I. ..
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I t
VOL. XXII.
WELDON, N. C, THURSDAY, JULY , 1891.
NO 14,
Till: L.YHGKST WINK CKL
LAUS HAST Or THE ROCKY
MOUNTAIN'S.
DOLLARS IKYZ3TZD
YHICH YIELDS HAKE-
n
QME ANNUAL PROFITS.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE FARMS, VINE
YARDS, AND PROCESSES OK MANU
FACTURING! WINES AM) BRANDY AT
THIS WONDERFUL PLACE.
That this portion of North Carolina is
as veil adapted to grape and wine eul
turt' as the hanks of tho Hliine or the
soils ol California and Southern Francois
a fact ivell kuown to the people of the
State, but is not a matter of general in
formation. It is the purpose of this ar
ticle so show to the world the adaptabili
ty of our soil Htid climate to grape and
wine culture; and in no wtiy can this be
better dune than by an account of what
has been accomplished in this direction
at Medoc, this county, by Messrs. C. W
Canett. k Co. This firm, by the way,
must not be eoufouuib'd with the firm of
Garrett & Co , of Littleton, which deals
in wines itself, but makes lew of them.
A visit to Medoc would give one a far
better idea of the magnitude to which
this industry has been developed than a
volume of description, and the general
hospitality of the proprietors and their
employees would of itself repay one lor
the trouble of a trip. But as it cannot
be the good fortune of everyone to vi.-it
this wonderful place a pen picture of the
work carried on there. cannot but be in
teresting to the readers of the Roanoke
News.
MEDOC.
When Messrs. C. W. Garrett A Co.
purchased the place in 18G8 it was known
as Wellcr's vineyard. It was then u
small farm upon which were only nine
teen acres of grape vines, the only varie'y
being the scuppernong. From this he
ginning, under the excellent manage
ment of the proprietors has grown the
only vineyard of" any pretensions in the
State, with the exception of Tokay, near
Fayetteville, and the largest east of the
Rocky Mountains. Among the varieties
of grapes are the Scuppernong, the Mish,
the Delaware, tho Concord and tho Nor
ton Virginias. With the exception of
the Scuppernong and Mish these grapes
are well known everywhere.
THE MISH.
The mish grape was first discovered
and propagated by Dr. Meiseh, a Swiss
gentleman, from whom it takes its name.
As a table grapo it is unexcelled, its
flavor being unequalled, besides possess
ing tho rare quality of ripening late, olten
reaiainin" on the vine in perfect condi
tion until November. Medoo is tho only
vineyard of note on record which culti
vates this delicious grape.
. THE SCUPI'ERNONU.
I The scuppernong is indigenous in
HUXIU VyaiUUUa uuu puna iu nn.nii.u
in all the eastern portion of the State
It grows to full development only in this
State, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama
and Fonda. In Virginia the vines
gTow luxuriantly but yield comparative
ly little fruit. The largest scuppernong
vine in the world grew on Roanoke Is-
"i land and covered more than one acre of
JgTound. It was found there by Sir
Walter Raleigh in 1585 and was living
and thriving until a very few years ago.
It is believed to be the parent stem from
which all others sprung.
ro,iThe scuppernong is one of the most
,Totfio varieties of grape9 ana its aeiiei
owe 'Javor makes it onoof the most palate
if tle l. Jt i little known beyond the
N id e',n wl"un 'lt 8rows tecau8e nursery
men generally disparage it for the reason 1
that should it come into popular favor it
would grea.ly militate against the varie
ties iu which they are directly interested.
It is the only grape known which is nut
subject to disease of some kind.
Til K FARMS.
Medoc now embraces about one thou
sand acres ami besides the eighty-five
acres in grapes is tho model farm of the
State. There are raised the very best
wheat, grass, clover, cotton, corn, tobacco
peanuts and fruits of vari ms kinds. The
land is in a high state of cultivation and
is kept so by scientific fertilizing and
manuring. Last year some of it yielded
two bales of cotton to the acre. Every
thing is conducted with the most perfect
system and economy. Labor-saving ma
chinery is used whenever it can be and
the cost of production lessened in every
conceivable way. A steam mill furnish
es all the meal, hominy and lumber used,
a blacksmith keeps the tools and imple
ments in repair and carpenters are kept
busy building and repairing houses,
fences and woodwork of vehicles,
plows, etc.
