworth says that his use of sugar was not the only reason – the other was his poverty. "I was at his vineyard one season when his vineyard failed, and he was supplying the deficiency from the wild grapes from the surrounding woods." In the effort to make a better sparkling wine, Longworth finally succeeded in obtaining a skilled cooper from Champagne in France, "but he was drowned in the Ohio a few days after his arrival. Contrary to what I had thought, Longworth did not really appear to believe his wines were as good as the European. On the subject of the Missouri grape, which makes a wine resembling Madeira: "Lord Morpeth when here, drank it in comparison with a fine Madeira, not knowing it to be a domestic wine, and gave it the preference. I know not whether he is as good a judge of wine as he is of diplomacy." There is also further interesting material on Madeira. Longworth continued to experiment with foreign grapes and native varieties and always felt that there was much yet to learn. "The cultivation of the grape for wine will be profitable where persons do their own work. It is seldom that any farming pays well where there is much hiring of hands … I have never given the subject the personal attention necessary … I am now too old to undertake it … I must leave it in younger hands." Appendix 12 has another short piece on "Profits of a Scuppernong Vineyard" by Sidney Weller of Brinkleyville, NC.

71. (U.S. Patent Office). Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents, for the year 1848. Thirtieth Congress – second session. Ex. Doc. No. 59. House of Representatives. February 28, 1849. Resolved, that 5,000 copies of the annual report of the Commissioner of Patents with the list of patents and claims annexed, and 40,000 copies of the same report without the list of patents and claims, be printed for the use of the House; and that 500 copies of the former and 1,500 copies of the latter be delivered to the Commissioner of Patents, for the use of the Patent Office, and that the entire number of copies hereby ordered be bound. Washington: Wendell and Van Benthuysen, Printers, 1849. 23.5 cm. 816 pages + 8 color plates and 7 foldout diagrams at end. Dark brown embossed cloth. Covers waterstained and back endpapers rippled. Internally occasional light foxing, and light waterstaining of foldout charts. Good reading copy.  

In a follow-up regarding grapes in Texas, the mustang grape shows promise and has also proven to be "an excellent one on which to graft other species … Other excellent varieties … may be introduced into the Atlantic and Western States from California, which is said to abound in this fruit." Longworth reports on the Ohio vintage. As to grape rot, he says that one vineyard "was in charge of a German uncommonly dull, who dug his ground just as he did it in Germany … He has not a rotten grape in his vineyard …" There is a brief report on increased cultivation of the vine in Hermann, Missouri, where a Mr. Poeschel who had planted Catawba in 1845, made 1,000 gallons of wine this year [pages 166-168]. In a letter from Cincinnati, Robert Buchanan talks about viticulture and winemaking in that area, together with attendant costs. "It is estimated that over three hundred acres are now planted with the vine within a circuit of twelve miles round Cincinnati … The Catawba is our great wine grape … The Cape is next … The Isabella … is only raised for table use. Mr. Longworth, with unwearied zeal and liberality, is still experimenting with new varieties, and may yet find a rival for the Catawba." [613-617]. There are scattered references to grapes. And for interesting notes on other beverages, see page 168 for tea in South Carolina [still the only tea grown in the US today], and pages 643-645 on whiskey: "Cincinnati is not only the greatest market in the world for hogs but for whiskey also …" But consumption is very low. "That portion of the community which elsewhere drinks whiskey, drinks beer and ale in Cincinnati. The whiskey brought here is rectified, and exported … to New Orleans."

72. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents, for the year 1849. Part II. Agriculture. 31st Congress, 1st Session. Ho. of Reps. Ex. Doc. No. 20. Contents ... Washington: Office of Printers to House of Reps., 1850. Stereotyped by L. Johnson & Co., Philadelphia. 23.5 cm. 574 pages + 7 plates numbered 1-7. Illustrations. Black leather backed brown mottled boards, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1849-50 / Agricultural." Covers and spine worn. Internally clean, except browning of one signature, and waterstaining in upper outer corner of first few leaves and more pronounced on plates at end.  

This is the first year the Patent Office report was issued in two volumes, with agriculture as volume 2. John Bell, reporting from Indiana, says the Catawba is considered the best grape for out-door culture, and that "some of our German citizens" are doing well. W.S. Keaghy (Jasper county) reports that the vine in Texas is bound to succeed. "Dr. Seybold, a Prussian emigrant, has a small vineyard … of Isabella … and the wine is of fine flavor, and sells in the shops for Madeira." Also from Texas, Pryor Lea (Goliad): "One fact is established, … that wine of excellent quality can be made from the Mustang grapes, which abound in all parts of the country. Some foreign grapes have already been introduced here, and succeed well." [pages 272-273]. Robert Neale of Mount Carmel, OH, writes about "Transplanting and Treatment of Grape Vines." [286-7]. An interesting article on "The Vine in North Carolina" was submitted by Lemuel Sawyer. The vine is the White, or Scuppernong grape. "In 1815 I determined to give this grape a fair trial. I … went down to Roanoke island, properly prepared with an improved wine press, casks and baskets. I set up my press in a central part of the island, which is ten miles long, and about four miles wide. I notified the inhabitants that I would give two dollars a bushel for all ripe, clean, hand-picked grapes they would deliver me. This liberal price stimulated their activity, and they brought them in as fast as I could press them …" He goes on to describe the winemaking operation, which ended with the fermented juice in barrels, with the addition of French brandy, which stopped the fermentation "at the right point." He bottled some of the wine "while in a state of effervescence, and on opening some a few months afterwards, in the presence of some invited guests, it was highly charged with fixed air, flowed over the glasses in a white foam, and was pronounced fully equal to the celebrated product of France." At the end of the year, the remaining wine "fully equalled the finest Muscat wine, which it most resembled." [283-286].

73. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents, for the year 1850. Part II. Agriculture. 31st Congress, 2d Session. Ho. of Reps. Ex. Doc. No. 32. Contents ... Washington: Office of Printers to House of Reps., 1851. Stereotyped by L. Johnson & Co., Philadelphia. 23 cm. 579 pages. Illustrations. Black leather backed brown mottled boards, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1850-51 / Agricultural." Front endpapers torn out. Back pastedown detached from cover. Covers and spine worn and scuffed, hinges cracked, top of spine chipped. Internally clean, except some browning and foxing and pages of one signature creased. Not too good, I'm afraid, except for reading.  

A general statement on grapes says that "American varieties are the only sorts, with one or two exceptions, which may be successfully cultivated in the open air, in many parts of the Union … The best American grapes for the North, Diana and Isabella; for the Middle and Western States, Isabella and Catawba …" [page 99]. An article titled "Wine-Making near Cincinnati, with Plans of a Wine-House and Machinery" is reproduced from the Western Horticultural Review, where it included a frontispiece not present here. Among the improvements in the methods of making wine from the Catawba grape is the stemming of the grape by a rapid process, introduced by Corneau, whose wine-house is featured. "The wines manufactured by … Corneau, … Yeatman, Longworth, Buchanan, and others … are frequently preferred by those who have been most accustomed to the use of the Rhenish wines." The entire operation from picking of grapes to bottling of the wine is described. "Mr. R. Buchanan of Clifton, whose beautiful vineyard has been so universally admired by all visitors, and whose wine is so excellent, has also introduced an apparatus for separating the stems from the mashed grapes, which is remarkable for its simplicity, being a large sieve, with meshes of about three-fourths of an inch aperture …" [238-241]. Brief notes on grape culture appear in a number of individual county reports throughout the book. Benjamin Sommers of Erie County, OH, suggests that for table grapes vines be allowed to climb a tree. His Isabellas ripen earlier in a tree-top, while "near the ground, on the arbor and trellis, they mildew and rot, nearly half the time." [373]. There is a fair amount of material on tea, including another report from the South Carolina plantation.

74. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1851. Part II. Agriculture. 32d Congress, 1st Session. Senate. Ex. Doc. No. 118. Contents ... Washington: Robert Armstrong, Printer, 1852. 23.5 cm. ix, (2), 676 pages + 8 leaves of illustrations at end, one of which has been torn out. Illustrations. Light purple embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1851-2 / Agricultural." Spine faded, covers worn. Internally clean.  

"North Carolina Grapes," an article reproduced from the Wilmington Herald of Nov. 10, 1851, concerns the controversy over the origin of the Isabella grape. Included is the reply received from Joseph Togno of the Wilmington Vine Dresser Model School in Diccoteaux, in which he says that there "is no doubt that the Skoupernong (Indian Sweet Water) is a native of … North Carolina … The Catawba … is also a native of this state … to this day found wild on the Catawba river in Lincoln county … I believe that it is from this locality that Mr. Adlum first obtained it in 1820, or thereabouts … The history of the so-called ‘Isabella grape’ is not so easily compassed …" Many names appear in Togno's research – James F. McRee, Laspeyre, William Prince, Longworth, George and Isabella Gibbs, Comte Odart of France, Marquis Rodolfi of Tuscany. "Of course Dr. McRee has never considered the grape an indigenous one, but a European, possessing, as it does, all the characters of a European grape and none of our native grapes. This is also our own conviction." The editors of the Wilmington Herald are disappointed. "The Isabella was always classed … among the natural products of our soil; and we confess we are loth … to yield up a point which robs North Carolina of the maternity of this delightful fruit." In any case, they say, it's either foreign or North Carolina, and they trust "that northern writers will hereafter remember this fact, and not locate this vine at different points in the Union, as heretofore." [pages 48-51]. For more on Togno, see my Catalogue GH, item 154F (Horticulturist 1851).

From the responses of the various State counties to the Patent Office questionnaire, we get a picture of where in the country grape culture is considered even worth mentioning. Langworthy of Rochester NY reports success with the Isabella [208]. Denniston of Steuben County NY makes no mention of grapes. Joseph Henderson, M.D., of Lewiston PA unsuccessfully tried "French and Rhenish vines" and switched to natives, of which he found Eichelberg, or York Madeira, and Catawba best. He made wine from both [249]. H.H. Coit of Cuyahoga County, OH chats about grapes and wine, recognizing that in that regard he lives in the shadow of the Ohio's southern city, Cincinnati. Addison Kelley reports from Kelley's Island, OH that "much attention is being paid here to the grape. The Catawba and Isabella are the favorite varieties …" He says a few words about costs of establishing vines and the expected return [374]. Missouri is another state with a growing interest in viticulture. John H. Blue of Brunswick: "Foreign grapes have not yet excited much attention; but from their success at many points on the Missouri river, where the Germans have settled, we may yet expect our noble river to rival the Rhine in its vine-clad scenery." [451]. Frederick Munch of Marthasville [downriver from Hermann] devotes almost his entire agricultural report to "grape-growing and wine-making." He feels they should not depend mainly "on the otherwise noble Catawba," because being from the Atlantic coast, it is "delicate by its nature" and not adapted to the damp and sultry weather of the Mississippi. He suggests the Halifax, Norton's Virginia seedling, the Rock-house Indian, and the Wine-home grape, native of Missouri. Rather interesting article. [452-454]. Grape culture for wine and brandy is reported by J.F. Hammond of Fort Fillmore, NM [479]. Reports from the newly minted state of California are highly enthusiastic. Philip Lynch of Placer County says that gold, the principal product, "will never be exhausted" and will provide employment "so long as ‘man exists’." George H. Campbell of Calaveras County says: "Nothing has been done in the way of fruit cultivation. The climate and soil are admirably adapted to the raising of grapes …" The only other California reference to grapes appears in A. Williams' "Agriculture in California," a talk delivered in San Francisco. He mentions a greenhouse with "two thousand of the choicest French and Italian grape vines …"

75. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1852. Part II. Agriculture. 32d Congress, 2d Session. Ho. of Reps. Ex. Doc. No. 65. Contents ... Washington: Robert Armstrong, Printer, 1853. 23 cm. vi, (1), 448 pages + 1 plate at end. Light purple embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1852-53 / Agricultural." Spine faded, covers partially water-damaged. Internal waterstaining of upper portion of first 75 and last 85 or so pages. Reading copy.  

