On making TVine» 255 



sembling silk, and full as soft and fine, as I formerly 

 shewed you.* 



As to the time the grape vine in my garden, was taken 

 from the original, I cannot recollect ; but think it was 

 previously to the British army possessing Philadel- 

 phia; [1777] that vine taking so long a time to come 

 to its present size, need not discourage persons from 

 propagating the native grape vine, as 10 or 12 plants 

 would cover as large a space, and produce as much fruit, 

 in a tenth part of the time if properly cultivated. You 

 are possessed of an account of the produce ; and I will 

 endeavour to send a sample of the wine to the Agricul- 

 tural Society, and if they should coincide with me in opi- 

 nion, of the practicability and expediency of encourag- 

 ing the cultivation of the native grape in our country, 

 they will address the public on the subject. I would 

 not discourage the propagation of the best and hardiest 

 kind of foreign grapes, yet must give the native the pre- 

 ference, as they are proof against the hardest winters, 

 grow spontaneously in almost every part of our coun- 

 try, and are so various in kind and quality, that every 

 person may be furnished with plants by taking them 

 from vines that produce the most and best fruit, in their 

 neighbourhood, by which means they will be certain of 

 such as are adapted to the soil and climate. 



A circumstance ought to be considered respecting 

 grapes ; they will produce fruit from the seed in a fourth 

 part of the time that an apple or pear will ; and from a 



* Mr. William Young of Delaware, made some years 

 since, a very good bro'v\Ti paper from the roots of the red 

 mulberry tree. 



