10 THE EVOLUTION OF OUR NATIVE FRUITS 



the European or wine grape in North America seems 

 to have been that of the London Company, in 1621 

 and 1622. The Company was then under the direc- 

 torship of the Earl of Southampton. In a letter 

 from the Company to the colonial authorities, dated 

 the 12th of August, 1621, and sent by the ship 

 Marmaduke, is the following information: "Since 

 the conclusion of our letter we have received from 

 his Ma' tie a Petition exhibiting unto him by certain 

 ffrenchmen and Walloones Desires to inhabite in Vir- 

 ginia : we have considered of these propositions and 

 have returned them so fine an answer as wee consider 

 they will resolve to go, they wilbe 60 families, con- 

 sisting of about 300 persons, you may expect them 

 cominge about the next spring. We hope they wilbe 

 a great strength to the Collony." 



In a letter of September 21st, of the same year, 

 sent by the ship Warwick, it is recorded that "there 

 are two French youths now sent to Capt. Tho. Nuce, 

 part of those ten promised him the next Springe." 

 This letter also mentions the sending of silk -worm 

 eggs and grape vines: "By the Dutie wch about the 

 middle of next month is to depart we hope you shall 

 receive full sattisfaccon [i. e. the answering of certain 

 questions] ; wch Shipp shall bring with her store of 

 silke worme seed and abundance of vine plants, for 

 both wch we desire not only that generall pperations 

 be made, but that timely notice and order be given 

 throughout the whole colony, that every pticuler man 

 may make prouision for the receiuinge of some quan- 

 titie of them both, and that a straight charge be 

 giuen for the pserving of vines and mulberry trees, 

 wch we understand with others are promiscuously 