Only a few references to grapes in the county reports. Among them is Addison Kelley's report from Kelley's Island, OH: "From such information as can be obtained from German and French vine-dressers who come to this country, the grape thrives as well here as in their own countries, and the wine made from them is equal to the foreign article." [page 251]. Thomas M. Cooley of Adrian, MI says that the Isabella, Catawba and Cluster "produce abundantly, but are not cultivated for wine, except to a small extent for sacramental purposes." [265]. Frederick Munch of Warren County, MO presents a follow-up paragraph on wine. There were heavy losses to mildew, and he still believes that the Catawba "is a little too delicate for our climate in the Far West." He also thinks that people's tastes need to improve "before wine-raising will find due encouragement in this country …" [322]

76. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1853. Agriculture. 33d Congress, 1st Session. Senate. Ex. Doc. No. 27. Washington: Beverley Tucker, Senate Printer, 1854. 23.5 cm. vi, (1), 448 pages + 4 frontispiece color plates. Illustrations. Dark brown embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / Part 2 / 1853 / Agriculture." Covers partly waterstained and worn. Some pages loose. Waterstaining off and on through first 100 pages. Some browning and foxing.  

In this issue, specific material is easier to find, since it is grouped by agricultural product or subject, together with county reporting for that subject, rather than having each county report cover all subjects together. Grapes and wine are given extensive coverage. Centre County, PA: "The York Madeira, when fully ripe, is our best grape; at least, I think the majority say so. The Isabella, Catawba, Clinton, and Muscadel, are severally preferred by many." [page 259]. The first reference to grapes in Oregon I've found is from Astoria: "… the interior of the Territory has a climate adapted to the perfect development of the finest peaches, pears, and grapes." [273].

A group of articles and reports under the heading of "Grapes and Wine" [296-313] begins with a historical overview, including early efforts in the US, beginning in Virginia in 1620. Beauchamp Plantagenet's Description of the Provinces of New Albion (London, 1648) is cited regarding wine made by English settlers in Uvedale, now in Delaware. Attempts by William Penn to establish a vineyard near Philadelphia in 1683 were unsuccessful. French settlers made wine on the Illinois river in1769, and in 1804 a Swiss colony settled at Vevay, Indiana, where they made wine by 1810 [296-299]. Next come the reports on grapes and wine from counties across the country. James S. Waite, reporting from San Gabriel, Los Angeles County: "The grape culture in this county has received the most attention from Mexicans, although it has been pursued to a considerable extent by Americans … Large quantities of grapes are annually sent to San Francisco and the mines …" Frederick Munch of Marthasville is one of three reporters from Missouri. He continues to be negative on the Catawba, though he admits it is unsurpassed for superior wine, and that others have had better luck with that variety. Munch has made some wine from the Halifax, and half a dozen new natives of the Mississippi will bear next year. Chauncey Goodrich of Utica, NY, reports at some length, and there are other reports from Erie County OH, Chester County PA, and counties in GA, KY, ME, MD, MA, VA [299-306]. In "The Southern System of Vine Culture and Wine Making," Sidney Weller of Brinkleyville, NC, tells us about his Scuppernong vineyard and the wine he produces. At a fair in Raleigh, his "Scupernong hock" was pronounced the best of wine. He understands that his vineyard is the largest in the South. He makes his wines, if my reading is correct, with one third spirits added (distilled Scuppernong brandy), in addition to plenty of sugar. Based on treatises of Hoare and others, he also makes wine from the leaves only – steamed decoction, spirits and several pounds of sugar per gallon added. This "Scuppernong leaf, or Port wine" was "pronounced by competent judges … superior to foreign Port." [306-309]. An article from the Cincinnati Columbian, "The Wine Crop of the West," reviews the state of wine in Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana. Don't expect to make a profit, they say, if you need hired help. "The German vine dressers muster all capable members of their family into the service – the wife often being the most efficient." Longworth's wine-vaults will turn out 150,000 bottles of wine yearly. "Mr. Longworth will this year have on hand and for sale about 200,000 bottles of sparkling Catawba …" [309-311]. In "The Grape Disease of Europe," the US consul in Oporto, Nicholas Pike, reports on the malady that has been ravaging the vineyards of Portugal for several years and has also hit other parts of Europe and Madeira. [311-313].

Among the articles on climatology is "Cultivation of the Vine in the United States," which relates the climatological factors of the vineyards of Europe to conditions in the US. Included are statistical tables showing year-round temperatures and precipitation for the various regions. Of some interest is the last section of this report: "Notices of grape cultivation and natural vine climates in various parts of the United States and Territories." [372-386]. Of interest for beer is an article on hops and hop culture, pages 242-254.

77. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1853. Agriculture. 33d Congress, 1st Session. Ho. of Reps. Ex. Doc. No. 39. Washington: A.O.P Nicholson, Printer, 1854. 23.5 cm. vi, (1), 448 pages + 4 frontispiece color plates. Illustrations. Dark brown embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / Part 2 / 1853 / Agriculture." Embossed on front cover: "House Document." Covers waterstained and worn. Spine faded. Some waterstaining internally. Some browning and foxing.  

Same as item 76, but House document, rather than Senate.

78. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1854. Agriculture. 33d Congress, 2d Session. Senate. Ex. Doc. No. 42. Washington: Beverley Tucker, Printer, 1855. 23.5 cm. xl, 520 pages + 8 plates at end, numbered 1 to 8, one of them "Insects injurious to the grape vine." (plate 6). Illustrations. Dark brown embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1854 / Agriculture." Embossed on front cover: "Senate Document." Covers scuffed at edges and at front hinge. Some foxing and browning.  

Grape varieties recommended for general open culture by the American Pomological Society (Boston, 1854) are Catawba, Isabella and Diana [page 231]. The report from Connecticut, which names the same three varieties as hardiest, also says: "The ‘Hinfindal’ (a foreign variety) is cultivated here very considerably, and does nearly, if not quite as well under glass …" [237]. Maryland has a brief report on grapes [244], as does New Hampshire [260] and Vermont [282]. Thomas Allen of St. Louis, MO estimates there are about 1500 acres planted in grapes in Missouri, "and the manufacture of hock and champagne is increasing …" The most extensive vineyards are at Hermann and the Catawba is still the favorite grape, though a remedy for "for the mildew and rot in the grape is a very great desideratum …" … "A German grape, called the ‘Rulander,’ gives good promise of success in the open air …" [255-257]. Buchanan et al of Cincinnati say that the best grapes for making wine are Catawba, Herbemont, Isabella, Missouri, Schuylkill and Ohio [265]. With reference to the grape malady report in the 1853 Patent Office Report, J.F. Allen says that this mildew, first found in Madeira, is the same as American mildew, which he describes and then recommends a treatment [311-312]. A number of states (GA, IL, IN, ME, NH, NJ, NY, WI) submit brief statements on grape varieties and winemaking [312-317]. Frederick Munch of Marthasville, MO is still concerned about the mildew problems of the Catawba. Natives like the Halifax don't have that problem, but Munch wonders about their suitability for winemaking [313-314]. The chapter on injurious insects includes information on those affecting grape-vines [59-84].

79. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1854. Agriculture. 33d Congress, 2d Session. House of Representatives. Ex. Doc. No. 59. Washington: A.O.P. Nicholson, Printer, 1855. 24 cm. xl, 520 pages + 2 plates at end, numbered 7 to 8 (plates 1-6 are missing). Illustrations. Dark brown embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1854 / Agriculture." Embossed on front cover: "House Document." Covers lightly worn, inner hinge at back weak. Paper of some signatures is evenly browned.  

Same as item 78, but House document, rather than Senate.

80. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1855. Agriculture. 34th Congress, 1st Session. House of Representatives. Ex. Doc. No. 12. Washington: Cornelius Wendell, Printer, 1856. 23.5 cm. lxiii, 488 pages + 3 color and 4 b&w frontispiece plates. Illustrations. Black embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1855 / Agriculture." Embossed on spine: "House Document." Nice copy.  

In "Decrease of the Wine-Culture in Portugal," Nicholas Pike, US Consul at Oporto, describes again the ravages of the "grape disease" which have caused much distress, especially in the Douro. Normal production in the Douro was 80,000 pipes, but only about 7,000 were produced in 1855. Of the 26,600 pipes "enrolled at Regoa, much of this wine has been brought from the adjoining districts, and will be mixed with geropiga, sugar, elder-berry, &c., and brought down the river to Oporto, and exported to different parts of the world as Port wine." [pages 302-304]. D. Ponce of Mount Zion, GA presents information "On the Manufacture of Champagne Wine." "The celebrated Catawba Champagnes, of Ohio, do not … retain their effervescent quality so long as those imported from abroad." He says he made some himself, with the same results, so for everybody's benefit he describes how it's done at Chalons-sur Marne, by M. Jaquesson [304-305]. James Houghton's "Grape-Culture in Northern Ohio" tells us that the Isabella grape does better on Lake Erie than the Catawba, though the latter is more highly valued, probably because it is the ‘Wine’ grape. And it does have more vinous quality than it achieves in "the clayey hills of the Ohio river." There are more than 200 acres of vineyard in the Cleveland area, and people are amazed that establishing a vineyard costs only $85 per acre in Cuyahoga county versus $500 in the Cincinnati area [305-306]. There is another brief report from Frederick Munch of Marthasville, MO. His Catawba and Isabella are still suffering from disease, while other varieties are not. His current favorites seem to be the Little Ozark, the Waterloo, and the Ozark seedling, raised from seed brought from the Ozark mountains in 1851. He has made wine from all of them, judged favorably by connoisseurs. Other reports were submitted from Illinois, Indiana and Pennsylvania [307-309].

81. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1855. Agriculture. 34th Congress, 1st Session. Senate. Ex. Doc. No. 20. Washington: A.O.P. Nicholson, Printer, 1856. 23.5 cm. lxiii, 488 pages + 3 color and 4 b&w frontispiece plates. Illustrations. Dark brown embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1855 / Agriculture." Embossed on spine: "Senate Document." Minor wear. Browning and occasional foxing.  

Same as item 80, but Senate document, rather than House.

82. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1856. Agriculture. 34th Congress, 3d Session. Senate. Ex. Doc. No. 53. Washington: A.O.P. Nicholson, Printer, 1857. 23 cm. xvi, 536 pages + 4 color [#1-4] and 23 b&w [#5-50] frontispiece plates (mostly birds). Illustrations. Black-brown embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1856 / Agriculture." Embossed on spine: "Senate Document." Light wear. Spine faded. Internally quite clean.  

In the reports of the states to the American Pomological Society, there seems to be a widening range of grape varieties cultivated (among them the Concord), although the varieties recommended by the Society for general cultivation are still Catawba, Diana and Isabella. States reporting on grapes, some of them very little, are ME, MA, NJ, PA, DE, MI, IN, IL [pages 328-403]. John A. Warder, M.D., of Springfield, Ohio, contributes a major article on "The Wine-Culture of the United States," a subject he says is still in its infancy. Topics covered are soil, location, preparation, planting, pruning and training, diseases, grape varieties, and winemaking, from vintage to bottling and analysis. Interestingly, the Catawba is listed as the principal wine grape, followed by Isabella, better for table use than wine, and relatives of Isabella – Shaker, Marion, possibly Ives' Seedling. Other varieties for wine are Herbemont, Ohio ("Cigar-box") and Missouri. The Cape (Vevay) and Schuylkill Muscadell are still cultivated, the latter "making a red wine of high character, which has been compared to Chambertin." It was extensively planted by the Swiss settlers at Vevay, Indiana [408-438]. In "General Principles of Wine-Making," the author, identified only as D.J.B., touches on many aspects of the process. One sentence caught my eye: "Sugar is not the leaven of wine, as has erroneously been supposed, but the parent of strength and alcohol … Therefore, adding sugar to the must, if not sufficiently sweet, is equivalent to giving strength to it, and is by far preferable to the addition of brandy, either then or afterward." [439-445].

83. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1856. Agriculture. 34th Congress, 3d Session. House of Representatives. Ex. Doc. No. 65. Washington: Cornelius Wendell, Printer, 1857. 23.5 cm. xvi, 536 pages + 4 color [#1-4] and 23 b&w [#5-50] frontispiece plates (mostly birds). Illustrations. Black-brown embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1856 / Agriculture." Embossed on spine: "House Document." Spine torn, front hinge cracked at spine. Internally clean.  

Same as item 82, but House document, rather than Senate. Frontispiece plate II is not identical to the one in the Senate document. Both illustrate a "South Down Sheep, from the flock belonging to the late John Elman, Esq" – same sheep, different pose, different landscape!

84. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1857. Agriculture. 35th Congress, 1st Session. House of Representatives. Ex. Doc. No. 32. Washington: James B. Steedman, Printer, 1858. 23.5 cm. viii, 551 pages + 4 frontispiece plates [I to VII]. Illustrations. Dark violet embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1857 / Agriculture." Embossed on spine: "House Document." Spine faded, covers a little worn. Internally clean.  

In "American Grape-Vines of the Atlantic States," Major John Le Conte of Philadelphia says that about "sixty years ago, there was scarcely a yard in the city of New York which did not possess foreign vines producing fruit of the finest quality. Now there are none – they will not grow there … In the garden belonging to the house in which Colonel Aaron Burr lived, about the year 1793, at the corner of Nassau and Cedar streets, there was the finest … collection of grapes I ever saw. All the choicest varieties that would be found in Europe flourished there …" He tells us that "in North Carolina, where the Skuppernong wine is made in large quantities, it is all spoiled by the addition of whiskey, cider, spirits, or peach brandy …" He devotes several pages to a review of the various grape species and their characteristics – vitis labrusca, tenuifolia, aestivalis, bracteata, vulpina, araneosa, bicolor, pullaria, riparia, odoratissima, rotundifolia, palmata, with references to Rafinesque. "Of these twelve species, the most worthy of cultivation are the white variety of the Vitis labrusca, together with the so-called ‘Isabella’ and Catawba, V. araneosa, V. odoratissima, and V. palmata – all of which are more or less sweet, and will furnish good wine." [pages 227-232].

G.C. Swallow of Columbia, MO in "Grape-Culture in Missouri," reviews the climate, soil and geography of the entire state as it applies to grape culture, and reviews the native grape species, as well as current experience as to the cost of a vineyard and its expected return. The conclusion he draws is that there are 5,000,000 acres of land suitable for vineyards, without encroaching on other crops, and that efforts should be made to cover this land with vineyards, "giving profitable employment to 2,000,000 people, yielding more than 1,000,000,000 gallons of wine, and an annual profit, at the lowest estimate, of $50,000,000 … There are also numerous caves …" with temperatures between 50^o and 60^o F, many of which would make "most excellent wine-cellars …" [pages 232-237].

85. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1858. Agriculture. 35th Congress, 2d Session. House of Representatives. Ex. Doc. No. 105. Washington: James B. Steedman, Printer, 1859. 23.5 cm. vii, 552 pages + 4 frontispiece plates [I to VIII]. Illustrations. Ownership signature on endpaper: "Property of Arthur Wait." Dark brown embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1858 / Agriculture." Embossed on spine: "House Document." Spine and covers badly scuffed and faded. Internally clean.  

This annual report presents a wide range of material on grapes and wine, apparently in recognition of the grape craze that has seized the country, and will continue for a number of years. In the introduction, the Commissioner talks about the distribution by the Patent Office of a variety of grape cuttings and seeds, as well as acorns of the cork-tree from Spain. "From the zeal and lively interest manifested in the grape culture in this country, and its unprecedented increase, we are led to expect that these experiments will be crowned with success." [page vi]. In the questionnaires distributed nationwide, the section on grapes and wine solicits replies to about fifty detailed questions [48-50]. California makes its first appearance with two articles: "The Grape and Wine-Culture of California" by Andrew W. M'Kee of San Francisco [338-344] and "The Grapes and Wine of Los Angeles" by Matthew Keller of Los Angeles [344-348]. M'Kee tells us about the California grape, a vinifera variety originally from Madeira. He says the Catawba has been tried in California, but "neither our soil nor climate will deprive them of that harsh and insipid pulp which they seem to inherit from their parent, the "Fox grape." Grape culture doubled from 1856 to 1858. Producers include Sainsevain Brothers and Kohler, Fröhling & Bauck in Los Angeles, and Colonel A. Haraszth [sic] in Sonoma, whose vineyard has 2000 vines planted in 1824 and 180,000 planted in 1857. Among M'Kee's sources are the Reports of the California State Agricultural Society for 1856 and 1857. Keller in his article says that they used to ship a lot of grapes to San Francisco, but now that they have their own, "the trade has diminished, although ours are superior … Consequently we must more generally convert our grapes into wine." Confirming M'Kee's view: "The famous Catawba and Isabella have been experimented with for several years, and at last thrown into the road as useless." Back east, R.H. Phelps thus introduces his article on Cultivation of Grapes in New England: "More interest is manifested at the present time, in New England, as to the production of the grape than, probably, in any other kind of fruit." [355-366]. D.J.B. concludes this little series with "Remarks on the Propagation of the Vine." [366-370]. L.E. Berckmans of Plainfield, NJ, takes people to task for giving up on the culture of some fruit because of a bad experience: "What are the borer, the yellows, the blight … when compared to that scourge of the French vineyards, the oidium? and still they did not talk of uprooting their vines, but went to battle …" [372]. D. Redmond of Augusta, GA: "We are just now getting into a ‘grape mania’ at the South … … the time is not far distant, when the culture of grapes and wine-making will be second in importance only to the growth of cotton …" [383]. Five or six acres of vineyard are reported in Washington, DC [388]. Ohio reports on the latest experience with various grapes. [417]. William Reid of Elizabethtown, NJ says that Isabella and Catawba are still the predominant varieties, but he relates experiences with Concord, Diana, Rebecca and Delaware as well [408-409]. The American Pomological Society continues to recommend, for general cultivation, Catawba, Isabella and Diana, and adds Concord and Delaware. New varieties that show promise are Herbemont, Rebecca, Logan and Union Village [424, 427]. Also of interest are statistics on wine imports and exports for the years 1851-1858 [233]. And from a long series of individual reports we learn about state, county and other local agricultural and horticultural societies – 942 in all, when they were founded, membership, etc. The earliest was Philadelphia in 1785, followed by Massachusetts in 1792, Rhode Island 1820, New York 1832, down to California in 1854, and others even more recent. In some cases, county societies were established before those of the state [90-213].

86. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1859. Agriculture. 36th Congress, 1st Session. House of Representatives. Ex. Doc. Washington: George W. Bowman, Printer, 1860. 23 cm. viii, 590 pages + 2 frontispiece plates. Illustrations. Dark brown embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1859 / Agricultural." Embossed on spine: "House of Reps." Poor copy. Spine torn and partly detached. Back cover water damaged and messy and practically detached. Internal browning and foxing, and some waterstaining pages 430 to end. Satisfactory reading copy.  

The very first article, "Government Experimental and Propagating Garden," (established in Washington, DC in 1858), lists a few of the 25,000 seedlings and cuttings of grape vines [pages 17-18]. In "Native Grapes of Arkansas and Texas," H.C. Williams of Jefferson, TX presents a survey of grape varieties, vineyards and wine-making [30-41]. "Report on the Saccharine Contents of Native American Grapes in Relation to Wine-Making" by Charles T. Jackson, M.D. discusses and presents findings of a study based on 38 grape varieties obtained in the Northeast [42-56]. Jackson also reports on proportions of acids in most of the same samples [57-59]. Thomas Antisell, M.D., professor of chemistry, Georgetown, reports "On the Presence of Tartaric Acid in the Cultivated Grape of the United States" [59-61]. "The Native Grapes of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and New England" is a contribution by John F. Weber of Washington, DC. His study examines the qualities of 38 varieties of species Vitis vinifera, labrusca, cordifolia, aestivalis, sinuata, and ends with some words in praise of wine [61-71]. Also by Weber is the next article: "Culture and Management of the Grape, and the Mode of Making Wine." Included is a detailed description of Dr. Gall's method of wine-making. "The secret of making wine from water was thus solved, and an all-important principle for wine-making established." [71-100]. "On the Productions of the Ionian Islands and Italy" by S.B. Parsons of Flushing, NY includes some material on the wines of Sicily [100-136]. But that's not all. At the end there are short pieces on grape culture in Illinois [535-536], South Carolina [536-540], and "Wine-Making in New York" by S.J. Parker, M.D. of Ithaca [544-547].

87. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1860. Agriculture. 36th Congress, 2d Session. House of Representatives. Ex. Doc. No. 48. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1861. 23 cm. viii, 504 pages + 2 frontispiece plates. Illustrations. Owner's signature on front pastedown: "J.E. Goodrich, Nov. 1861." Also: "From [illegible signature]." Dark brown embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1860 / Agricultural." Embossed on spine: "House of Reps." Front of covers worn. A couple of small nicks on covers. Internally clean. Nice copy.  