Thoroughbred horses and Jersey cat
tle are kept in great numbers and ready
srle is found for them at high prices at
all times. On the farm are two immense
silos which are filled annually with green
food for the stock in winter and, as a
conscqueuce, they are always in superb
condition.
Standing upon the elevation upon
which the residence is situated the eye
takes in a magnificent view, afforded by
the rolling lands covered with the green
foliage of the ines, the darker green of
the clover, the waving grain ready fur
the sickle, the little brook windiug its
way through the meadow lands, rich with
grass, upon which tho contented cattle
quietly browse or la.ily rest, protected
from the noonday sun by the spreading
branches of beautiful trees, the whole
having a back ground of cottages about
which clutter welcome trees with their
vaiious shades of green.
THE VINEYARDS.
i lie vineyard is enlarged every year
from five to fifteen acres, great care be
ing taken to secure only the best ''layers"
from tho best vines, for the proprietors
attach more importance to the quality
than to the quantity of their products.
They do not buy vines, but always pre
pare their own layers in order to avoid
the possibility of obtaining those of an
inferior quality. But the production of
wine is not confined to the "rapes of
their own vineyards-; the proprietors an
Dually purchase hundreds of bushels of
grapes and blackberries from people in
all that vicinity, and the purses of many
are made heavier by these sales.
THE CELLARS.
The capacity of the cellars is one hun
dred and fifty thousand gallons. They
arc built in the shape ot a I and are
situated in a little valley formed by two
hills into the sides of which two ends of
the cellars are built. They are three
stories high and in the first and second
stones are the largo casks iu two great
rows from one end of the building to the
other, each bearing a label showing the
variety of wine and the date of its vin
tage. They are so large that a man can
easily stand upright in any of them. To
the average visitor they would seem to
hold wine enough to supply tho world.
The cellars, are kept at as ueur the
same temperature about sixty degrees
as possible whiter and summer, and
on a warm day it is grateful to get with
in their walls. In winter those engaged
in them work with their coats off.
t. 1 ' THE BUSY SEASON.
Tho annual production is about eight
thousand gallons, varying with the sea
sons. The busy season of wine-making
at Medoc begins about tho first of Sep
tember, when the grape s begin to ripen
and continues about two months. Dur
ing this period there is a mighty rush of
work and hundreds of men women and
children are employed daily, but every
thing moves like clock work. Experi
enced ineu have charge and thero is
neither waste or confusion.
THE PROCESS.
The whole process of wine-making is
interesting. I he ripe grapes are gath
ered in great sheets placed under the
vines and taken to the cellars in baskets.
They are then punctured by a machine
made for the purpose and put into casks
olding 2,000 gallons each where they
are allowed to remain four or five days,
when the juice is drawn off and put into
oilier large casks where it ferments twelve
months, being continually watched by
skillful wine makers. During this peri
od of fermentation it is ' racked" that is,
drawn from one cask to another, two or
three times. At the end of a year it is
dry wine and ready for shipment.
When sweet wines are to be made
sugar is added as may be required, and
Medoc vineyard consumes more than six
hundred barrels of it each year.
VARIETIES OF
Among the varieties of wines made at
Medoc are Scuppernong, Mish, Concord,
Sherry, Claret, port, blackberry and
champagne. They are of the most ex
cellent l ivor and their bouquet is equal
to any of the imported wines, nor could
they be distinguished by the most expe
rienced connoisseur, were they favored
with foicign labels.
11RANDJES.
After tho juice is drawn off as above
described water is added to the hulls and
after standing a few days the juico u
pressed out and distilled into brandy
This brandy and that made from other
fruits will bear comparison with those of
France or any other on the markets and
their genuine purity has become so well
known that the proprietors find it almost I
linpos.-ilile to keep any ot it until it lias
beeu mellowed by age.
FOR SHIPMENT.
