Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1869 [PAGE 277]

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263 QUESTION—I wish to ask if you have ever tried Fuller's system of training? Mr. HUSMANN—Tes, I have tried it. It is a very pretty looking eystem put on paper. Paper is very patient, but the vine is not always so patient; it is sometimes positively obstinate. This is the difficulty in the system. In regard to the quality of wines, Mr. Husmann stated: We distinguish between aroma and bouquet. Bouquet is the product of the action of the air upon the juices of the grape, or acids contained in the grape. One may have a great deal of aroma and very little of bouquet, and vice versa. If we gather our grapes early, when they contain a great deal of acid, we shall have more bouquet and less aroma. If we want bouquet we gather our grapes before they are fully ripe. A VOICE—The Concord makes the best wine, with the addition of sugar, does it not? Mr. HUSMAJSTN—There is no accounting for taste. Some people prefer this and some prefer that. Grape growers in Germany have pure good wines, for the reason that they are careful to pick out all imperfect berries. Mr. N. J. COLMAN—What quantity of water and sugar is used in the manufacture of wine? Mr. HUSMANN—That depends upon how heavy the must is. Take the Catawba, that will weigh 85, we use two pounds sugar to one gallon of water. QUESTION—Have we any grapes adapted to making raisins ? Mr. HUSMANN—I do not think we have a raisin grape. Dr. WARDER—We have no raisin grape in this country. There are three classes of grapes— 1. The American grape, represented by the Fox grape, called the Pulp grape. Everybody knows it. 2. The Juice grape. 3. The Flesh grape. This last class of grapes, the flesh grapes, is the only kind of grapes suitable for making raisins. Mr. COLMAN—From what grapes do they make raisins? Dr. W A R D E R — I do not know the names of the grapes. I suppose, however, they make raisins from the Malaga grape. Mr. M. L. DUNLAP—They have at Alton a system of pruning the grape vine. I wish to call upon Dr. Hull to give us some information upon this subject.