72 THE EVOLUTION OF OUR NATIVE FRUITS 



of which, if known and well considered, might afford 

 new light to the intending breeder of plants. 



The next great event in the evolution of the Ameri- 

 can grape, and in respect to its commercial importance, 

 the greatest event of all, was the introduction of a 

 meritorious variety of the northern fox -grape type. 

 This variety is the Concord. It was introduced early 

 in the fifties. The earliest record of it in the Massa- 

 chusetts Horticultural Society is in 1853: "E. W. Bull 

 exhibited his new seedling grape, which, under the name 

 of Concord, is now so generally cultivated throughout 

 the country." A year later, "the Concord was shown in 

 great perfection" before the same society. The first 

 fruit of this grape was obtained in 1849. The exact 

 origin, of it is obscure. Mr. Bull bought the house at 

 Concord, in which he lived until his death, in 1840. 

 That year, he relates, boys brought up from the river 

 some wild grapes, and scattered them about the place. 

 A seedling appeared, evidently the offspring of these 

 truant grapes. Mr. Bull tended it, and in 1843 he 

 obtained a bunch of grapes from it. He planted seeds 

 of this bunch, and a resulting plant fruited in 1849. 

 The fruit had such merit that all other seedlings were 

 destroyed. The new variety was named the Concord, 

 and although its quality is not the highest, and it was at 

 first disparaged on this account, it is now the dominant 

 grape in all eastern America, and it was the first variety 

 of sufficient hardiness, productiveness and immunity 

 from diseases to carry the culture of the vine into every 

 garden in the land. As an illustration of the extent to 

 which a particular variety or a custom may dominate the 

 industry of a region, we may cite the influence of the 

 Concord upon the people of Chautauqua county, New 



