46 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1877. 



" shall have many new native sorts, combining the good qualities of the best 

 '' foreign grapes, with the hardiness of the indigenous ones, and with also 

 " the necessary adaptation to the various soils and climates of the United 

 " States." 



In the original edition, eleven and one-half (llj) pages were devoted 

 to the methods of culture and the description of varieties of Native 

 Grapes. And of such varieties, but thirteen (13) were deemed worthy 

 of specific designation. In his latest revised edition of what he has 

 made almost a new work, our learned associate, Charles Downing, de- 

 votes thirty-four pages to the subject of Grapes (of out-door culture), 

 and enumerates one hundred and forty-five (145) separate varieties. 

 At our Annual Autumnal Exhibition, in the current year, Mr. Jo- 

 seph C. Lovell, of West Boylston, who has done more than our other 

 members combined to test the comparative value and qualities of N'a- 

 tive Grapes, and whose only recompense will most likely be the satisfac- 

 tion of knowing that his work has been done thoroughly and well, placed 

 upon the tables of the Society specimens of twenty-seven (27) .varieties, 

 grown by himself. Present difficulties there are in plenty, and others will 

 doubtless offer to perplex and discourage the future Vine Grower. Nev- 

 ertheless, the progress hitherto achieved supplies every encouragement, 

 and lends ample assurance to the hope that the Grape may, ere long, 

 yield as sure a harvest under the changeful skies of New England, as the 

 Apple and Pear — those pet products of a century of careful developement. 



By way of contrasting a quite general unfortunate experience in our 

 own vicinity, with that obtained where the open-air cultivation of the 

 Grape is supposed to be pursued under greater difficulties, a curious state- 

 ment of the Gardener''s Chronicle (Eng.) may deserve your notice : 



" It is a somewhat remarkable fact," says that accurate observer, "that 

 " the Vine Mildew seldom displays itself on vines grown in the open 

 " air. Does this arise from the hardier nature of these exposed vines, or 

 " does it follow because they are grown in a pure, free air ? We have 

 " lately seen in rural districts, large quantities of Grapes produced on 

 " cottages ; the culture being of the rudest, and the roots finding food 

 " amidst those of trees, hedgerows, flowers, and indeed where and how 

 " they can — yet not a trace of the mildew could be found." 



" ! si sic omnia ! " is the despairing wail from the Viticulturists of 

 Oak and Westminster streets. And yet that we may magnify even this 

 evil, might be inferred from the language of the (London) Garden, in a 

 parallel case, when, referring to the French Vineyards, it says : 



" The Vine Grov/ers in France are always complaining of Phylloxera, 

 " or Oidium, or bad crops,— any excuse to keep up the price of wine. But 

 " they will be much embarassed to find any cause for grumbling this year, 



