340 



FOREIGN NOTICES. 



grapes. In a large part of New-England 

 the Isabella and Catawba grapes — which 

 are so valuable for their productiveness, 

 and hardiness, and easy culture, in the mid- 

 dle and eastern states — are almost worth- 

 less. We have even tasted Isabellas, grown 

 on a south wall near Boston, so poor and in- 

 sipid that we should never have recognized 

 them as the same saccharine (though still 

 somewhat pulpy)fruit we cultivate nearN.Y. 



These native grapes, indeed, require our 

 warm sun, and a long summer, to bring out 

 their full flavor. Their culture has already 

 become of considerable importance in many 

 parts of the Union. Especially on the Hud- 

 son for the table, and on the Ohio for 

 wine, large vineyards already exist, and 

 more are every year being planted. 



The best modes of pruning the native 

 vine are given at length in this work ; and 

 they are followed by interesting details of 

 vineyard culture, from some of our most suc- 

 cessful v%7zerons, — Mr. Cleveland, of N. J., 

 Mr. Goodwin, of Ky., Dr. Underhill, of 

 N. Y., etc. 



The multiplication, in the neighborhood 

 of all our large cities, of glass structures for 

 the culture of the foreign grape, shows the 

 interest in this subject among the wealthier 

 portions of horticulturists, and the facility 

 with which the finest varieties, in this lati- 

 tude at least, can be produced, without fire 

 heat, is now so well established that im- 

 mense quantities are now regularly grown 

 for the supply of the markets of New- York, 

 Boston and Philadelphia. In these two 

 latter cities, indeed. Black Hamburgh and 

 other fine sorts grown under glass, were 

 sold last season at lower prices than fruit 

 of the same quality is ever afforded in 

 England, or the north of Europe ; and 

 many tons of them were sold in New- York 

 alone. 



This work of Mr. Allen's, presenting, 

 as it does, the experience of one of the 

 best practical grape-growers in the United 

 States, must become the hand-book and 

 guide of every cultivator among us, who is 

 desirous of informing himself fully upon 

 the subject. 



FOREIGN" NOTICES. 



An Agricultural Congress. — An A^jricultu- 

 ral Congress, composed of more than 300 gentle- 

 men, interested in agriculture, and sent as deputies 

 from ditferent parts of the country, sat in Paris 

 last year, for a fortnight, to discuss practical ques- 

 tions in agriculture, and likewise political ques- 

 tions bearing upon it, which was done with great 

 ability. At Poissy, the minister of agriculture 

 distributed premiums of large amount, and many 

 circumstances indicated an active, an increased, 

 and increasing attention to this great subject. 

 Column's Report, No. ix and x. 



Agricultural Colony at Mettbay. — There 

 are other institutions for agricultural education in 

 France, which I visited with great interest, a no- 

 :tice of one of which, will not, I hope, be unaccept- 

 able; the one at Mettray, near Tows, about 150 

 miles from Paris. The colony at Mettray, was 

 founded in the spirit of the good Samaritan, which 

 succors the wounded and forsaken traveller by the 



way-side, takes him home, and there nourishes and 

 cherishes him. This establishment grew out of 

 the compassion of two gentlemen of high rank and 

 fortune, who were moved to essay what could be 

 done for the rescue of the unfortunate, condemned, 

 and vagabond boys, to save them if possible from 

 destruction, and give them the power of obtaining 

 an honest living. It is not consistent with my 

 plan, in this place, to go further into the account 

 of the institution, than as a school of agriculture, 

 though tiie directors propose three objects of in- 

 struction ; to qualify their pupils fcr farmers, sail- 

 ors, or soldiers. The discipline of the establish- 

 ment is a military one. They have a fuU-rigged 

 ship, of ample size, in the yard, that the boys de- 

 signed for naval life, may here take their fir&t 

 practical lessons; and they have a well stocked 

 farm of 500 acres, which is under direction to ba 

 cultivated by the pupils. The institution is situa- 

 ted in a healthy part of the country, and near a 

 large market town. They employ aa eduQevte<i 



