NATURAL AND CIVIL HISTORY OF THE VINE. 27 



therefore only say that it never at any period pre- 

 sented a more flourishing aspect than it does at the 

 present day. 



Of the future prospects of grape culture, of its 

 extent, and of its influences, it would be difficult to 

 speak. But we feel assured that, whether in the 

 form of wine or of fruit, the produce of the vine can- 

 not fail to do much good in this country not the 

 least of its benefits being that it will afford those with 

 small capital an easy and pleasant mode of securing 

 a competency. 



Another point in this aspect of grape culture, and 

 one in which we have strong confidence and ardent 

 hope, is the employment which it promises to afford 

 to women. We are none of those who would desire 

 to see woman rendered independent of man, for we 

 well know to what a miserable condition man would 

 come if rendered independent of woman, and it is a 

 poor rule that will not work both ways. 



But we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that there 

 are vast multitudes of women whose labor receives 

 no adequate remuneration who make shirts at the 

 rate of five cents apiece, and then often get cheated 

 out of their pay. Now, if some of our large-hearted,, 

 as well as large-worded, philanthropists would pro- 

 cure a few acres of land in some proper locality, and' 

 after having it well trenched or subsoil ploughed^ 



