INTRODUCTION. 65 



on us as members of a community, in which 

 agriculture affords an important resource, to adopt 

 a cultivation, promising such important resultg. 

 Many years ago the raising of the grape was at- 

 tempted in Pennsylvania. A society bearing 

 the name, if I remember correctly, of the " Vine 

 Company of Pennsylvania," was incorporated 

 by the legislature of the State, and after several 

 years of zealous experiment, were defeated in 

 their laudable attempts to introduce among us 

 the foreign vine. Many intelligent members of 

 the agricultural community were enlisted in the 

 patriotic labour ; and the good wishes of the pub- 

 lic warmly excited in favour of the infant asso- 

 ciation, abandoned, I believe, after some years of 

 abortive experiment. 



To examine the details of their proceedings, 

 and ascertain, if possible, the remote and proxi- 

 mate causes of their defeat; how far the locale 

 on which they established was favourable or ad- 

 verse to the prosperity of the vineyard ; what 

 vines were introduced ; their mode of pruning, 

 &c. may afford to those who shall follow in their 

 footsteps, new lights to direct their operations, 

 and become the beacons, by which to avoid the 

 shoals that wrecked the enterprise of their pa- 

 triotic predecessors. To revive this society, and, 

 under the auspices of public protection, attempt 

 once again the experiment which has heretofore 

 resisted our efforts, following up the system with 

 all the advantages which an observant expe- 

 rience has shed around the cultivator, will be an 

 effective means to accomplish the desired object, 

 r 2 



