FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 415 



It seems surprising, in view of the little expense and labor 

 involved, that more attention is not paid to the cultivation of 

 the grape. As a luxury, and a healthful article of diet, this fruit 

 is unsurpassed. Besides this, necessity seems to be forcing upon 

 our consideration the home production of wine. It is notorious, 

 that it is almost impossible to obtain a pure, foreign article. 

 This fact has already driven many persons to the manufacture 

 of currant and other varieties of wine which cannot compete in 

 quality or facility of manufacture with the juice of the grape. 

 Experience has already shown that no foreign wines can surpass 

 those produced in the middle and western States. The Catawba, 

 manufactured in Ohio, has a less proportion of alcohol than the 

 most highly esteemed and delicate champaignes of Europe, 

 rendering it on that account superior to any other variety. 

 There is no reason why its production may not be increased to 

 any desirable extent, thereby insuring a pure article, for what- 

 ever use it may be necessary. 



The quinces were very fair specimens, some of them very 

 large and fine. In addition to the premiums, several gratuities 

 were bestowed. There were a few plates of nice looking peaches. 

 They received gratuities. 



A box of tomato figs very closely imitated the article they 

 were designed to represent. There were some fine specimens 

 of cranberries, and a few barberries upon the tables. 



Feanklin Bonnet, Chairman. 

 Hadley. 



HAMPDEN. 



Report of the Committee on Fruits. ■ 



In this valley, the scarcity is the great fruit-fact of the season. 

 Two dollars per bushel for apples, begets the inquiry among all 

 classes, " How comes it ? Is it a freak of nature, or the result 

 of nature's laws ? Is the fault in ourselves, or in our stars ?" 



That fickle goddess, the weather, concerning whom all people 

 in civilized countries make daily inquiries, seems, occasionally, 

 to play serious jokes with the fruit interest. But scientific men, 

 among wliom Guyot, Espy, Redtield and Lieut. Maury are prom- 