When wine is to be put into packages
for shipment it is pumped from one of
the large casks by any an ordinary cu
cumber pump and a lubber hoso which
is long enough to reach any part of the
building, all the preparations for ship
ment being made on the same floor upon
which the office is situated. Bottles aud
the straw jackets which cover them are
generally imported from Germany be
cause they are better and cheaper. Bad
ly made bottles or bad packing injures
the sale of the wine, so much depends on
neatness and general appearance. The
boxes are made on the place from luui-
der sawed by the mills of the proprietors.
New barrels aud runlets are never used
for shipping wine because they impart to
it a woody taste and injure the flavor.
Nothing will destroy this woody taste
except alcohol and for that reason only
those barrels are used which have con
tained some kind of alcoholic liquor, but
before these second hand barrels are used
they are made over again at the cooper
shops at Medoc and look new.
When one of the large casks has been
emptied it is thoroughly cleansed inide
and whitewashed with lime and so re
mains until it is called into use again.
VALUE OF THE PLANT.
The entire property as it stands to-day
cost the proprietors probably more than
one hundred thousand dollars but the
products of the farms and vineyards pay
handsome profits on the investment. The
business is now under the management
of Mr. II. S. Harrison, sou-in-law of Mr
Charles W. Garrett who established this
great industry tweuty three years ago.
TEMPERANCE.
The use of light wines containing only
the alcohol produced by the uatural pro
cess of fermentation would be of great
service to the cause of temperance. His
tory teaches that the human family will
use some kind of stimulaut and it is
well known fact that there is little drunk
enness where wines are in general use
There is so little of it made in this coun
try and the cost of transportation and
importation adds so materially to the
price that people resort to whisky because
of the ease and cheapness with which
they can procure it. The wines of M
doc are cheap and easily obtained, and
supply an apparent need of the human
system without creating or exciting th
dreadful third which deba-cs thousands
of meu auu iuiua as tuuuj hjwes in tbi
fair laud.
GOLDEN WEDDING.
MR. AND MRS. J. U. TILOHMAN SR.,
TY YEARS MARRIED.
FIF-
Oakland, tho old homestead of the
Tilgbuians, three miles from Weldon,
was the scone on Wednesday of last week,
the first iust , of a happy gathering of
members of the family, connections and
friends to celebrate the fiftieth anniversa
ry of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. J. 1$.
Tilghnun, who, though now quite aged
have never ceased to find enjoyment in
contributing to the pleasure of their
children and friends. Often during the
long period of their married life have
their hospitable doors been opened to en
tertain guests adding enjoyment to their
lives by giving pleasure to others.
Iu celebrating this glad event, the
hearts of those present were saddened
when the Rev. J. A. Lee in a short and
touching address, alluded to the past in a
finely drawn picture of life taking his
hearers back fifty years ago when the
"Spriug tide" of life was upon this now
aged couple, when their young hearts
were aglow with tenderest emotions of
affection, as they plighted their troth,
and "for better or for worse" began the
journey of life trusting in a merciful
Saviour. How beautiful to see them
now, since the mother's affliction and the
father's recent illness to behold that calm
resignation of iouutenauee which tells
more plainly than words that they fear
not the shore which is alnut now in
view. Reader, do you realize that you
too are inevitably treading t tie same
ground, aud that whether prepared or
otherwise a landing must bo effected?
The day was f.reatly enjoyed by all
present, aud particularly gratifying to
Mr. and Mrs. Ti ghman, as they were
the recipients of numerous tokens of
affection from children and friends
amounting to forty-two dollars in gold, a
pair of gold specti cles, gold breast pin
and a gold scarf pin, the latter being
preseuted by a colored frieud.
The writer does uot anticipate witnes
sing a similar even. but will always re
member the impressive occasion as one
well calculated to advance the spiritual
good of all in atti odauee.
A Friend.
tiii: vito; ii i.
Here is a story which may involve
prominent Southern railway in heavy
damages. A Kentuckian, who bad been
Irinking heavily, asked the colored porter
at what hour Cov'ngton would bo reached.
"Two o'clock ter morer mornin'," an
swvred the darkey.
