182 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



— some sheltered position by building, fence, ledge, or belt of trees, 

 "where the vine would grow well, and to calculate what an amount 

 would be added to the products of the State, could each person 

 having"such a place be induced to plant a grape vine, it would seem 

 that too much cannot be done to encourage their growth. When 

 fully matured the fruit is really very delicious, and has the advan- 

 tage of most small fruit, in being so easily kept for winter use ; and 

 when it fails to ripen, it will be found to be very valuable for many 

 purposes — for preserving, jelly, &c. As regards different varieties, 

 it is not necessary to say which is the best to cultivate. If only one 

 variety is wanted, I should say select according to your place — if in 

 a very warm exposure, either the Isabella, Concord, Hartford Pro- 

 lific, Diana, Rebecca, Delaware, and some others, will be found 

 worthy of cultivation — and after a few more years of trial, perhaps 

 the question of " which is the best variety of hardy grape for open 

 culture," may be answered more satisfactorily than at present. 



Yours Respectfully, 



William Gore. 



Lacking communications from the other members of the committee, 

 either upon the subject of grape culture in general, or with regard 

 to any of the new varieties which have been but recently brought 

 into notice, and sharing in the very general interest which has been 

 awakened throughout the State upon this branch of horticulture, it 

 may not be amiss to add a few observations regarding them. As 

 Mr. Gore very properly remarks, it would be quite premature now 

 to decide as to which one is the best for culture in Maine, yet we 

 have abundant evidence that some of newer sorts possess decided 

 advantages over those hitherto cultivated in Maine. 



The Isabella is the grape best known and longest cultivated in the 

 State; and while, in favorable seasons and locations, it approaches so 

 near maturity as to be very desirable, and especially considering its 

 great vigor and productiveness, it cannot be deemed reliable for a 

 crop of ripe fruit. 



Among those ripening earlier may be named the Northern Mus- 

 cadine, brought to notice by the Shakers of New Lebanon, N. Y., 

 •which is as good as any of its class, being a native fox grape, and 

 partaking strongly of the foxy flavor and odor peculiar to all of its 

 class — the bunch small, the berries large, with a tough, sweet pulp, 



