82 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK. 



portant to secure hardier sorts, and it seems as if it was prob- 

 able that this might be obtained by crossing our better cultivated 

 kinds on some of the native sorts, which are quite hardy. 



The grapes of pure Labrusca parentage are often success- 

 fully cultivated in favorable locations in this section, but in 

 severe locations and in severe winters they are injured in 

 winter, unless laid down on the ground and protected, and even 

 then the roots may be injured. It is desirable to secure a har- 

 dier kind of grape that will stand our winters, and be good 

 enough in quality for general use. We have made something 

 of a start in this direction by securing crossings between some 

 of our cultivated Labruscas and our native V. riparia, and as 

 a result have secured varieties that are perfectly hardy and ex- 

 tremely productive, and while the quality of these grapes is 

 not up to the standard Labrusca sorts, yet they are a great 

 addition to the general list of cultivated fruits suitable for our 

 farmers. 



What I have outlined will give you, in a general way, some 

 idea of the problems that present themselves to the horticul- 

 turists of this section. The forms of fruit we now have have 

 originated more or less by chance and largely through the sac- 

 rificing efforts of individuals who have profited very little, 

 personally, from their labors. Our horticulturists have had in 

 lind for some time the enlargement of the work of fruit breed- 

 ing, and taking it up in a systematic way, and on a broad scale 

 under suitable supervision. The matter was presented to our 

 legislature last winter, and an appropriation of $16,000 was se- 

 cured for the purchase of a farm suitable for this purpose. One 

 hundred acres has been obtained and will be suitably equipped 

 with buildings. On this tract of land we propose to carry on. 

 but on a larger scale and more systematically, the work which 

 has been done heretofore by individuals. We feel that we have 

 had sufficient experience now in this line of endeavor so that 

 we know where and how to work, in order to obtain the best 

 results. We shall aim to keep careful records of the work done 

 and to determine general laws underlying this work, which needs 

 so much to be systematized. 



