FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 273 



early, to escape the frosts which often come before September 

 leaves us ; prolific, that we may reap a rich reward for the labors 

 of the season ; and, if possible, large, handsome and good. Can 

 we not get all this ? The grape is native here from the begin- 

 ning of our history. The Vitis Labrusca is found, wild and 

 rampant, from Maine to New Jersey ; and is adapted by its 

 structure and its habits of a thousand years, to our climate with 

 all its vicissitudes. Why should not this wilding yield to the 

 skilful horticulturist the grape we are in search of, since it is 

 already what we want in the important characteristics of earli- 

 ness and vigor. If Van Mons obtained from the wild pear of 

 the hedge row, by successive reproduction, those fine pears now 

 so well known to the horticultural world, why may we not ex- 

 pect similar results in raising seedling grapes, and that, too, 

 witliout waiting the half century which the patient Belgian 

 devoted to his task ? 



The truth is, many seedlings have been raised, and although 

 much has not been done, several grapes of merit have rewarded 

 the efforts of intelligent horticulturists in various parts of the 

 country. 



The Graham grape, a Philadelphia seedling, not hardy here 

 in Middlesex, but much liked in more favorable localities ; the 

 Delaware, a new grape, said to give a good promise ; and the 

 Concord, the new seedling of Middlesex county, are before the 

 country ; and the last has excited, more than any other, the 

 attention of horticulturists, from the fact that it is the first good 

 grape that has yet been raised from our indigenous vine ; and 

 the habit of its wild prototype being broken, it promises still 

 further amelioration, so that we may confidently expect to have 

 grapes e({ual to the best foreign varieties, hardy enough to be 

 grown in every garden in New England. 



We have obtained from Mr. Bull a few hints in raising seed- 

 ling grapes, which we think may be of interest to those who are 

 raising, or intending to raise seedling grapes, and therefore add 

 them to this report. 



Select your seeds from vines which have a vigorous habit of 

 growth, V)ear early and good fruit, and which have a large foli- 

 age thickly ciliated on the under side, but smooth on the upper 

 surface and strongly nerved ; these are the usual characteristics 

 of our native vine, and indicate vigor and freedom from rust or 

 35* 



