SECRETARY'S REPORT. 105 



have been raised by Mr. Rogers, of Salem, which are now on 

 trial, and we hope may prove to be great acquisitions, but we 

 think the rule of the case will be found to be as above stated. 



We hope, however, that this frank statement of our belief 

 will not deter any grape-grower from experimenting in cross- 

 breeding. As before stated, ho will achieve success — if he 

 succeed at all — much sooner than by the slower process of suc- 

 cessive reproduction and gradual amelioration of the pure 

 native. 



Hybridizing the grape is a process of great delicacy — almost 

 of dithculty — but is quite possible, if great care is used. 

 Some Avriters have directed the shoots of the two vines intend- 

 ed to be cross-bred to be intertvvinod on the espalier, in the 

 belief that hybridization will thus be effected ; this, however, 

 though not quite impossible, is not likely to happen. The 

 pollen of the grape is usually perfect before the calix is pushed 

 off by the increasing growth of the stamens and is shed upon 

 the germ, by the generally sudden movement of the stamens 

 in throwing off the calix, under the stimulus of a warm sun- 

 shine. Some of the germs, however, as we have observed 

 while cross-breeding ourselves, are not immediately impreg- 

 nated, and in such case the watchful operator, by cutting away 

 the stamens with a pair of sharp-pointed scissors, can impreg- 

 nate the germ with the pollen of another variety, by the aid of 

 a small camel's hair pencil, or even by shaking the pollen upon 

 it from the bunch of bloom cut for that purpose. When the 

 impregnated berry is ripe, it is usually taken to the hot-house 

 and planted in a pot, from whence, when strong enough, it is 

 planted out in the open ground. It should be covered in the 

 winter until it gets strong, when it may be gradually exposed 

 to the weather, to see if it is hardy. If it is not hardy, with- 

 out protection, the fact ought always to be stated when it is 

 offered for sale, for many an embryo grape-grower has lost all 

 his enthusiasm and given up the pursuit, when he found the 

 vine which had come to him as " perfectly hardy " dying off 

 the first winter. 



PROFITS OF GRAPE CULTURE. 



We are aware, after all, that grape culture will not be 

 entered upon very generally unless it is profitable ; this we 



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