SECRETARY'S REPORT. 93 



may be necessary to state that most of the seedlings, if you 

 begin with the wild grape, will prove to be barren or worthless 

 in the first generation. The barren grapes may be distinguished, 

 for the most part, by their great luxuriance of growth, and, in 

 the first year, the seed bed will be filled with these rampant, 

 and, to the novice, promising vines. My experience leads me 

 to reject these strong growers of the first year, or to plant them 

 by themselves, as possibly I might get a good grape out of them, 

 and, if so, the strong habit of growth is desirable. 



I have spoken of these seedlings of the first year, because the 

 seeds continue to come up for two, three, and even four years, 

 and my best grapes come from these later crops. 



I think there is much probability in the theory propounded 

 long ago, that one or more seeds of every fruit is strongly 

 impressed with the peculiar type of the species to which it 

 belongs, and will bring its like with precision, as happens with 

 long established breeds of cattle. How far seeds of grapes are 

 impressed with incipient change by stimulant composts, or 

 modes of culture applied to the parent vine, is an interesting 

 inquiry for the horticulturist. I may be able, when farther 

 experiment has furnished me with more numerous and reliable 

 data, to furnish to the public some facts in elucidation of this 

 obscure subject. 



I would strongly advise those who purpose to raise seedling 

 grapes, not to go back to the wild vine, but to take seeds of new 

 varieties, having the characteristics of vigor, <fec, which they 

 desire in the offspring. Plant the grapes whole, in rows to 

 facilitate weeding. The placenta-like substance about the seed 

 in the whole grape, nourishes the seed, and promotes its vege- 

 tative power. When the seedlings have grown one year, lift 

 them out of the bed without disturbing the level of the ground. 

 This can be easily done if the bed is thoroughly saturated with 

 water, and with the aid of a fork to loosen the ground, while 

 you draw the plant out carefully without breaking a single 

 root. 



The second year another crop will come up ; these will give 

 a greater proportion of bearing vines. These are lifted in the 

 same way as at first, to make room for the third crop which 

 will succeed them. These last I save with the utmost care, as 

 they will show the greatest improvement. 



