CROSS-BREEDING. 145 



on that day. What we need, what I believe we shall have, is a 

 hardy grape that will ripen in August. 



Let me say, while I think of it, that if a grape ripens in the 

 time of the intense heat incident to late August, or early 

 September, the quality is immensely better than the same grape 

 ripened a fortnight later, even though no frost intervene, but 

 only the cool nights, the fogs and cold rains, incident to that 

 season. In other words, you will find the grape to ripen more 

 in three hot days at the end of August, than in ten or twelve 

 days of weather not absolutely frosty, not checking the growth, 

 but less propitious by reason of the coolness of the air, and too 

 much moisture. The sugar is more abundant, the sap of the 

 grape is changed into its ultimate properties more rapidly, there 

 is more flavor, a more delicate and more vinous flavor, and it is 

 better in every way. Therefore, we want an August grape, and 

 that unquestionably we shall have. Plant seeds, then, gentle- 

 men, and grow the grape ; and whoever gets that August grape 

 will make a fortune that day, besides having done the public a 

 great service, which will be equally a satisfaction to him. 



I do not speak of cross-breeding, because there are difficulties 

 attending it. As I have said, two gentlemen of this city have 

 been, so far as I know, the only persons who have absolutely 

 succeeded in obtaining true hybrids, as they call them, between 

 foreign grapes and natives. Accidentally, hybrids may happen. 

 I use that term hybrid from habit, and because it is the word 

 in common use ; but cross-breeding is the proper term. If the 

 stamens of one grape are defective, and there is growing near it, 

 and over it, a grape having perfect stamens, if at the time of 

 inflorescence, the pollen of the upper grape happen to be shed 

 upon the pistils of the lower grape, then true cross-breeding takes 

 place, spontaneously. That is possible. But practically and 

 really, it is so difficult to impregnate one grape with another, 

 it is a work of such delicacy, and art, and skill, that I do not 

 recommend it to you, because you would be likely to be deceived 

 into the idea that you had got a cross-breed, when perhaps it 

 was only a direct descendant. I would rather leave it in the 

 hands of Mr. Rogers, who has achieved such eminent success, 

 and who, if the thing can be done in that direction, is sure to 

 do it. 



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