YALE AGRICULTURAL LECTURES. 51 



sped. I fear that the audience were but illy impressed with 

 his real knowledge, however, for present sickness has almost 

 deprived him of voice, and the lecture must have been unsatis 

 factory, because imperfectly heard. 



In preface, he alluded to the wonderful growth of wild vines 

 in wet and poor soils, but showed that not only was excessive 

 growth of wood a poor recommendation to the vineyardist, but 

 the quality of wild grapes is poor, and their apparent great 

 yield deceptive. All of the European vines are believed to 

 have sprung from one species, and been introduced from Asia; 

 while in America, the wild vines of the several districts, al 

 though widely dissimilar, have not been positively proved dis 

 tinct species. True, the Scuppernong, with its family of Musca 

 dines, is so peculiar that from its foliage it would scarcely be re 

 garded as a grape. The family of which the Herbemont is a type, 

 is quite distinct from all others, but he believes it to be traceable 

 to a European origin. Many of our native vines have been cul 

 tivated with care in the vineyard, but they have not thriven under 

 the treatment so as to recommend them above, or as equal to, 

 the nobler sorts. In vine culture as in other things, the great 

 est skill and care gives most favorable results. Not a quarter 

 century will pass before the Connecticut farmers, at least those 

 of the southern part of the State, will hail the grape harvest as 

 the most joyous part of the year. Wine-making is an art in 

 which the most complete success can only be attained through 

 much accurate observation, and with great pains-taking and 

 skill ; but grape-growing for table fruit is so simple an affair as 

 to be within the reach of any one who will give it the slightest 

 attention. If any one thing in vine culture is more important 

 than another, it is good pruning. Shoots are the growth of 

 one year, and are so called from the time that the opening bud 

 in spring has developed its first leaves, until it has completed 

 its year's growth, and is ready for the priming-knife. When 

 cut back to one bud, the stump is called a short spur ; when 

 cut to three or four, a long spur ; and when left with more; 