"Waal," said the traveller, "I hav
been drinking pretty freely. When we
git thar put me off. When you come tocall
me you may find me remonstrative and
fightiug drunk, but there are two dollars
for you to pay for all injuries. Mind
now, I want to get off at Covington
you uuderstaud!"
'Guess I do, boss," said Jeff, as he
pocketed the bribe. "Doan't matter
how yer kick off yer goes sure."
At six o'clock next morning, as the
train was entering Cincinnati, tho big
Kentuckian awoko. He grabbed his
gripsack, and with are in his eye and
sought the negro, who was standing at
the extreme end of the aisle1 When Jeff,
saw the man he turned almost while, am;
hi t-yes dilated until the puplis stood out
like butter plates.
"Didn't i give you two dollars to put
me i'ff at Covington, bev?" hissed the
traveller between bis teeth.
"Sartain sure; honest lac'," acquiesed
the darkey. "Rut, he quired, as th
perspiration started out ail over him
"who was the gemmeii we did thow off
at Coviu ton: lie kicked wusser uor a
mule1"
Vim Take No Klsk
In buying Hood's Sarsaparilla, for it is
everywhere recognized as tho standard
building up medicine and blood purifier
It bas won its way to tho front by its
own intrinsic merit, aud has the largest
sale of any preparation of its kind. Any
honest druggist will confirm this state
ment. If you decide to take Hood
Sarsaparilla, do not be induced to buy
an . tl:i g else iusUad. Be sure to get
Hood's.
BRINKLEYVILLE.
CROP PROSPECTS SCARCITY OF I.ABOB
PERSONAL NOTES MAD POOS.
Perhaps a word from our little town
will not be out of place and will be read
with interest by fiuino of your readers
We will speak first of the cotton prospect
as this ought to be ot interest to every
one when we consider that from the
ground wo draw the necessaries of our
existence. We arc sorry to say the pros
pect is poor, cotton is small and scarcity
of labor and low prices of cotton are very
discouraging to the farmers. We must
iversify our crops or our couuty will
soon be in a sad condition. When our
land with proper cultivation, will produce
almost anything, why should we stick to
cotton? We heard two prominent far
mers remark that it was the last year
that they should plant much if any of
the fleecy staple.
The health of our community is good,
with the exception of some cases mostly
produced by the summer heat and early
vegetables. A young phvsican from
Washington county remarked a f'e.v days
ago that be thought right through ibis
section was tbe healthiest part of Ni.rih
Carolina. Apropos of tho above remark
we would say that we have in our com
munity a family consisting of three peo
ple whose ages are 75, 7G and 78 years,
they arc all active, too.
Our towu is being enlivened by tho
smiling faces of our youths and maidens
just home from their various schools and
colleges. We were glad to welcome
Prof. K. H. Norman, principal of New
Windsor Business College, his two sisters
and brother who are with us for a three
month's vacation.
Our townsman, Mr. Rodger Patterson,
who has been quite sick, we are glad to
say is improving. His good wife return
ed to day from a visit to her sister at
Crowells.
The usual serenity of our place has been
somewhat disturbed lately by the reports
of mad dogs. These reports were much
exaggerated, of course, though many
dogs have been killed and several cows
have really gone mad from the bite of
the rabid animal. People cannot be too
eareful about such things aud every dog
that looks the least suspicious should be
killed immediately. V.
I' AVOKI TH SONGS.
The Toper's-
-When the Bloom is on
Rock Ma to Sleep
the Rye.
The Miners-
Mother.
The Shoe Dealers
-Oh! dem Golden
Slippers.
The Evolutionist's Listen
to
my
Tale of Woe.
Tho Merchant's The sweet By and
By.
The Hunter's White Wings-
The Carpenter's I built t Bridge of
Fancies.
The Buglar's Oft in the Stilly Night.
The Buldhcaded Man's Shoo, Fly,
Don't Bother Me
The Dyer's Why do Summer Roses
Fade?
The Reporter's Speak to Me Speak-
The Milliner's Tho Flowers That
Bloom in the Spring, Tra La.
Tho Capitalist's Ye Banks and Bares
o' Bonny Dunn.