Grapes and wine are prominently on display, in this year's report. "Wine-Making" [pages 323-358] contains translated extracts from Ludwig Gall's "Practical Guide for making very good middling Wines from Unripe Grapes, and an excellent Wine from the pressed skins, … changing inferior products everywhere … into good middling Wines." Daniel R. Goodloe of Washington, DC contributed "Grape-Culture and Wine-Making. A brief history of grape culture and wine-making, ancient and modern, with a comprehensive view of the present extent of the wine product of the world." [359-402]. "Culture of Grapes in Graperies" is an illustrated guide by S.J. Parker, M.D. of Ithaca, NY [402-416]. "Native Grapes of Texas" is a one-page follow-up by H.C. Williams (reporting this time from Ayr Hill, VA) to his "Native Grapes of Arkansas and Texas" in the Patent Office Report for 1859. Another indicator of the importance of grape culture at this time is the prominent place of grapes in the new Experimental Garden in Washington, DC where the principal plants are tea and grapes. "About 135 varieties of grapes are now in the course of experimental culture. Many of these are being fruited for the purpose of improvement by hybridization, mainly with the view of their adaptation to wine-making, especially by the amalgamation of native and foreign varieties …" Grapes for distribution and/or in the course of propagation, are listed together with notes on their origins and qualities [29-32]. It is rather interesting that tea, so heavily promoted in this and prior years by the Patent Office, never took off in the US, though it was successfully grown in a number of states. Another article on tea appears in this report [446-467]. Today, the only tea plantation in the US is in South Carolina, where tea was first grown in the early 1800s, although the present operation ["Charleston Tea Plantation"] dates back only to 1987.

I was struck by the very small font size used in the printing of this report. Then I saw that Congress had authorized the printing of more than 200,000 copies of this report "Provided, That said Report be printed in brevier type, and be compressed within four hundred and eighty pages octavo." Excluding the preliminary remarks by the superintendent [pages 1-26], that target was met.

88. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1861. Agriculture. 37th Congress, 2d Session. Senate. Ex. Doc. No. 39. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1862. 23 cm. 656 pages. Illustrations. In pencil inside front cover: "THC from McLain, Jany 30, 1863." Bookplate: "Thos H. Canfield, Burlington, Vt." And in pencil on bookplate: "J.E.Goodrich, by exchange, from University Lib'y." Purple embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1861 / Agriculture." Embossed on spine: "Senate." Spine faded. Nice copy.  

The introductory remarks of Commissioner Holloway include a description of the work being done with grapes in the propagating garden [page 4]. "Agriculture of San Bernardino County, Cal." by Lionel M. Jacobs, has a paragraph on the grape [163-4]. "General Remarks on the Grape-Vine: its original habitat, distribution, and multiplication of varieties" is an anonymous contribution. It covers the stated subject, and adds 4 -5 pages on "manuring vineyards." [621-633]. Beginning on page 470, there is an extensive series of articles on grapes and wine: "Grapes on Kelley's Island, Ohio" by George C. Huntington [470-475], on vineyard work; "Experiments on Grape Cuttings Received from the Patent Office" by S.J. Parker, Ithaca [476-478]; "The Grapes of North America" by S.B. Buckley [478-486], an overview of what's currently cultivated, and detailed descriptions of ten specific species and/or varieties; "Grape Culture" by Dr. George Pepper Norris of Wilmington [486-495], an illustrated guide to grape culture under glass; "Remarks on Grape Culture, with reference to mildew, both on the native and foreign varieties" by William Saunders of Germantown, PA [495-506]; "Grape-Vine Culture and Wine-Making" by John F. Weber of Hammondsport, Steuben County, NY [506-525], an extensive essay covering all operations from grape propagation to wine-making. Beer is given its say in "Hop Culture" by L.T. Marshall of Oneida County, NY [289-293].

Of special interest is an article by Josiah Harlan of Philadelphia: "On the Fruits of Cabul and Vicinity, with a view to the introduction of the grape-vine of that region into the central climate of the United States." [526-537]. Harlan had lived in the area a few months as commander of a "division of the Cabul army, in 1838 and 1839, in a campaign against Muraad Bey, prince of Kundooz." He was struck by the fruits of Cabul, which he found much the same as those in the markets of Philadelphia and Baltimore. "The Cabul fruit … is vastly superior to any I have seen in Egypt, Greece, Italy, or France …" Harlan describes the various fruits, vegetables and flowers grown there, and how the vineyards are managed. He calls Cabul "the greatest grape-growing country in the world …" Grapes are mainly used to prepare a sirup for sweetening. "The Mohammedans do not manufacture wine, but the few Jews and Christians sub rosa manipulate the grape in that way, and the best Madeira and Port are produced from the fruit of Cabul …" Kandahar, he says, is the warmest climate favorable to the grape, used mostly for raisins, while "Cabul and its vicinity is the only cold country known where the grape is found in perfection." He believes that bringing these grapes to the US would be a great service to the country, since it would make unnecessary the futile efforts to acclimate European grape varieties. "Even should the present efforts of our horiculturists be rewarded by success, it is doubtful whether the European grape embraces the advantages of the superior luscious wine grape of Cabul, which thrives so luxuriantly in a climate of low temperature." Harlan offers his services to the government in this pursuit and estimates the total cost at $10,000, including "specimens of improved fire-arms … as presents for the ruling prince, Dost Mahomed." He says that Congress had authorized $30,000 for importing camels. "Is not the naturalization of a wine grape of vastly more importance than the naturalization of a beast of burden …?" Ever since the British attempt to conquer Afghanistan, travel there had been dangerous, but Harlan said he had the connections and was familiar with the language, ergo the right person to send on this mission.

89. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1861. Agriculture. 37th Congress, 2d Session. House of Representatives. Ex. Doc. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1862. 23 cm. 656 pages. Illustrations. Dark brown embossed cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1861 / Agriculture." Embossed on spine: "Ho. Reps." Very light wear. Internally clean.  

Same as item 88, except "House" copy.

90. (U.S. Patent Office). Report of the Commissioner of Patents for the year 1861. Agriculture. 37th Congress, 2d Session. House of Representatives. Ex. Doc. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1862. 23 cm. 656 pages. Illustrations. Blue-green cloth, gilt title on spine: "Patent Office Report / 1861 / Agriculture." Embossed on spine: "Ho. Reps." Water-staining at lower 3 cm of both covers and upper outer corner of back cover, binding otherwise OK. Internal light waterstaining at bottom of some pages. Good reading copy.  

Same as item 88, another "House" copy.

91. (U.S.D.A.). Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for the year 1862. 37th Congress, 3d Session. House of Representatives. Ex. Doc. No. 78. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1863. 23 cm. 632 pages + 32 frontispiece plates [I to XLVII + 1] and 4 plates at page 384 [Fig. 1-29]. Illustrations. Brown cloth, gilt title on spine: "Department of Agriculture / Report 1862." Embossed on spine: "Ho. Reps." Normal wear. Nice copy.  

This is the first annual report of the newly established Department of Agriculture, with Isaac Newton as Commissioner. In his introduction, addressed to President Lincoln, Newton reviews the great progress made by American agriculture to date and says that so far, at least, the "war" has not slowed it down. He expresses the hope that our republic may take warning from history, and "eradicating all destructive tendencies … become what Rome was not – eternal." This report continues to present extensive coverage of grapes and wine. "Climatology of American Grape Vines" by James S. Lippincott of Haddonfield, NJ [194-208], is packed with interesting information about factors that make an area suitable or unsuitable for viticulture. One suitable area is the southern border of Lake Ontario, the center of Ontario viticulture. "Most of the large vineyards of Missouri are on soil unfriendly to the vine …" Lippincott specifies which part of Missouri has the characteristics for success. Many other areas are analyzed. "The Grape, and its improvement by hybridizing, cross-breeding, and seedlings" by George W. Campbell of Delaware, OH [209-220], gives an overview of activity in this growing field. A long article on "The Preservation of Food" by L.C. Loomis, M.D., includes a paragraph on wine in which Loomis suggests how wines be made in the home. "… nearly every wine of commerce is drugged and utterly unfit for the sick chamber … No port, sherry or madeira, as commonly found in our market, is at all comparable to these wines [home-made, that is] in medicinal excellence." [494]. "Report of the Chemist of the Department of Agriculture" by Charles M. Wetherill [508ff] includes analysis of the grape juice of more than 20 grape varieties, with comments on the work of Gall and Liebig, and the views of what is and what isn't adulteration in wine-making. Mulder is cited as considering an addition or improvement of any kind an adulteration. "Report of the Superintendent of the garden attached to the Department of Agriculture" by William Saunders [540ff], touches on the collection of native grapes. The list showed 120 varieties, but since many are identified by number only, Saunders considers them of no value for distribution or propagation. "An entire new collection has been commenced, and about sixty varieties have already been received from reliable sources." "The Agriculture of California" provides a synopsis of Hittel's recent "Resources of California." He tells us, for example that "The grape crop never fails, as it does in every other country." [593]. Of some interest are production figures for wine that appear in the statistics for 1862 for the various states. The biggest producer, to my surprise, was Ohio, with 563,000 gallons, followed by California with 343,000, Indiana a distant third with 88,000, New York 61,000. Missouri was at 28,000, less than Pennsylvania (48,000) or Illinois (47,000) [577-587].

92. (U.S.D.A.). Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for the year 1863. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1863. 23 cm. 698 pages + 1 frontispiece plate and 47 plates numbered I-XLVII. Illustrations. Dark brown cloth, gilt title on spine: "Department of Agriculture / Report 1863." Covers worn, spine frayed at ends and hinge cracked at back cover. Internally clean.  

Grapes are featured once again. "The Apple, Pear, and Grape" by F.R. Elliott of Cleveland, has descriptions of 13 grape varieties, with 10 full-page plate illustrations (Catawba, Concord, Charlotte, Clinton, Delaware, Isabella, Lydia, Maxatawny, Rebecca, Rogers' Hybrid No. 15) [pages 127-130]. In "Grape Culture in the United States" [147-155], Wilson Flint of Sacramento, CA takes issue with statements made by Lippincott and Campbell in the 1862 report, to the effect that European grape varieties will not succeed anywhere in the US. We can guess the rest. "In fine, it may be stated that the wine grape of Europe has been acclimatized over more than one-fourth part of the territory of the United States … and … there are more foreign vines in cultivation throughout the nation than of all American varieties put together." He does say, though, that near San Francisco, "the foreign vine will not succeed on localities where the American sorts do quite well …" On the other hand, there are areas in Texas and other states, where "the European wine grape could be grown successfully, if sites are selected with the same reference to soil and exposure as is customary in Europe." Frederick Bossert of Newark, NJ contributed "Wine: the manufacture of grape, blackberry, and other fruit wines, on Gall's method, with a few remarks on the cultivation of the grape vine in Germany, France, and the United States" [156-158]. "Farmers' Gardens," a long article by Simon Brown of Concord, MA has a page of advice on "the culture of the grape in gardens." [354-355]. "Geography of Plants" [464-525] by James Lippincott of Haddonfield, NJ devotes a major section to the grapevine, describing European studies on temperature, and selection of varieties and their adaptation to the various districts. He gives "reasons why the European wine grape cannot succeed in the Eastern United States" and "general rules for determining the fitness of a district in the United States for the growth of certain varieties of vines." Also provided are temperature data and lists of places beyond the limit (Quebec, Canada; Hanover, NH, Astoria, Wasington Territory; etc.), near the northern border (Montreal; Amherst, MA; Rochester, NY; Chicago; etc.), and within the limit (Geneva, NY; Ann Arbor, MI; Gettysburg, PA; etc.). Interesting stuff [478-498]. "Report of the Superintendent of the Experimental Garden" by William Saunders, states that "considerable attention has been given to the collection of improved native grapes …" and that "about one hundred varieties were planted in the spring of 1863, all of which are believed to be properly named." A list is appended [548-549]. In Commissioner Isaac Newton's introduction, addressed to "His Excellency Abraham Lincon, President," one of the reasons cited for encouraging immigration is the labor demand, "owing to the vast number of our citizens now in the army and navy, or who have perished in the defence of their country." [5]

93. (U.S.D.A.). Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for the year 1864. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1865. 23 cm. 698 pages + 1 frontispiece plate and 47 other plates numbered I-XLVII. Illustrations. Violet-brown cloth, gilt title on spine: "Department of Agriculture / Report 1864." Covers worn, spine faded. Bottom edge of covers waterstained. Interior shows a fair amount of brown spotting, and many pages also have waterstaining in lower third. Solid reading and reference copy.  

