354 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



proper ways to produce the best new varieties. Premiums should be 

 awarded to all kinds that deserve merit. We often hear it said, "I 

 have a few Concords and they are good enough for me." This kind of 

 logic would, if put in practice, drive us back to ox teams and wooden 

 mold-boards ; to cut our grain with sickles and mow our grass with 

 scythes ; to piit an eternal veto upon all inventive genious and destroy 

 all science. 



En this age of progress the grape is considered among the finest 

 of the many choice fruits, and for healthfulness none excel, nor are su- 

 perior. A dish fit for the king and alike good for the peasant. But 

 nearer to the question, "What benefit shall we derive from planting 

 and increasing these newer varieties f We might as well ask what 

 benefit it is to the farmer to keep a good horse over a poor one, or fine, 

 well bred stock over the Arkansas knot heads, or to have a good, neat 

 substantial house, over a log hut or board shanty — what good 1 They 

 make our lives sweeter, longer and more cheerful ; they add to the re- 

 finement of our children and the communitj'in which we live ; in every 

 way they make society better. Who would think to-day of inviting 

 their friends to a feast of good things and then set before them a wild 

 grape of the forest, or even our Concord or Isabellas, when we can 

 furnish them with something better. Our rich Golden, Pocklington, 

 fine Duchess and Jefferson are nice, but the day will come when our 

 children will wonder at our idea of fine fruit and look back upon us as 

 we do upon our ancestors, and cry fogyism. Again, we should plant 

 new varieties, for in this part of the world, and especially in this part of 

 Missouri, we can grow so many of the finer sorts that will not stand 

 the cold of more northern climates, and in our country we have fewer 

 enemies to contend with than they have in many of the older countries^ 

 Again, in a financial point, we should plant the best, as they are always 

 the cheapest. For example : The iSfiagara and Empire State is pro- 

 ducing more pounds to the vine than the older sorts, and the average 

 price per pound in the markets for this season was 14 5 8 cents, while 

 the Concord, Clinton and that class only brought from 3 to 10 cents, 

 and there are many other varieties that promise fair in production and 

 quality, with the Niagara and Empire State. When we can make two 

 blades of grass grow where only one grows now, we are a blessing to 

 humanity. But you ask, will not the markets be overstocked with this 

 fair fruit. Kever ; for the best it will surpass all poorer varietiep^; 

 hence the wisdom of leaving first principles and going on to better 

 things. Again, the farmer will ask, when shall I stop i)lanting these 

 newer kinds? When the time comes that you cannot improve your 



