STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 49 



with innumcraldf difiu ultios, to nverrome whirh they have neither time 

 nor inclination. Thus it is tliat one of the rhoircsl fruits, designed to 

 add t(j the coinforts of lionie is persistently neglected. 



I would that this impression should be done away. I would have 

 grapes upon every farm and around every homestead. There are diffi- 

 f ulties in the way but they can be overcome. The greatest of our 

 troubles arises from ignorance. We have a class, and a large one too. 

 who would not rec ogni/e a fine bunch of grapes if placed within their 

 reach ; they have never eaten a really good grape. They are the unlut ky 

 ones;4heir homes are remote from the schoolhouse, they have orchards 

 and fields of grain perhaps, they are surrounded with many comforts 

 from whiih the dweller in the city is debarred, but grapes are not for 



them. 



This class I would I could reach. I avouM say plant, plant vines, 

 plant trees, plant shrubs, but plant, ^'ou may not see the money in the 

 operation but it is there and nnich comfort besides. 



We are all too much disposed to follow the practices in which we 

 have been educated rather than to strike out new paths for ourselves. 

 The introduction therefore to the homes of the many of any variety of 

 fruit, which they have been taught to believe required for its successful 

 cultivation a peculiar and mysterious knowledge, is fraught with more 

 than usiial difficulties. 



Now, thanks be to liurtii ullural and agricultural societies the ( ul- 

 ture of the grape is likeh- to become known to all or at least to those 

 who do not stand aloof from such associations. There is a class, and 

 a large one loo, who shun these associations, and books, and papers de- 

 voted to their calling as the mad dog shuns water. Even these how- 

 ever have occasional attacks of " Horticulture " when some beautiful 

 fruit IS on exhibition, but the disease is not dee))-seated and they soon 

 recover. 



Most of those whom 1 now address have homes of their own and I 

 should judge from what 1 see that they are surrounded with the fruits 

 in their season; but there are some 1 fear whose ideas of home- 

 comforts are too contracted, for it is a fact that by far the larger part 

 of those who own. occupy, and cultivate the land are without them. 

 They may have a few neglected apple trees dignified with the name of 

 orchard, in some few instances you will find some Morcllo cherries, 

 (the gift of a friend or neighbor whose grounds have become overstocked 

 with them) or a few worthless seedling peaches, these last grown from 

 the seed of some peach of unusual excellence, which seed has been 

 saved and planted under the mistaken delusion that in this case "like 

 would i)ro(iu( e like." But no grape-vine has found its home there, no 

 pleasant arbor or ])orch is sheltered by its grateful foliage or perfumed 

 and made pleasant with its lus( ious fruit ; they are content to gather 

 their grapes in the woods disputing for their possession with the wild 

 beast of the forest. That which can be so easily procured and at a 