In the lead article, "Virginia: her Past, Present and Future," Samuel M. Janney covers the by now almost obligatory subject of grape culture, identifying suitable areas. A Frenchman named Monare, after seeing "vineyards of our northern and western States," was impressed with Virginia and was planning to settle a colony "on a tract of land bordering on the Potomac river, below the mouth of the Occoquan …" but he died before he was able to carry out his plans [38-39]. "Improvement of Native Grapes by Seedlings and Hybridization" (illustrated), by S.J. Parker, M.D. [122-140], addresses a subject that is slowly gaining in interest. Other references to grapes and wine include consular reports, from Lyons on the French wine crop [500], and from Malaga on grapes and other products [501-502]; and the representative in Kanagawa, Japan, sent grape cuttings [504]. The "Report of the Chemist" (Henri Erni), includes a "new method to detect artificial coloring matters in wines," and analyses of ten wines, five of them from California [533-536]. Of brewing interest is "The Hop Plant" by Lewis Bollman [97-110], on its cultivation in the US.

Commissioner Isaac Newton, in his introduction, advises President Lincoln that the 1863 report "is but just issued," delayed because of "a want of paper at the government printing office, and an absolute impossibility of supplying it."

94. (U.S.D.A.). Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for the year 1865. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1866. 23.5 cm. iv, 608 pages + 16 plates [numbered I-XXXII] following page iv. Illustrations. Violet-brown cloth, gilt title on spine: "Department of Agriculture / Report 1865." Covers lightly worn, spine chipped and detached. Internally clean.  

Grapes score again in the lead article, William Saunders' "Report of the Superintendent of Garden." Saunders describes propagation, planting, characteristics of varieties, and the mildew problem. Also covered is growing foreign grapes under glass [13-25]. The "Report of the Chemist," Henri Erni, includes his analysis of a California wine, which he calls a superior specimen, but he doesn't identify it [50]. "Popular Varieties of Hardy Fruits" by F.R. Elliott of Cleveland, describes three grapes – Diana, Iona, Rogers No. 4. The first two are illustrated in the plates [VI-VII] following page iv [187-188]. "New Varieties of Grapes" by S.J. Parker, M.D. of Ithaca [194-199], has a history and description of Ive's Seedling ("Perhaps no new grape is, at the present moment, more largely cultivated or better proven …"). This is followed by descriptions of 8 varieties of Miller's Seedlings, and a few other new grapes. "The Native Fruits of the Far West" by R.O. Thompson of Nursery Hill, Nebraska, includes some information on grapes – Vitis labrusca, aestivalis and cordifolia, all hardy and with "good wine qualities … flavor and color of Oporto …" None are good enough to be called ‘table grapes.’ [209]. "The Grape Disease in Europe; its origin, history, phenomena and cure" by Henri Erni, M.D. [324-338], is considered of timely interest because mildew (oïdium) threatens "the total destruction of some of our native American varieties, like the Catawba …" The full-page illustrations were copied from a French publication. The subject of mildew and grape rot is also brought up in the article "Observations on Atmospheric Humidity" by J.S. Lippincott of Haddonfield, NJ, including "horizontal shelter as a protection from the vine mildew" and "ozone and the vine mildew." For beer aficionados, there's "Barley and its Uses" [355-367], which includes a few pages on malting and brewing.

95. (U.S.D.A.). Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for the year 1866. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1867. 23 cm. 656 pages + 36 numbered plates [I-XXXVI]. Illustrations. Black cloth, gilt title on spine: "Department of Agriculture / Report 1866." Covers mildew-spotted, spine faded and detached, back cover detached. Internally fairly clean, with some browning, but no waterstaining.

William Saunders again includes grapes in his Expeimental Garden report, but this time he has some negative comments about foreign grapes. Those received at the Garden have suffered the fate "of all other foreign grapes when grown in the open air east of the Rocky mountains. They are all dead. It would seem that the experience of at least seventy years ought to suffice in this matter of the foreign grape." There were high hopes for the Yeddo grape from Japan, but it too has failed the field culture test [pages 18-19]. The report of the chemist gives the result of a wine test, but information on the specific grape was not available. "The chief value of such analyses reverts to the individual, and is of little public good." [46-47]. "Remarks on Pruning and Training the Grape-Vine, with quotations and illustrations from various authors" is by William Saunders. Authors cited are mostly English – Meager, Bradley, Hitt, Speechly, Forsyth, etc. [97-114]. "Grape-Growing at the West" by R.O. Thompson of Nursery Hill, NE [115-118], reports experience with a number of grape varieties in Nebraska. "Wine-Making and Vine Culture in the Middle States" is by William C. Lodge of Claymont, DE [118-125]. He says housewives have made wines from berries since time immemorial, but not from grapes, in the belief that it required greater skill. But we now know that with a knowledge of the principles, a far superior article can be made from grapes, "at the same expense and trouble …" In another article, "Botany and Agriculture of the Rocky Mountain Basins" [125-131], R.O. Thompson says that Utah and New Mexico are "much more naturally the home of the grape" than Colorado. "The grape may be considered as much at home here as in Germany, Italy, or California; in fact, wine is made superior to any of the brands from California we have tested in the past two years." "California – her Agricultural Resources" by H.D. Dunn of San Francisco [581-610], includes four pages on wine. "From present appearances, the wine interest of the Pacific coast will, by the close of the present century, outrank in importance all the other agricultural products combined."

The most interesting article is "The Fruit Regions of the Northern United States and their Local Climates" by James S. Lippincott of Haddonfield, NJ. [137-90]. It contains a wealth of climatological data on the effect of oceans, lakes and rivers on the suitability of various areas for fruit growing. Temperature variations (lowest to highest) are narrower, for example, at St. John's, Newfoundland, on the ocean, (100^o F) than in inland Albany, NY (122.5^o), or St. Louis, MO (132.5 ^o). He talks about the vine lands of Crooked Lake [now Keuka – Steuben County], and Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. He dwells at length on Kelley's Island in Lake Erie, and discusses Lake Ontario and Lake Michigan, as well as grape culture in the Hudson Valley. Also of interest is "History of the Agriculture of the United States" by Ben: Perley Poore of West Newbury, MA [498-527], which has a brief section on cultivation of the vine.

96. (U.S.D.A.). Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for the year 1868. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1869. 23 cm. (4), 671 pages + 18 plates [II-XIX]. Plate I is listed in the index as a frontispiece, but is not present, and does not appear to have been removed. Illustrations. Black cloth, gilt title on spine: "Department of Agriculture / Report 1868." Back cover water-damaged and covered with mildew spots. Front cover and spine only slightly affected. Internally very clean, except for minor waterstaining of a half dozen leaves at lower right corner.  

From Commissioner Horace Capron's introduction: "The production of grapes for table use and for wine making has become an interest of great importance … It is to be regretted that the hard-earned experience of others is not taken as a guide, but the fact will be learned, sooner or later, that east of the range of the Rocky Mountains no climate has yet been found suitable for the continued healthy growth of the foreign grape." [page 6]. William Saunders presents an update on grapes in the Washington Garden and Grounds, with information on grapes received from Damascus and Australia, and studies of Scuppernong hybrids [118-120]. A report on beetles [78-117] identifies 5 beetles (with illustrations) that affect grapes. An extensive questionnaire gathered statistics on grapes – acreage, tonnage, wine production, costs, etc. – by county and state. "From some States the reports are meager, and California, the heaviest producer of all, is not represented." However, all results are included in the tables and listings. The top wine producer is Ohio (384,000 gallons), with New York and Illinois distant seconds, followed by Missouri. Overall, the most popular grapes for wine are Delaware, Concord, Catawba and Scuppernong. Lots of detailed information [207-219]. Further coverage of grapes and wine includes the Scuppernong [443], and reports from Ohio [444], Iowa [519-522], Missouri [524-25] and California: "The wine crop of 1868 is thought to be the largest ever made, being estimated from unofficial data as high as 7,000,000 gallons, of which the estimate for Los Angeles is 1,500,000, and for Sonoma 900,000 gallons." [444]. Interestingly, exports of wine from the US for 1868 totalled only 27,000 gallons, as against more than 2.7 million gallons of spirits – and, more than 210 million pounds of tobacco [53].

Of great interest is "Recent Agricultural Books" [555-596], which includes long summary reviews of Fuller's The Grape Culturist, 1868; Du Breuil's Vineyard Culture Improved and Cheapened, 1868; Mohr's The Grape Vine, 1867; Flagg's Three Seasons in European Vineyards, 1868; Van Buren's The Scuppernong Grape, 1868; Reemelin's The Wine-Maker's Manual, 1868. This is followed by "American Works on Agricultural and Rural Economy" [597-607], a short title list, and a listing of "Agricultural and Horticultural Periodicals" [608-611]. Not related to grapes, but of casual interest is the number of immigrants to the US between 1820 and 1860 – 2.75 million from Great Britain and 1.5 million from Germany. "Thus the same Anglo-Saxon elements, constituting the bulk of our original population, enter in nearly the same proportions into the accretions gained by annual

immigration." [53-54].

97. (U.S.D.A.). Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for the year 1869. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1870. 23 cm. 702 pages + 45 plates [I-XLV], the last 4 of which are foldouts. Illustrations. In ink on front pastedown: "Compliments of Hamilton Ward" [and in another hand] "Henry B. Noyes, Big Flats, NY, Oct 1873." Stamped: "Public Documen [sic], Report Agriculture 1869, House of Reps." Black cloth, gilt title on spine: "Department of Agriculture / Report 1869." Nice copy – about as good as these things get.  

