186 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



except for yielding a grateful sliade "when trained on arbors, or fruit 

 for cooking purposes. The White Sweetwater, Black Chester, and 

 some few other foreign varieties, although thej are less subject to 

 mildew in Maine than in most other States of the Union, and may 

 be wintered with safety if well protected, are not deemed worthy of 

 cultivation. 



Besides the reasons given by Mr. Gore for the culture of the 

 grape, may be named another. Avhich will be felt to be of great force, 

 after winters so disastrous in their effects upon fruit trees in general 

 as the two last past, viz., the ease with which vines may be protected. 

 To take down a vine from the wall, stake or trellij on which it is 

 trained, and cover with evergreen boughs, is the work of a few 

 minutes, and thus, at almost no cost, are insured from the efiects of 

 any severity, or of any changes. Even those deemed the hardiest, 

 and which are never killed by the Avinters, will start stronger and 

 ripen fruit earlier for a little protection. 



The following communication, from another member of the com- 

 mittee, and a distinguished pomologist in the eastern part of the State, 

 comes to hand Avhile the above was in type, and is barely in season 

 for insertion : 



''GRAPES. 



The cultivation of this most desirable fruit, has thus far been 

 limited, in by far the greater portion of our Slate. 



From present appearances, we are about entering on a neVv era in 

 open air grape culture. 



Pomologists have long been searching for new and hardy native 

 varieties, which are sure to ripen in open culture in Maine, and also 

 of first-rate flavor. 



Success has at length apparently crowned these efforts, and varieties 

 of native grapes have been found rivaling even some of the valuable 

 foreign varieties which are cultivated only under glass, and some of 

 which require artificial heat to ripen them. 



The Isabella and Catawba have long been considered as standard 

 varieties for open culture, more especially in the Southern, Middle, 

 and some of the "Western States; but these varieties are too late in 

 ripening for Maine. 



This, however, is now not considered so much of a misfortune as 