The Millers - lis But a Little Faded
Flower.
Tho Countryman's Tho Wearing of
the Green.
The Convict's Oh! For tho Wings
of a Dove.
The Gambler's God Save the Queen!
The Carpet Tack's I am Little, but
oh! My.
Now Try This.
It will cost you nothing and will surely
do you good, if you have a Cough, Cold,
or any trouble with Throat, Chest or
Lirs. Dr. King's New Discovery fur
Consumption, Coughs and Colds is guar
anteed to give relief, or money will be
paid back. Sufierers from La Grippe
found it just tbe thing and under its use
had a speedy and perfect recovery. Try
a sample buttle at our expense and learn
for yuirself just bo ,tj a thing it is.
Trial I ott'.es free s t W. SI. Cohen's drug
store. Large size 50c. a id $1.00.
IN A WOMAN'S STUDIO.
A LAYMAN TELLS OF A PAINFUL DIS
CUSSION UPON II KiH ART THAT
MADE HIM BUSH.
"I did not suppose that I could ever
feel shy again," said an old club man to
soriiu friends, "and as for 'the blush of
maidenly modesty,' I supposed it had
flown to younger faces twenty years ago.
But I blushed the other day yes, and
I stammered, too, like a stage green horn.
With a little more whiskey and water, I
think I could tell you all about it."
That lubrication being supplied and all
the men having disposed themselves com
fortably in their chairs, the old hide
bound man about town began again : "It
was in nn artist's studio where I had
gone with a friend who wanted to call on
a lady artist. It was the traditionary
studio trays full of squeeze tubes, pots
full of brushels, unframed canvasses lean
ing against the walls, framed canvasses
hanging about and standing on easels,
and all that sort of thing, you know.
We looked at the picture of a pallid,
fashionable girl buying chrysanthemums
of a robust, rosy flower vender, and I
grew very confident and artistic iu my
remarks. We looked at other paintings
of the ordinary sort, and as the fair art
ist was a serious and business-like person,
I was perfectly at ease. But all of a
sudden, she said : 'Now come and look
at what I am engaged on at present.' It
was a painting of a nude colored girl
drying a nude white girl after a batb.
I looked at it aud liked it, of course. I
1 It 1 T .
mean because it was well uone. JJUt
the artist was a young la dy, you know,
and it didn't seem riuite the thing to
talk much about it, so I edged off But
my friend who to ok me there was an art
ist, also, and a very opinionated one in
the bargain, and he insisted on talking.
He said the white girl's lower limbs were
'all out of drawing.' Upon my word,
the lady artist appealed to me. I had
to go back. I blushed. From that
portions of female anaomy the pair went
on to discuss other portions, I assure you,
and with the utmost cold blooded, calm
nerve. And whatever one said both
appealed to me for affirmation or denial.
I was asked whether I had ever seen a
figure like the white girl's proportioned
so and so, and whether I believed the
legs could be large when the arms were
thin, and, oh, my conscience! I was sim
ply standing on red-hot iron through it
all. It's all right, you know; it's busi
ness. It was commonplace to both those
painters, but to me it was simply a strain,
that's all. And you may believe me or
not, but just as we were going away the
fair artist said : Well, I am only sorry
you came half an hour late. If you had
come that much sooner you would have
seen tho model herself. She was posing
for me.' And here sho burst out laugh
ing. 'I had to send her away because
the loom was so cold the poor child was
blue all over.' S I suppose if we had
happened there earlier the nude model
would have joined in the discussion."
"Hunger is the best Sauce."
As a "ule, a person who -has a good
appetite has good health. But how
many there are who enjoy nothing they
eat, and sit down to meals as an unpleas
aut duty. Nature's antidotes for this
condition are so happily combined in
1 1 oi nl's Sarsaparilla that it soon restores
good digestion, creates an appetite, and
renovates and vitalizes the blood so that
the beneficial effect of good food is im
parted to the whole body; Truly hun
ger is the best sauce, and Hood's Sarsa
parilla induces bun- '
Tins is the kini
which it pa.vr -to keep
keep on
OK
Cont
D
a
s.
II,
Fo.
Weld
V
j.