"Report of the Chemist" by Thomas Antisell, M.D., has material on the curing or amelioration of wines in France by a heating apparatus. Passing an electric current has also been tried experimentally [pages 66-70]. "Report of the Superintendent of Gardens and Grounds" by William Saunders [79-81], is devoted largely to grapes – grape trellises, classification of grapes (listing), and notes on various species and varieties. It is accompanied by 3 plates of grape illustrations. There are brief notes on Mr. Ackerman's vineyard and wine-making at Syracuse, NY; Buena Vista estate, near Sonoma, "the largest vineyard in the world" (800 acres); and a new 400-acre vineyard in Wilmington, NC [all on page 447]. Ohio reports on its grape and wine crop [533-34], as does Missouri [545-546]: "George Husmann asserts that thousands of pounds of grapes are now produced where one pound was grown twenty years ago …" He says that adding 5-10% Norton's Virginia must to Concord improves the latter. "The delicious bouquet of Longworth's Catawba wine is said to be derived from a slight mingling of the juice of the Scuppernong." Husmann's recommendations on grape varieties are also given. From the American Institute Farmers' Club, there is a report by Mr. Harris of West Virginia of growing certain grape-vines from their leaves [416].

Book reviews include Buell's The Cider Maker's Manual, 1869 [506-7]; Flagg's Hand-Book of the Sulphur Cure, as applicable to the vine disease in America, 1869 [512-516]; and a discussion of Guyot's three-volume work on the vineyards of France, "of which the first has just been issued" [633-34]. "Tea Culture in the United States" continues that dream, tea having been successfully grown in South Carolina, Tennessee, California, and having good prospects in North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi [235-242]. Also interesting are the reports on the incorporation of Cornell University (1865) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1861).

98. (U.S.D.A.). Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for the year 1871. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1872. 23 cm. (4), 524 pages + 29 numbered plates. Illustrations. Black-grey cloth, gilt title on spine: "Department of Agriculture / Report 1871." Spine rather worn, cracked at joints, and heading for detachment. Internal rippling, but clean.  

Maladies of the grape are addressed in the "Report of the Entomologist …" [69-88], which includes information on the grape-vine hopper, not to be confused with thrips, and also on the grape-vine root-gall louse or Phylloxera vastatrix. Mr. Riley, State entomologist of Missouri, had reported on this louse in the 1870 Agriculture Report. Since then he has been to France for further study, "and now feels convinced that our insect is exactly the same, and has the same habits as the French insect …" [85-88]. And grape mildew is featured in the "Report on Fungoid Diseases of Plants" [110-118], with 5 plate illustrations. The mildew that affects the European grapevine grown under glass in the US "is similar to, if not identical with, that which proves destructive to the vines in Europe, known as Oidium Tuckeri." William Saunders' report on the "Gardens and Grounds" mentions an "exotic grapery … planted with ninety varieties of the Vitis vinifera" including several new kinds "which may prove valuable for vineyard cultuire on the Pacific coast." [102]. Other brief reports on grapes and/or wine may be found in "Southern Fruit-Growing for Market" [143-159], "Digest of State Reports" [347-410] and elsewhere. States included are DE, MD, NC, GA, MS, LA, TX, FL, IA, OH, MI, MO, NE, RI, SC, NY [all identified in the index]. There is some interesting material on North Carolina [149-152]. Apparently the price of grapes had dropped from 25 cents a pound fifteen years earlier to 3.5 cents. At that time Dr. Spaulding had said in St. Louis that in 25 years the price would be 5 cents, "and his assertion was laughed at." [232]. There is a review of Charles E. Lee's Remarks on Wines and Alcohol, a journal reprint, Tilden & Co., 1871 [430].

99. (U.S.D.A.). Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture of the Operations of the Department for the year 1876. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1877. 23.5 cm. 447 pages + 15 numbered plates, the first of which is a frontispiece foldout. Illustrations. Black cloth, gilt title on spine: "Department of Agriculture / Report 1876." Top of spine frayed, covers lightly worn.

Phylloxera vastatrix, or grape-vine-root gall-louse is the grape topic of the year. The "Report of the Entomologist" covers that topic [40-41], as well as the grape-leaf hopper (Erythroneura vitis) [32-33]. Regarding the latter: "Carrying a lighted torch through the vineyard at night is said to destroy multitudes, as, attracted by the fire, they fly into the flame and are burnt. This should be repeated at short intervals." The source of this idea is not mentioned here, but was identified in the 1871 Report [page 85] as "Mr. Saunders, of Canada." As for phylloxera treatments proposed in European journals, they "are too numerous to quote in this report, and as every writer thinks his own remedy the best, and reports it as infallible, nothing can be relied upon until it has been tested by competent persons in this country." William Saunders also discusses phylloxera in his "Report of the Superintendent of Gardens." The burden of his assessment is that "the insect is falsely accused … … They have long been observed on the roots of grapes; but it is only when the plants are otherwise diseased and their normal vitality impaired [in this case mildew or oïdium] that the insects prevail to a fatal extent. Various kinds of Aphides have existed on the roots of plants from time immemorial." The true cause is "atmospheric influences, as is clearly shown by its successful culture in glass structures …" [70-73]. Phylloxera also appears in the report of the botanist, who obtained samples from France. The French louse is smaller than the American, as illustrated on the accompanying plate [81-82]. In the report from Missouri, "C.V. Riley states that the grape phylloxera has made its appearance in California and some of the Southern States … in the neighborhood of Sonoma, many vineyards have been seriously affected." [411].

The Department’s chemist continues his testing of wines, listing test results of 22 samples. These were of interest because they were specimens for the International Exhibition, contributed by Bush & Son, and Meissner, of Bushberg, MO [53]. J.C. Weinberger of Napa County, CA has a new method of making grape-sirup from the Mission grape, using a patent evaporator from Cincinnati [161]. Spotty references to grapes appear in the digests of state reports, including information on the new Lady grape in Ohio, a Concord seedling [418].

100. (U.S.D.A.). Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for the year 1877. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1878. 23.5 cm. 592 pages + 52 plates, of which one is a foldout. Name on endpaper: "A. Taylor." Dark brown cloth, gilt title on spine: "Department of Agriculture / Report 1877." Spine faded, covers worn, internally crisp and clean.  

Grapes and wine appear to be plantae non gratae in this report. Saunders includes them in his Garden report only in the list of plants no longer distributed because of budget cutbacks. The chemist no longer tests wines, though in his study of the causes of mildew, he mentions the vineyards of Lake Erie succumbing to it. He blames it on lack of fertilizer, the growers having been successful for 25 years without worrying about soil exhaustion [page 88]. In the classification of the "Economic Museum of Agriculture," subsection 5 is "Beverages, Liquors and Narcotics," which include tea, coffee, cocoa, vinegar and wines, liquors, narcotic stimulants. The alcoholic components are "not represented at present." [121, 139-140]. I did find one reference to grapes in the report on Florida, where in the fine print, "the vine does extremely well." [553]. Tea is still promoted, with an article on the "Chinese Tea-Plant" [349-367], which has 12 plate illustrations, and testimonials from growers in South Carolina (mostly) and NC, TN, FL, GA, MD.

101. (U.S.D.A.). Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for the year 1878. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1879. 23.5 cm. 608 pages + 56 plates and 3 foldouts. Eight of the plates are in color (swine plague), with protective tissue. Brown cloth, gilt title on spine: "Department of Agriculture / Report 1878." Spine faded and frayed, covers worn, binding and hinges loose. Internally clean.  

William Saunders once again expounds on the problems of grape-growing – lack of understanding of causes of mildew ("solely atmospheric"), bad advice given, good advice not taken, the proper choice of grape varieties, and so on [196-200]. In "Report of the Entomologist," Charles V. Riley gives us an update on phylloxera, and on the continued interest in France in American vines. "… one periodical, La Vigne Américaine … is entirely devoted to them … … the varieties which I first recommended, seven years ago, are … still sought for and used by the French … as stock on which to graft their viniferas." [237-238]. Elsewhere we learn that "two hundred thousand acres of land are planted in vineyards, … the whole wine-product being 15,000,000 gallons." [580]. Interesting, in this connection, is that the total export of wine in 1877 was 99,500 gallons, dropping to 46,600 in 1878 [286]. E.W. Hilgard contributed an article on "The Agriculture and Soils of California" [476-507], which has a few pages on "grape culture and wine-making" [503-507]. One of the peculiarities of California wines is a flavor, called "earthy." Another peculiarity is the considerable alcoholic strength, which "has already been in a measure remedied by the use of such varieties as the Hungarian ‘Yinfandel’ and others of a more acid and tart character …" Another drawback to quality is "the tendency of each vine-grower to make his own wines" on the assumption that "wine-making is an easy thing … The introduction of large wineries, managed by professional experts, (like … Buena Vista, near Sonoma Town), has gone far toward redeeming the wines of California … … It may truthfully be said that to the grape-vine, as to the human race, the climate of California is exceptionally kind."

102. (U.S.D.A.). Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture. 1886. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1887. 23.5 cm. 719 pages + more than 70 plates (of which 14 in color) and 4 foldout maps. Illustrations. Dark cloth, gilt title on spine: "Department of Agriculture / Report 1886." Covers scuffed and spotted, spine torn, binding broken away at hinges. Internally fairly clean, but some waterstaining. Not a thing of beauty – for reference only.  

The "Report of the Mycological Section" has 10 pages devoted to "Fungus Diseases of the Grape-Vine," excerpted from Bulletin No. 2 of the Botanical Division. Subjects covered are downy mildew (Peronospora viticola), powdery mildew and black-rot (Phoma viticola) – where they are found, remedies, etc. accompanied by 4 illustration plates and 2 foldout color maps (distribution of Peronospora viticola & black-rot) [pages 96-116]. The pomologist in his report describes visits to vineyards, one on Lake Erie at Euclid, near Cleveland, and the other near Grand Rapids, Michigan, where "I saw one of the finest vineyards that it has ever been my pleasure to see anywhere … Worden was the most profitable variety grown there." [264-265]. William Saunders is still Superintendent of Gardens and Grounds, but has nothing to say about grapes in his report.

103. (U.S.D.A.). Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture. 1888. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1889. 23.5 cm. 708 pages + numerous plates, 27 of them in color, and a foldout map. Illustrations. Dark cloth, gilt title on spine: "Department of Agriculture / Report 1888." Spine faded, covers spotted and worn. Internally sound and clean.  

The Commissioner in his introduction reports on treatments of black-rot in grapes with "Bordeaux mixture or other preparations of sulphate of copper," verified by studies in Vineland, NJ. Spraying equipment is being imported from France and is also being constructed in the US [pages 33-34]. He also says "a monograph of the wild grapes" is in preparation and is to be published next year. "It will be accompanied with complete typical illustrations in colors, showing every species of grape native in the United States." [45]. Further detail is provided in the report of the pomologist: "A monograph of the genus Vitis is being prepared for publication … with the assistance of Mr. T.V. Munson … As the field-work, the preparation of the colored illustrations … progressed, it became evident that we would need all of another year to complete it. The number of species known to be native in America has increased from twenty-two to twenty-six within the last year as a result of our field work …" [569]. The pomologist's report also contains a paper by W.H. Ragan of Greencastle, IN titled "Our Cultivated Fruits – Native and Introduced." In it he quotes from a paper on grape growing in California by George Husmann of Napa, CA: "Grape growing has spread over the whole State, until its wine crop … is estimated at about 20,000,000 gallons this year. From one variety cultivated then, we have close to four hundred varieties now, and we already produce as fine wines as any country on the globe." Ragan too talks about the great increase in varieties available since 1845, when there were only 12 named, to "hundreds if not thousands …" [586-587]. The "Report of the Entomologist" has an item on the grape scale [135-136]. The "Report of the Section of Vegetable Pathology" includes a section on "Experiments in the Treatment of Grape-Vine Diseases Made in 1888" [326-336]. One of these was the Vineland, NJ study of black-rot and its remedy, alluded to by the Commissioner in his introduction [see above]. Another "new" grape disease described is "Septosporium on grape leaves" [381-383], first collected by Scribner and Viala at Orange, CA. An illustration is provided [plate XIII, page 403].

The first report by the director of the newly formed Office of Experimental Stations provides background on the "origin and development of Agricultural Experiment Stations in the United States," and presents a list of all the stations – their locations and dates of establishment [537-558].

104. (U.S.D.A.). Report of the Secretary of Agriculture. 1891. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1892. 23.5 cm. 653 pages + numerous plates, 15 of them in color, and 11 foldout maps. Illustrations. Black cloth, title on spine: "Report of the Secretary of Agriculture / 1891." Spine faded, light wear. Clean, solid copy.  

This was the third annual report of the Department of Agriculture since its elevation to cabinet level in 1889. There are only brief references to grapes. The "Division of Vegetable Pathology" has the formulas for fungicides used experimentally in the treatment of grape diseases at a vineyard near Sterling, VA, and their effectiveness [pages 365-367]. A report on "The California Vine Disease" appears on pages 371-372. It affects the southern counties, and has "some little similarity" with "Rougeot as known in Europe … but the effects are widely different." Continued study is proposed. "The Grape Scare in New York" [375-376] is about the scare caused by grapes that had been improperly treated with Bordeaux mixture, and left a copper deposit on the grapes. The writer assigns blame equally to the Board of Health and to overzealous grape growers. Sounds very familiar. Among the grapes received by the Division of Pomology were the Delawba, a seedling of Delaware and Catawba, from L.C. Chisholm of Spring Hill, TN, and 22 varieties of new hybrids from T.V. Munson of Denison, TX [393]. They also report an abundant grape crop "from Maine to Florida and from the Atlantic to the Pacific …" [380]. William Saunders, still Superintendent of Gardens and Grounds, says that many grapes were sent out. "The foreign varieties of grapes are much asked for in southern Texas and in Florida." [464]. The report of the "Office of Experiment Stations" has a table indicating the lines of work done at each of the 55 Stations. It appears that most of them include work with grapes. Those that do not: CT, IA, KY, NH, ND, SC, SD, WA [534]. References to the effect of weather on the grape crop appeared in at least one of the state reports (CA) collected as part of the "Report of the Chief of the Weather Bureau" [539-631].

105. (U.S.D.A.). Yearbook of the United States Department of Agriculture. 1895. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1896. 23.5 cm. 656 pages + 10 glossy photo plates. Illustrations. Green cloth. Gilt title on spine: "Yearbook of the Department of Agriculture / 1895." Back cover water-stained and warped, spine washed out, and front cover a little bit too. Internally waterstained and rippled. Reference copy.  

This is the second "Yearbook" of the Department. From the "Report of the Secretary" (J. Sterling Morton): "The gardens and grounds of the Department are, as they have been for more than thirty years, in charge of … William Saunders, horticulturist." Morton thinks the "free and promiscuous distribution" of grape vines and other plants ought to be abolished, and the function transferred to the experiment stations and state farms [page 60]. "The Principal Insect Enemies of the Grape" by C.L. Marlatt [385-404], is an illustrated summary of the main culprits and the remedies. "That the grape is distinctively an American plant is indicated by the fact that our indigenous wild species number nearly as many as occur in all the world besides. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that this continent is responsible also for the chief enemies of the vine … phylloxera … the two mildews … black rot." Extensive listings of injurious insects and fungous diseases (grapes included) are accompanied by suggested remedies and formulas for insecticides and fungicides [580-590]. In his article on "Origin, Value, and Reclamation of Alkali Lands," E.W. Hilgard includes a paragraph on the relative tolerance of grapevines to alkali salts, but not when there is excessive irrigation [122]. Of collateral interest is "Climate, Soil Characteristics, and Irrigation Methods of California" [475-486], which however has only a passing reference or two to grapes. US exports of wine in 1895 totalled 1.125 million gallons plus 14,000 dozen bottles. Imports were 2.8 million gallons plus 297,000 dozen bottles, and 258,000 dozen bottles of Champagne and other sparklers. This was considerably down from the years 1891-93. Per capita wine consumption was .28 gallon, spirits 1.12 gallons, malt liquors 14.95 gallons. During the years 1870 to 1895, the highest level reached was .61, 2.07 and 16.08 respectively [547-552].

106. (U.S.D.A.). Yearbook of the United States Department of Agriculture. 1896. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1897. 23.5 cm. 686 pages + frontispiece and 6 other glossy photo plates. Illustrations. Green cloth. Gilt title on spine: "Yearbook of the Department of Agriculture / 1896." Covers have some washed-out spots, rear inner hinge cracked, binding a little shaken. Internally clean, except for occasional browning. Acceptable copy.  

This yearbook saw a printing of 500,000 copies, "for free distribution." [page 3]. "The Improvement of Our Native Fruits" by L.H. Bailey of Cornell University [297-304], makes the case that amelioration of fruits comes "from the force of circumstances and not from the choice or design of men. The colonists … loved wine. The attempt was … heroically made to grow the European or wine grape in eastern America; but the attempt failed … [and] the grape grower was driven to the use of the native grape." Witness the grape colony of the Dufours in Kentucky, then Indiana, where salvation came from the Alexander, or Cape grape. Later, Adlum's Catawba, and so on. Bailey says what the experimenters ought to be doing now. "The grape … needs the first and the greatest attention. The types which we grow are still much inferior to the Old World types … and the market is now overrun with general-purpose grapes." We need specialization, as is done in "older countries." E.G. Lodeman, Cornell horticulturist, contributes an essay on "Pruning and Training of Grapes" [499-542], which covers various methods and systems, for indoor as well as outdoor culture. H.W. Wiley, chemist, in "Potash and its Function in Agriculture" [107-136], makes passing references to applications in grape culture – "the application of chlorides to vineyards tends to diminish the content of sugar in the grapes, and thus impairs the quality of the wine" [129]; polyhalite is ideal because it is practically free of chlorides [121]. In the illustrated article on "Ambrosia Beetles" we learn that some of them "attack wine and ale casks, perforating the staves with their galleries and causing serious loss by leakage." [424]. At last, a bookworm for wine book collectors. I was puzzled by export figures for 1896, which show that of about 650,000 gallons of wine exported, 17% went to Great Britain and Ireland, 2% to British possessions, 12% to Germany, 1% to France, and 68% to "all other countries." [590]. Which were those other lucky countries?

107. (U.S.D.A.) Muscadine Grapes – a fruit for the South. Farmers' Bulletin No. 2157. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, (1961). 23 cm. 16 pages. Illustrations. Stapled pamphlet. Waterstained across the top. Reading copy.  

Issued February 1, 1961. Practical information for growers. Includes annotated list of 15 varieties, including Scuppernong. "This bulletin supersedes Farmers' Bulletin 1785, Muscadine Grapes." [1938: Charles Dearing (Amerine & Wheeler #439)]. Previous bulletins on muscadine grapes were authored by Husmann & Dearing (1913), and Husmann (1916 – Bulletin #709, 28 pages). See also Gabler.

108. (U.S.B.A.). The Year Book of the United States Brewers' Association. A review of recent liquor legislation, with a digest of matters chiefly concerning the brewing industry. New York: United States Brewers' Association, 1909. Printed by James A. Rogers, New York. 23.5 cm. 204, (2) pages + foldout chart at page 192. Dark blue cloth, gilt titles and decoration. Back cover water-damaged – its cloth cover has mildew spots and is draped loosely over its host board. Rear inside hinge cracked. Front cover and spine show some discoloration. Internally the pages are rippled. Reading copy.  

From preface, dated January 1909: "The publication of a Year Book is an innovation in the annals of the United States Brewers' Association. It is not meant to displace the Convention reports which have been published for forty-eight years … We have aimed to make it a valuable reference book, not only for the brewers, but for all serious students of the liquor question …" The main focus of this first yearbook is the pressure of the prohibitionist movement and all its ramifications – legislation, local option laws, food and beer laws, social aspects of the drink question. But there is also historical material on the USBA, brewing information, and industry statistics.

109. (U.S.B.A.). The Year Book of the United States Brewers' Association. Including a study of local option in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Massachusetts. New York: United States Brewers' Association, 1910. Printed by James A. Rogers, New York. 23.5 cm. 300, (3) pages. Dark green cloth, gilt titles and decoration. Light waterstaining on covers. Better than a reading copy.  

As in the 1909 yearbook, the underlying theme is temperance and prohibition. In addition to the long study of "local option" and prohibition in various states, other subjects covered are liquor legislation of 1909, current literature on the liquor question, physiological aspects of alcohol (by Arthur R. Cushney, M.D., professor of Pharmacology, London), alcohol in relation to life (by Walter Dixon, professor of Materia Medica, London), abstainers and non-abstainers in life assurance (by Ebenezer Duncan, M.D.), and the saloon as a social institution for which there is no substitute. From the article on life insurance: "I shall content myself with affirming that in my own experience I have had valuable aid from alcohol in promoting the recovery of many sick persons, and I have seen cases of emergency in which lives have been saved with alcohol which in my view would have been sacrificed had its aid been refused at the critical stage of the disease." [page 257].

110. (U.S.B.A.). United States Brewers' Association. The Year Book and proceedings of the Fifty-First Annual Convention held in Chicago, Ill., Thursday and Friday, November [correcte to October in next yearbook] 19 and 20, 1911. New York: United States Brewers' Association, 1911. Printed by James A. Rogers, New York. 23.5 cm. xxii, 331, (1) pages + 26 plates of charts (indexed). Reddish brown cloth, gilt titles and decoration. Waterstain across top left quadrant of back cover, extending back through about 50 pages, gradually fading out. Internal rippling. Solid copy, otherwise.  

Since this yearbook also includes the convention proceedings, it contains a wide range of subjects and reports, many with statistical charts. But the theme of prohibition is still prominent. Among the more interesting prohibition cases is that of Maine, which was the first state to enact prohibition, and continued to maintain it, with 50% of the population on either side of the issue. Apparently there were many instances of the wealthy and powerful enjoying immunity from the law. In 1901, the retiring Chief Justice of Maine was given a banquet, whose menu included Imperial Sherry, Haut Sauterne, Mumm's Extra Dry, Pommery Sec, and Brut Imperial. A few days later in Portland, two deputy sheriffs went into a tenement house in one of the poorer sections of the city, "soon returning with a keg of beer, and followed by a coal heaver and his wife, who were vainly protesting against the seizure. The next morning, the man and his wife appeared in court and suffered the due penalty of the law imposed by that honorable body." [pages 132-133]. Another interesting item is a map of the US showing "States that have adopted and repealed Prohibition" (SD, NE, IO, WI, MI, IL, IN, OH, NY, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI, AL) and "States that have adopted and retained Prohibition" (ND, KS, OK, ME, TN, NC, MS, GA). Dates of enactment and repeal are given for each state [facing pages 160 & 161].

111. (U.S.B.A.). United States Brewers' Association. The Year Book and proceedings of the Fifty-Second Annual Convention held in Boston, Mass., Thursday and Friday, September 19 and 20, 1912. New York: United States Brewers' Association, 1913. Printed by James A. Rogers, New York. 23.5 cm. xvi, 299, (1) pages. Maroon cloth, gilt titles and decoration. Nice copy.  

The pressure of Prohibition is again all-pervasive. The convention begins with a welcoming address by John F. Fitzgerald, mayor of Boston. The main subject was, of course, the politics of prohibition. Among other things, he talks about a political junket to Berlin and other parts of Germany, and apparently the most exciting thing was all that wonderful beer drinking. To those who suggest we could seek inspiration in Europe's model cities for solutions to our big city problems, he would say: "Do you know that they permit beer to be drunk on Sundays? Do you know … that in those cities there is less drunkenness than anywhere else in the world?" Naturally, at the end of his speech, "given with all the vivacity and magnetism for which he is famous, … the Convention ‘rose at him’ and he was the recipient of a genuine ovation." [pages 6-7]. We also learn that a study showed that the mean "weight and height of the children of alcoholics were found to be somewhat greater than those of sober parents, and the general health of the alcoholic group seemed to be a little better … Tuberculosis and epilepsy were less frequent …" [53]. Interesting was the reported disagreement between Windisch, "Germany's chief beer expert," and Dr. Wiley on the definition of beer, which was to contain only barley, hops and water, the "alleged" German standard. Windisch favored a broader definition, to include other grains and sugar [123-124]. A survey, meant to prove alcohol to be a prime cause of tuberculosis is questioned because it included "41 homes of prostitution." [146]. From a "Swiss abstainer," no less, who studied prohibition in the US, comes this view: "All the prohibitory laws in the Southern States are clearly, although not according to the letter but in their enforcement, directed at the suppression of the negro saloon." The English medical journal The Lancet reports that "Years ago alcohol was in general use as a stimulant in many serious diseases; but a few years since, a reaction set in, and it became the fashion among medical men to prescribe other stimulants than alcohol. The further advance of medical science has, however, re-established the value of alcohol in illness; but instead of using it as a stimulant, it appears to have found favor chiefly as a digestive or as a narcotic." [226]. Of particular interest to me was an article titled "Dickens and Good Cheer. A bibulous compilation from the Pickwick Papers." [191-194]. I had included that literary work in my wine book collection.

112. (U.S.B.A.). United States Brewers' Association. The Year Book with proceedings of the Fifty-Third Annual Convention held in Atlantic City, N.J., Friday and Saturday, October 3rd and 4th, 1913. New York: United States Brewers' Association, 1914. Printed by James A. Rogers, New York. 23.5 cm. xiv, 311, (1) pages. Dark green cloth, gilt titles and decoration.  

In a report on the International Congress Against Alcoholism, held in Milan in 1913 [pages 129-142], we learn about the Italian temperance movement. The death rate from chronic alcoholism rose from 14 to 41 per million between 1887-89 and 1909, a figure still so low that the "average prohibitionist … will … accuse the writer of falsification." The increase was attributed by some in Italy to emigrants to America who had returned to Italy, bringing with them "a taste for stronger beverages and alien drinking habits." Although delegates representing all points of view were welcome at the congress, the US delegation consisted entirely of "Anti-Saloonists, Prohibitionists, and Total Abstainers." In the opinion of the writer of the report, their aim "at home and abroad is to teach, not to learn." This yearbook has several other reports from abroad, including one on "Alcohol and Society" sponsored by the Swedish Association of Physicians [143-177], and "Sane Little Switzerland – her handling of liquor problem a lesson to America" [234-239]. At the end there is an interesting obituary of Adolphus Busch, president of the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association. He was born in Mainz in 1837, came to the US at twenty, and a few years later established himself in the malting business. In 1862 he married Lily Anheuser, daughter of Eberhard Anheuser, with whom he formed a partnership in the acquisition of a brewery. In 1911 he celebrated his golden wedding anniversary, receiving gifts from President Taft, Colonel Roosevelt, and the German Emperor. He died in Germany where his body was to be buried. Among his benefactions were a contribution of $100,000 to the San Francisco earthquake relief fund, to Galveston flood relief, and to Ohio valley flood sufferers.

113. (U.S.B.A.). The 1914 Yearbook of the United States Brewers' Association. Containing the reports delivered at the 54th annual convention held in New Orleans, November 18-21, 1914, and added chapters on the Alcohol Question and Saloon-Reform. New York: United States Brewers' Association, 1914. The Trow Press, New York. 23.5 cm. x, 353 pages. Stamp on endpaper: "Chr. Heurich Brew. Co." Grey cloth, gilt titles and decoration.  

Charles Chandler of Columbia University addresses the Master Brewers' Association of the United States on the subject, "What is Beer and Why Has it Become the National Beverage?" [pages 106-113]. A summary of Dr. Ulrik Quensel's work on "The Alcohol Question from a Medical Viewpoint – studies in the pathology of alcoholism" is presented in translation [148-223]. Quensel's work comprises two volumes of 941 pages. "This book is a companion piece of ‘Alcohol and Society,’ … a translation of which appeared in our Year Book of 1913." In an address delivered at an American Society of Brewing banquet in 1914, Dr. R. Wahl describes and illustrates a simple way to distill a quart of ardent spirits at home at a cost of 15 cents – no skill required. He says that it is not and could not be made illicit, but it is only the riff-raff who would make it. He suggests "man's good friend, a wholesome glass of beer!" [273-278].

114. (U.S.B.A.). The 1917 Yearbook of the United States Brewers' Association. Containing the true temperance issue, the states and national prohibition, opinions of the press on the pending amendment, Britain and the war liquor problem, industrial unrest in Great Britain, drinking in France, the beer of Canada, the canteen in the army – the alcoholic ration, medical views as to alcohol, the use of grain in brewing, convention reports and statistics. New York: United States Brewers' Association, 1918. 23.5 cm. xii, 228 pages. Light grey cloth, gilt titles and decoration. Covers lightly soiled.  

As the nation continues its march to prohibition, the brewers continue to present the case against it, without success, as it turns out.

115. Ulber, [Christian Samuel] (1714-1776). Der rechtschaffne Naturalist mit seinem christlichen Auge und Herzen bey natürlichen und weltlichen Dingen. [... XII. Der Wein ...] Hamburg: (1765). 18.5 cm. (5), x-xxvi, 202, 213-494 pages. Tailpiece illustrations. Contemporary black boards, badly worn and scuffed. Some pages loose and soiled. Title and introductory pages missing, as are pages 203-212 and pages following 494 [index to "Pole"].  

Ulber was the head pastor at the St. Jakobi church in Hamburg, famous for his reflections on a wide range of subjects drawn from nature, and everyday human events, applied to daily life in the context of Christian theology. The twelfth of sixty reflections in this collection is "On Wine" [pages 89-96). He holds wine in high regard and sees it as a gift of God. Interestingly, his message to poor people who cannot afford wine is to be content with water. If Jesus is their guest, he will turn the water into wine for them, etc. He also brings up the subject of abuse: "You test a wine. But do you know that the wine is testing you too? … … Take care that, in drinking to your health, [the wine] does not become your killer." The fourth edition of this collection was dated 1772, the fifth 1774. The edition number of the present volume is probably indicated on one of the missing pages.

116. Underberg. Ein nützlicher Helfer für die Hausfrau. Underberg ... weiß Rat. Rheinberg / Rhld: Underberg, (1956). 19 cm. 68 pages. Color illustrations. Cloth backed green paper. Strip of discoloration along outside and bottom edges of back cover, else OK.  

Second edition 1956. This is a book of household advice, with recipes for food and drinks, tips for entertaining, first aid, care of plants, and miscellaneous tips. At heart, of course, this is a promotional piece for Underberg's herbal tonic and its many uses, including as an ingredient in cocktails [pages 41-42]. Underberg's tonic was launched in 1846, and is apparently still going strong. A fifth edtion of this booklet was published in 1959.

117. (United Kingdom …). Approved Cocktails. Authorized by the United Kingdom Bartenders' Guild. President - Harry Craddock; Vice-President - B. Paul. Council: J. Powell, B. Whitfield, C. Frey, B. Tarling ... London: Publications from Pall Mall, n.d. The Sidney Press Limited, London and Bedford. 20.5 cm. (164) pages. Erratum leaf tipped in at page (5). Blue cloth. Half of spine faded, or perhaps missing paper label. Most of front and back of tattered dustjacket are present.  

The book consists of cocktail recipes arranged alphabetically, followed by a glossary, and a list of cocktails not included in the book, for which recipes may be obtained on written request. In the foreword, Giovanni Quaglino (of Chez Quaglino) says that this work removes "two grievances – the doubt as to the correct recipe and the duplication of titles."

118. (United Nations). The World Wine and Vine Products Economy. A study of trends and problems. Commodity Bulletin Series 43. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 1969. Printed in Italy. 28 cm. vi, 50 pages. Green and white paper. Some discoloration on back cover.  

A collection of facts and figures for the countries of the world on wine, table grapes and dried vine fruit – acreage, production, consumption, exports and imports, tariffs.

119. (US Tariff Commission). Grapes, Raisins & Wines. A survey of world production, consumption, and trade in table grapes, raisins and currants, , and wines and brandies, with emphasis upon the interrelation of the several industries in the United States and other factors essential to tariff considerations. Under the provisions of Section 332, Title III, Part II of the United States Tariff Act of 1930. United States Tariff Commission, Report No. 134 - Second Series. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, (1939). 23.5 cm. xv, 408 pages + 10 glossy photo plates. Maps, charts and tables. Stamped: "Paul A. Schack" and "Received Nov 25 1940 PM. U.S. Customs. San Juan, Puerto Rico." Paper. Worn and soiled. Internally clean, except waterstain in upper right corner starting lightly about page 300 and getting more pronounced towards end.  

An absolute wealth of information on grapes and wine worldwide, as it affected the United States at the time, including production statistics, acreage, imports/exports, wine-making methods, etc. Here are a few facts picked at random – well almost at random: "The Canadian market for California grapes is almost as important as all other foreign markets combined … By the new trade agreement with Canada … the Canadian duty … was reduced from 1½ cents to 1 cent per pound … and the agreement obligated the Canadian Government not to impose any seasonal dumping duty … It may be assumed that practically all of the exports from the United States to Canada have been of the vinifera type …" [pages 92-94]. In 1935, the sales of the 50 Canadian wineries totaled 2,667,000 gallons … The Niagara Peninsula of Ontario accounted for 90 percent of these sales and the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia for most of the remainder. Canada usually imports many times as much wine as it exports … Very little Canadian wine enters the United States, since the types produced in Canada closely resemble those of eastern United States …" [272]. "Italy, with a total area considerably smaller than that of California, produces nearly a billion gallons of wine annually or over 15 times as much as California … Laws passed under the Fascist Government have encouraged improvements in the Italian wine industry, especially in the production of finer wines." [261].

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